How to participate

How can you participate in Auroville's development? 

There are many ways to contribute towards Auroville's development. Auroville needs more people, knowledge, expertise, financial resources, donations in kind, customers for its commercial units, and contacts with persons and organisations that can help.

Contributing human resources

Auroville welcomes new people who want to join the community. Newcomers are requested to pay for their stay during their first year, although exceptions can be made for those without financial means. You are always free to end your newcomer period whenever you want.

It is also possible to come to Auroville for a limited period as a trainee, researcher, teacher, etc. and experience Auroville life. In this case, agreements need to be worked out in advance with the persons involved in your specific area of interest.

If you want to know more about joining Auroville, please contact the Auroville International Centre in your country or

Auroville Entry Group
Bharat Nivas
Auroville 605 101
India
E-mail: entry@auroville.org.in

Contributing knowledge and experience

Auroville needs access to more knowledge and expertise. You can assist by:

• sending books, manuals, brochures, videos, etc.

• sending someone who is knowledgeable about a field of activity or a technique that can be useful to Auroville;

• arranging for an Aurovilian to participate in a conference, workshop, seminar etc. or to be trained in a particular field or technique outside Auroville;

• choosing Auroville as the venue of a conference, seminar etc. when the topic would be of interest to Auroville.

If you are not in a position to provide financing for any of the above, there may be some funds available through Auroville. Please contact the beneficiary directly or the 

Auroville Project Coordination Group
c/o CSR Office
Auroshilpam
Auroville 605 101
India

Contributing material or equipment

The scope of Auroville's work is wide and the requirements are enormous; therefore, donations in kind are very much appreciated. However:

• check whether your gift is appropriate for sub-tropical conditions, and if it is really needed for our development;

• if you can't contribute to the transportation costs, check with us first whether we can;

• be aware that foreign gifts are normally liable to prohibitive import taxes. However, certain items such as books, some solar energy equipment, medical equipment, etc. are not taxable. In certain specific cases, it is possible to obtain import duty exemption.

If you consider making a donation in kind, please contact beforehand either the beneficiary directly or the 

Auroville Project Coordination Group
c/o CSR Office
Auroshilpam
Auroville 605 101
India

Contributing financial resources

How to specify your contribution?
Financial contributions for Auroville's development can be made in several ways. You can contribute to one of the four main funds:

• Development Fund

• Housing Fund

• Land Fund

• Matrimandir

You can also contribute to a specific activity or project. A list of pending project proposals is available from the Auroville Project Coordination Group.

You may specify your own field of interest if you wish to receive some project proposals. Project proposals can also be prepared to match specific requirements of a potential donor.

How to send your contribution?

Donations from outside India

1. Send a cheque or demand draft payable to Auroville Fund directly to Auroville Fund, Aspiration, Auroville TN 605 101, India.

2. Send a cheque or demand draft to the Auroville International Centre in your country. Donations are to be made in the name of the respective AVI Centre. As tax exemptions vary from country to country, you are advised to inquire with them.

In either case, please don't forget to mention the purpose of your donation in your cover letter.

3. Online donation using credit cards from anywhere in the world using VISA, Master Card, American Express and Discover. Your contribution will automatically be channeled via Auroville International USA (donations received from within USA itself will receive tax exemption).

Donations from within India

Send a cheque or a demand draft payable to Auroville Fund to: Auroville Fund, Aspiration, Auroville 605 101, Tamil Nadu, - or directly to the Auroville unit that carries out the activity or project you wish to sponsor. For example: 'draft payable to Auroville Fund, specified for Matrimandir.'

Donations for Matrimandir, Land Fund, as well as educational and scientific research are 100 % tax exempted under section 35 (1)(ii) and (iii) of the Income Tax Act. Other donations are 50 % tax exempted under section 80 (G) of the Income Tax Act.

Please mention the purpose of your donation in your cover letter and specify whether you would like to receive a tax-exempt or normal receipt.

Finding customers for Auroville products

Auroville's commercial units contribute significantly to the maintenance and development of the community. By helping them to sell their products, you are supporting Auroville. If you can help in this, please contact the:

Auroville Board of Commerce
Auroshilpam
Auroville 605 101
India
Phone: +91 413 2622751 / 752
E-mail: abc@auroville.org.in

Establishing contacts

You may know people, organisations or funding agencies that could contribute to Auroville's development. If so, please contact the Auroville International Centre in your country or the Auroville Project Coordination Group directly.

THANK YOU for taking the time to look at this information. We very much appreciate your assistance in building Auroville, "the City the Earth needs".