Powered by GivingPi : What We’re Unlocking
Rendezvous with Philanthropy: Upskilling for the New World of Work
We had an extremely thought-provoking 'Rendezvous with Philanthropy' discussion on ‘Upskilling for The New World of Work’ co-curated by Nimaya Foundation in partnership with Club Jolie's last month. Our heartfelt gratitude to our panelists, Navya Naveli Nanda (Co-Founder, Nimaya | Aara Health | Founder Project Naveli), Mahaanaryaman Scindia (Co-Founder MyMandi) and GivingPi Member, Mekin Maheshwari (Founder of Udhyam Learning Foundation | Co-Founder of Global Alliance For Mass Entrepreneurship (G.A.M.E), for sharing invaluable insights on philanthropy's pivotal role in shaping the evolving workforce.
Rendezvous with Philanthropy: Strengthening NGOs for Resilience, Scale & Impact
We’d like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to GivingPi Champions, Aditi Kothari Desai and Vikram Desai for hosting ‘Rendezvous with Philanthropy’ at their residence. The evening consisted of a panel discussion in collaboration with A.T.E. Chandra Foundation on ‘The Role of Philanthropy in Strengthening NGOs for Resilience, Scale and Impact’. This curated discussion moderated by Deval Sanghavi (Co-Founder & Partner, Dasra) brought together Amit Chandra (Co-Founder, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation | Founder & Chairman, Bain Capital, India), Rekha Koita (Co- Founder, Koita Foundation) and Tara Singh Vachani (Managing Trustee, Max India Foundation | Executive Chairperson, Antara Senior Care | Vice Chairperson, Max India | Chairperson, Learning Matters) for a provocative discussion to challenge existing norms in philanthropic giving to NGOs, while carving pathways that can foster an evolved playbook for giving in India.
Catalyzing Change : Conversations with India’s Leading Philanthropists
Episode 1 - Catalyzing Climate Action By Moneycontrol in collaboration with GivingPi Featuring GivingPi Members, Leena Dandekar, Founder, Raintree Foundation and Pragya Kapoor, Founder, Ek Saath Foundation. To listen, click here.
Episode 2 - Preserving India’s Cultural Legacy By Moneycontrol in collaboration with GivingPi Featuring GivingPi Members, Sanjiv Saraf, Founder of Rekhta Foundation, and Yeshwant Holkar, Partner at Ahilya Experiences. To listen, click here.
Episode 3 - Building an Ecosystem for Sports for Development By Moneycontrol in collaboration with GivingPi Featuring GivingPi Member, Vita Dani, Director and Promoter of ELMS Sports Foundation. To listen, click here.
Episode 4 - Building a Compassionate World for Animals By Moneycontrol in collaboration with GivingPi Featuring GivingPi Members, Parag Agarwal, Founder, India Animal Fund & Co- Founder, Ahimsa Trust and Divya Dinesh, Trustee, Ashraya Hastha Trust. To listen, click here.
Updates from the Community
Nisaba Godrej Delivers Keynote at Dasra Philanthropy Week 2024 Plenary
GivingPi Founders Circle Member, Nisaba Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Consumer Products, gave a welcome address and keynote speech at the plenary day in Mumbai for Dasra Philanthropy Week 2024. In her address, Nisaba highlighted the pivotal role of NGOs in influencing funds and policy, emphasizing the need for more strategic funding. She praised NGOs for their deep, impactful work, stating that they "leave things better than they were found". We extend our sincere gratitude to Nisaba for her invaluable support, collaboration, and for being our trusted partner and hosting Dasra Philanthropy Week 2024.
Tara Singh Vachani Joins Panel on Advancing Women’s Leadership
GivingPi Founders Circle Member & Managing Trustee of Max India Foundation, Tara Singh Vachani, lent her voice to a discussion titled ‘Turning the Tide’ which brought together leaders with perspectives on supporting women’s leadership who spoke about how organizations can institutionally build and support women leaders. Participants brought their own experience to the issue, creating a holistic discussion for a non-profit audience to gain a well-rounded perspective with panelists sharing lessons from diverse experiences. From boardrooms to community leadership roles, they discussed actionable steps and strategies for non-profits, funders, and other stakeholders in the development ecosystem to cultivate women’s leadership.
Rati Forbes Highlights Power of Community-Driven Narratives for Impact
GivingPi Member & Head of Forbes Marshall Foundation, Rati Forbes, contributed to a virtual panel discussion on ‘Spotlighting Community-Driven Narratives and Evidence for Impact’. Panelists delved into how community-driven narratives and evidence drawing such as data collection, oral histories, voices, values and lived experiences of diverse identities, have provided a platform for people from marginalized communities by leveraging communication as a tool. Rati spoke on how strengthening such narratives can result in transformative development not only for the community, but for surrounding underserved areas too.
