The Matching Grants program, widely practiced in the USA, is intended to support noble causes.
Under this scheme, when an employee donates to a non-profit organization, the employer matches the donation by contributing an equal amount to the same organization.
Unfortunately, this program has been misused by several Telugu associations.
These organizations approached Telugu employees working in various companies and encouraged them to donate.
Once the employer matched the grant and donated to the organization, the original donation made by the employee was returned to them in cash.
This fraudulent scheme was recently exposed, bringing organizations like NATA under serious scrutiny, eventually leading to its shutdown.
Participating in such activities is illegal. As a result, several employees involved in the racket have lost their jobs.
Reports indicate that over 120 Telugu employees have already been terminated, and many of them, being on H1B visas, are now facing deportation to India.
At this time, it is highly risky for Telugu employees to make donations to Telugu organizations, as even genuine contributions are being viewed with suspicion.
Caution and prudence are strongly advised when making donations or decisions related to such schemes.