Moneylife Foundation - Governing Principles
Founded by Debashis Basu and Sucheta Dalal, Moneylife Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to financial literacy,
consumer awareness, and public-interest advocacy.
Based on decades of engagement with individual investors and consumers through Moneylife, the founders recognised the urgent
need for an independent institution focused on addressing financial misinformation, mis-selling, and weak consumer protection.
In its early years, the Foundation received operational support from the Moneylife team to establish itself and create impact. Over
time, this dependence has reduced significantly. With sustained public support, the Foundation is steadily moving towards long-term
self-sufficiency.
Our Core Principles
- We remain fair, honest, independent, and non-partisan in all our initiatives.
- We do not recommend, endorse, or sell any financial products or services.
- We do not engage in quid pro quo arrangements for donations, sponsorships, or advertising.
- We are independent of all political parties, affiliations, and campaigns.
We comply fully with all laws and regulations governing not-for-profit organisations. We prepare an annual report that is reviewed by our Board of Trustees and shared with relevant authorities. All donations are transparently recorded, with proper documentation and receipts. Donor names are periodically disclosed on our website, categorised by type of contribution. Donation amounts are not published, in line with donor preferences. All major decisions and strategic directions are reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees.
Conflict of Interest:The Foundation, its founders, and Trustees avoid conflicts between personal or business interests and the interests of the Trust. Operational and infrastructure support from Moneylife and its employees is accepted solely to conserve costs and enhance impact. This includes assistance with helplines, data analysis, communications, website and social media management, seminars, and shared office infrastructure.
Role of the Trustees:
The Trustees provide strategic direction and oversight to ensure the Foundation fulfils its mission.
They uphold the highest standards of ethics, transparency, and governance.
Trustees support awareness-building, resource mobilisation, and expansion of the Foundation's work.
The Board periodically reviews its composition and inducts Trustees with relevant expertise aligned to the Foundation's objectives.
Trustees actively contribute to institution-building, long-term sustainability, and the Foundation's reputation.