1. What is the need for / value of rating NGOs? (conceptual reasons as well as from your personal experiences i.e. in case they were rated, how would it have helped you?)

Rating may be necessary, just to be able to see if the NGOs are functioning well.  If they are getting funding from government or corporates, then to check if the disbursement is being done properly. If people are donating/volunteering with NGOs, a rating would help then optimise the use of their resources.

2. On what different criteria should / can NGOs / nonprofits / charities / trusts be rated?
On performance, progress of specific projects-- of course keeping in mind that results in many areas cannot be seen in the short term.

3. Who should rate them? i.e. backgrounds of such organisations or individuals
That's a tricky one... Maybe a committee of people picked from NGOs with well known track records.

4. Which NGOs in your (subjective) opinion are outstanding ones in Mumbai?

From what I gather, Prerna, the Doorstep project and the children's shelter at CST are doing good work with children.  Helpage are doing well in the care of the elderly.

PS: www.karmayog.org   has full-time / part-time openings for jobs / volunteers at junior / senior levels for html work, software programming, net research, secretarial work, co-ordination & follow-up. 

I could volunteer for net research, coordination and follow up with any NGO in the Western suburbs-- from Bandra to Goregaon.

 Deepa
deepabombay@yahoo.com