Humanitive Revolutionizes Gifting with Transparent Donations and Meaningful Impact
The Indian gifting industry has long been a sea of generic diaries, pens, and flasks. While diwali and corporate events drive massive consumerism, Sonarika Mahajan noticed a profound gap: the lack of meaningful, impact-driven options. Her venture, Humanitive, is India's first platform to merge premium gifting with 100% transparent donations. By providing proof of impact through personalized videos and QR codes, Sonarika is turning the simple act of giving into a powerful instrument for social change.
Founded in November 2020, Humanitive allows users to curate luxury gift boxes while making a donation to one of 10 partner non-profits on behalf of the recipient. It’s a for-profit model that has successfully navigated the complexities of trust, legalities, and e-commerce to build a new category of "Impact Gifting."
The Humanitive Experience
Humanitive isn't just about the product; it's about the proof. Inside every box is a Donation Kit containing a certificate of acknowledgement and a letter from the partner NGO. The crown jewel? A QR code that, when scanned, shows a video of the beneficiaries thanking the recipient by name for the specific impact—be it notebooks for children or a meal for the elderly.
The Birthday Video Epiphany
Sonarika's calling was always rooted in helping the underprivileged, a passion her father initially tried to channel into the family business. She spent years in marketing and filmmaking in Vancouver, even starting a cause-marketing agency called "Charity Unwrapped." However, the agency model left her at the mercy of corporate CSR policies that often prioritized optics over true investment.
The turning point came on her birthday in 2018. "My husband partnered with a non-profit and arranged a lunch for underprivileged children on my behalf. He emailed me a video of the event, and I was in tears. It was the best gift of my life," she recalls. That warmth sparked a question: Why isn't there a platform where everyone can do this for their loved ones?
Merging Luxury with 100% Transparency
Scaling a donation-linked platform required two years of meticulous planning. As a for-profit business collecting donations, Sonarika had to navigate a minefield of legalities to ensure 100% of the donated funds reached the NGOs. Humanitive makes zero commission on the donation itself—paying even the transaction fees from their own pocket—and earns its revenue strictly from the sale of premium gift boxes.
The 3-Step Customization Journey
- Choose Your Box: Select from five well-designed sizes (Petite, Mini, Classic, Grand, Lamar) that replace generic paper shavings with structured luxury.
- Fill with Products: Pick from an assortment of over 100 premium items, including hand-poured candles, silk scarves, and artisan chocolates.
- Select a Donation Program: Choose from 100+ specific programs like "Sponsoring a walking stick for a visually impaired child" or "Breakfast for 300 destitute elderly."
Disrupting B2B: Corporate Gifts with Soul
While B2C remains a core pillar, Humanitive has seen explosive growth in the B2B sector. Corporates are increasingly moving away from "materialistic" gifts toward those that offer tax benefits and social impact. By sending Humanitive boxes, companies provide their clients and employees with a personalized video of the impact made in their name, fostering a deeper, more emotional connection than a generic gift could ever achieve.
"Businesses are loving this because they get tax benefits while giving meaningful gifts. It’s a win-win that has given Humanitive a massive jump-start," Sonarika explains.
Entrepreneurship and Motherhood: "Hard Times Make Hard People"
Adding to the complexity of building a startup, Sonarika became a new mother just three months ago. Balancing the "life-altering" experience of pregnancy and birth with the "rocky road" of scaling a business has been her biggest challenge. She navigated employee retention issues and operational nitty-gritties during one of her most vulnerable times, emerging with a philosophy that "hard times make hard people."
— Sonarika Mahajan, Founder, Humanitive
The Lesson of Letting Go
Like many founders, Sonarika started as a perfectionist micro-manager—packing gifts and posting on social media herself. Her most valuable lesson has been the necessity of detachment. "If I get busy with daily operations, I'm not spending time thinking about growth. It is crucial to trust your employees, give them proper training, and focus on the bigger picture—new launches and new markets."
Today, Humanitive stands as a testament to how creativity can transform stagnant industries. From its humble beginnings in a small room with two interns, the brand is now redefining celebration across India, one transparent donation at a time.
Founder Tip: Communication is Key
If your concept is unique, your marketing communication must be flawless. Humanitive struggled early on because people confused them with a non-profit. "Get your message out clearly: Humanitive = Gift + Donate. Use every creative tool—videos, influencers, stories—to bridge the awareness gap."
About the Guest
Sonarika Mahajan is the Founder of Humanitive. With a background in marketing and filmmaking from Vancouver, she is a visionary in the "Impact Gifting" space. A dedicated entrepreneur and a new mother, Sonarika has been recognized for her innovation in merging e-commerce with social welfare. She frequently visits her 10 partner non-profits to ensure 100% transparency and remains committed to building a business that empowers both the giver and the beneficiary.