Vasvi Bharat Ram Leads Closed-Door Discussion on Strengthening India's Mental Health Ecosystem
GivingPi Member, Vasvi Bharat Ram, Founding Trustee, India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), anchored a closed-door conversation on building a stronger mental health ecosystem. This convening brought together different perspectives from the mental health space to enable shared learning, aimed at carving pathways for collaboration to trigger systemic shifts. The discussion shed light on the challenges within this sphere, with participants unanimously agreeing that systemic change is a gradual process. GivingPi Members who participated were Ashok Bhansali and Reshma Piramal.
Rumana Hamied Advocates Cross-Sectoral Action for Child Protection
GivingPi Member & Managing Trustee of Cipla Foundation, Rumana Hamied, lent her voice to a virtual panel discussion titled ‘From Rhetoric to Action: Enabling Universal Inclusion of Child Protection Programming’. Panelists delved into the critical need for India to adopt a cross-sectoral approach to child protection to advance equitable development. Through engaging conversation and diverse perspectives, they explored pathways to ensure the safety and well-being of India's children and discussed the opportunities they require to thrive and actively participate in India’s growth story.
Riah Forbes Joins Panel on Leadership Resilience & Mental Well-Being
GivingPi Member & Head of Digital Initiatives & Strategic Investments at Forbes Marshall, Riah Forbes, contributed to a virtual panel discussion titled ‘Leadership Resilience: Nurturing Mental Health of Non- Profit Practitioners’. Some key insights that came out of the conversation were the types of barriers civil society members face in prioritizing their well-being amid the challenges of community service. Panelists also delved into insights drawn from upcoming flagship research and explored pioneering well-being practices crafted specifically for the unique demands and aspirations of non-profit practitioners.
Luis Miranda on Philanthropy’s Role in Responding to the Polycrisis
GivingPi Member & Co-Founder of Indian School of Public Policy, Luis Miranda, lent his voice to a virtual panel discussion titled ‘Bringing to Light the Polycrisis with a Focus on India and Philanthropic Action’. Panelists spoke on the pivotal role philanthropy can play in responding to the polycrisis by pioneering innovative solutions, engaging communities, and providing relief in times of disasters. This session delved into meaning-making around the term with a focus on the Indian philanthropy ecosystem.
Shaifalika Panda and Adam Khorakiwala Join Panel Spotlighting Development in East & Northeast India
GivingPi Members, Shaifalika Panda, Trustee and Founder CEO of Bansidhar and Ila Panda Foundation and Adam Khorakiwala, Head of Corporate Development, Switz Group, were part of a panel discussion titled ‘From Frontier to Forefront’ which spotlighted the often overlooked but burgeoning underserved frontiers of East and North-East India, bringing together foundation leaders and philanthropists to explore strategies for sustainable growth and impactful philanthropy in these regions. By fostering meaningful conversations, the panel was an attempt to bridge the gap between potential donors and the unique challenges faced by these regions, ultimately fostering inclusive development.
Parag Agarwal and Vasvi Bharat Ram Contribute to Panel Exploring Funding Strategies for Underserved Communities
GivingPi Members, Parag Agarwal, Founder, India Animal Fund and Co-Founder, Ahimsa Trust and Vasvi Bharat Ram, Founding Trustee, India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), contributed to a panel discussion titled, ‘Taking the Road less Travelled’, which explored effective strategies and approaches for funding underserved areas, aiming to foster sustainable development. The panelists, each with a unique background, shared their experiences and insights towards creating positive impact in marginalized communities. The audience for the session gained valuable insights into funding disadvantaged areas and left with actionable takeaways to contribute meaningfully to sustainable development efforts.
Radha Goenka Speaks at Launch of India Philanthropy Report 2024
GivingPi Member & Director of RPG Foundation, Radha Goenka, lent her voice to a panel discussion titled, ‘Illuminating the Path Ahead’, which unveiled the 14th edition of Dasra’s flagship publication, the India Philanthropy Report (IPR) 2024. Co- curated by Dasra and Bain & Company, IPR 2024 offers a comprehensive view of India’s philanthropy landscape, highlighting insights from CSR and family philanthropy, including Now-Gen, Inter-Gen, Women givers and professionals. During the session, Radha emphasized that family philanthropy is increasing focus on underserved areas and populations, noting that family foundations, with their unrestricted funding, have a unique advantage in this regard. She also underscored the need for family philanthropy to support capacity building, stressing the flexibility in family giving and its potential for greater impact.
Amira Shah Chhabra Joins Closed-Door Discussion on Youth-Centered Philanthropy
GivingPi Member, Amira Shah Chhabra, Director of Harish and Bina Shah Foundation (HBSF), contributed to a closed-door conversation on purposeful giving towards youth-centered solutions. The discussion comprised a series of fireside chats with a family philanthropist, a corporate funder and an institutional donor on their philanthropic journey for purposeful giving in an ever-changing landscape and how that influences their approach towards meaningful partnerships, in a collective effort to achieve system level impact.
Donald Lobo Leads Dialogue on Data as a Lever for Systems Change
GivingPi Member, Donald Lobo, Founder of Project Tech4Dev and Glific, contributed to a closed-door conversation on data being a lever of systems change. Industry experts came together to discuss how data-driven insights provide the information needed to understand complex systems, identify key leverage points, measure progress, and inform decision-making.
Rumana Hamied Discusses India’s Global Impact Through Philanthropy
GivingPi Member & Managing Trustee of Cipla Foundation, Rumana Hamied, contributed to a panel discussion titled, ‘India for the World, World for India’ where panelists explored India's collective power of Bazaar, Samaaj, Sarkar to foster impactful solutions for the world. During the discussion, Rumana emphasized the importance of showcasing India's innovations to attract funding, stressing the need to direct these funds to those who need it most. She expressed that true progress requires keeping people at the center of all development initiatives, ensuring that no one is left behind.
Rati Forbes at Closed-Door Discussion on Worker-Inclusive Business
GivingPi Member & Head of Forbes Marshall Foundation, Rati Forbes, lent her voice to a closed-door conversation on industry best practices and challenges on building worker inclusive and successful business systems. Participants discussed that as India grows into the industrial hub of choice, it is imperative that we leverage this moment to reimagine the equation between profitable business and thriving workers. This discussion brought together stakeholders to foster a space for cross- learning and risk-sharing.
Brijeshwari Gohil Highlights Role of Community Leaders in Development
GivingPi Member & Director of Nilambag Palace, Brijeshwari Gohil, lent her voice to a panel discussion on ‘Potential to Prosperity: Supporting Community Catalysts’. Panelists touched upon how frontline community leaders play a critical role in service delivery, both for government and for development sector initiatives. Brijeshwari shared insights into her work with women in Saurashtra, Gujarat, through INTACH Bhavnagar and family giving. She emphasized the importance of empowering women, influencing behavior change, and increasing livelihoods.
Abhay Mangaldas and Meha Matel Lend their Voice to Fireside Chat on Philanthropy’s Role in Social Development in Ahmedabad
GivingPi Members, Abhay Mangaldas, Managing Trustee of Shreyas Foundation and Meha Matel, Head of Zydus Foundation, lent their voice to a fireside chat in Ahmedabad on the topic, 'The Role of Philanthropy in Social Development'. During the conversation, they discussed their vision for social impact, emphasizing the power of collaboration and the role of intersectionality, particularly in areas of sustainability and climate mitigation. Their dialogue underscored the importance of philanthropy in social development and the significance of being custodians of social impact through intergenerational family giving. Meha advocated for multi- stakeholder collaborations, recognizing that no single organization or institution can effectively address India's development challenges alone. Abhay expressed that he views his role as a custodian of the Shreyas Foundation, a non-profit established by his ancestors, as an opportunity to add contemporary relevance and continue its legacy of social impact.
GivingPi Co-Anchors First-of-Its-Kind Roundtable for Family Foundations
GivingPi co-anchored a first-of-its-kind roundtable, convening leaders from family foundations in India to establish a supportive community for mutual learning and collaboration. This unique gathering facilitated an exchange of insights and challenges, focusing on collaboration, innovation, and impact within the realm of family philanthropy. The goal is to create a nurturing environment where participants can leverage each other's experiences to enhance their impact and scale. This initiative is part of a larger effort to build a network of philanthropic leaders from family foundations, providing a platform for continuous learning and exchange. Participants comprised, Ashwin Malwade (Ek Saath Foundation), Priti Sridhar (Mariwala Health Initiative), Murugan Vasudevan (Veddis Foundation), Venu Nair (K.P. Singh Foundation), Shruti Mehta (Kathiwada Foundation), Ranjit Pujari (Rambha Charitable Trust), Satish Gupta (Sanjiv Saraf Family), Disket Angmo (Mann Talks).
Private philanthropy grew 10% in FY23, CSR spending by 7%: Bain & Company and Dasra report
Indulekha Aravind | The Economic Times
The 'India Philanthropy Report 2024' co-curated by Dasra and Bain and Company provides a glimpse of India’s philanthropy landscape by spotlighting insights from CSR and family philanthropy, including Now-Gen, Inter-Gen, and Women givers.
K Dinesh and family: The generous givers
Divya J Shekhar
Delve into the philanthropic journey of GivingPi Member, K Dinesh and his family, whose story is marked by a dedication to learning and giving back. With significant contributions to education, healthcare, disaster relief, animal welfare, and climate action, discover how their philanthropy, rooted in family values and a desire to make a lasting impact, is an inspiration for others.
Now-Gen givers are steering philanthropy into a new era marked by innovation
Neera Nundy
This opinion piece by Neera Nundy, Co-Founder & Partner, Dasra, gives insight into the entrepreneurial startup cohort who are creating wealth and reimagining philanthropy by investing in diverse sectors.
Harvesting Change; Embracing Mechanisation for Sustainable Agriculture - India Animal Fund
Heer Shukla
This feature explores the shift to mechanized agriculture in India, focusing on its benefits for animal welfare and economic growth. It advocates for consumer awareness and government support to promote sustainable practices and alternative livelihoods in agriculture.
