Philanthropy is shaping the future of South Asia’s arts and culture, and GivingPi Members experienced this firsthand at India Art Fair 2025. Through an exclusive curated tour, Members explored how arts foundations, museums, and grassroots initiatives are driving innovation and redefining cultural patronage. The experience featured insights from Fair Director Jaya Asokan and a guided walkthrough led by Umah Jacob, highlighting the role of philanthropy in supporting contemporary and indigenous arts. With 100+ leading exhibitors, an expanded design section, and a premier Talks Programme, India Art Fair continues to foster global cultural connections. GivingPi Members, Vandana Pamecha, Vidyun Goel, Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Vrinda Aggarwal, Urvi Shriram, and Aditya Shriram attended, engaging in discussions on the intersection of philanthropy, art, and social impact.
At Dasra Philanthropy Week 2025, the ‘Donors’ Role in Building Champion NGOs’ session - curated in partnership with the A.T.E. Chandra Foundation, Founded by GivingPi Member Amit Chandra - brought together sector leaders to discuss how philanthropy can drive long-term resilience and impact in the nonprofit sector. GivingPi Members Amit Chandra, Shaifalika Panda, Raj Mariwala, Govind Iyer, and Vivek Jain lent their voices to this closed-door, curated conversation, sharing insights on the power of flexible and multi-year funding in strengthening NGOs. The discussion explored how strategic donor support can help organizations scale, innovate, and sustain impact, ultimately enabling them to become true champions of change. The session also saw participation from GivingPi Members Swati Apte, Digvijay Kathiwada, Isha Siraj Kedia, Nikunj Jhaveri, and Sunny Bijlani, who engaged in thought-provoking dialogue on how philanthropy can move beyond transactional giving to transformative partnerships. This conversation reinforced the critical role of patient, strategic, and trust-based philanthropy in building a thriving nonprofit ecosystem, shaping how funders can empower organizations for lasting and systemic impact.
At Dasra Philanthropy Week 2025, the session ‘Building Bright Futures: Transforming Early Childhood Development’ - curated in partnership with LGTVP, one of the arms of LGT Group, Founded by GivingPi Founders Circle Member H.S.H. Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein - brought together sector leaders to discuss integrated health, nutrition, and education interventions that can shape the lives of millions of children in India. GivingPi Members Rekha Koita and Reshma Piramal participated in this closed-door, curated conversation, offering insights on how innovative philanthropic models and technology-driven solutions can bridge critical gaps in early childhood development. The discussion focused on scaling interventions, strengthening policy frameworks, and fostering collaborative approaches to create sustainable impact. The session also saw participation from GivingPi Members Neha Mehta, Karishma Shangavi, and Moxada Singh, who engaged in meaningful dialogue on the role of philanthropy in transforming the early years of a child’s life. This conversation underscored the importance of strategic funding, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term investment in early childhood, laying the foundation for healthier, more equitable futures for India’s youngest generations.
Koita Foundation, Co-Founded by GivingPi Members Rizwan and Rekha Koita, has partnered with India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS) to launch the Koita Centre for Digital Transformation (KCDT) - a groundbreaking initiative to accelerate digital adoption among Social Purpose Organizations (SPOs). KCDT provides SPOs with structured training, mentorship, and access to digital tools through programs like the Digital Transformation for Social Impact (DTSI) and the Digital Tool book for Social Impact (DiTSI). These initiatives aim to help organizations integrate technology for better decision-making, efficiency, and transparency, ultimately enhancing their impact at scale. Extending Koita Foundation’s eight-year journey in NGO digital transformation, KCDT will foster collaboration between SPOs and technology providers, share case studies, and equip organizations with the skills to leverage digital tools effectively. With additional cohorts planned for 2025, the initiative is set to expand its reach and further its mission of empowering the social sector through digital innovation. To know more, click here.
Eat Happy Now, Founded by GivingPi Member Sharmila Rathinam, is transforming food rescue and redistribution in King County, Washington, ensuring surplus food reaches those who need it most. In just two years, the organization has recovered 6,10,000+ pounds of food, providing 4,80,000+ meals while preventing 1.5 million pounds of CO emissions. Serving 35,000+ individuals weekly, Eat Happy Now partners with Amazon, DoorDash, and local agencies to expand its reach. Through its tech-driven platform, it connects food donors, nonprofits, and volunteers in real-time, making food access more efficient and sustainable. With a goal to deliver 1.5 million meals in 2025, Eat Happy Now is driving lasting change in hunger relief and climate action. To learn more, click here.
Upadhyaya Foundation, a family philanthropy established by GivingPi Members, Brinda and Ajay Upadhyaya, and India Animal Fund (IAF), Founded by GivingPi Member, Parag Agarwal, have jointly launched the Policy Reform project to enhance animal welfare in India. This initiative focuses on strengthening legal protections, introducing welfare regulations, and collaborating with government agencies to improve enforcement. Implemented by People for Animals – Public Policy Foundation (PFA PPF), the project recently co-authored the 'Package of Practices for Organized Pig Farms' in partnership with the Indian Council for Agricultural Research. This pioneering document sets welfare standards for pig management, covering feeding, housing, and care for India’s nine million pigs. PFA PPF is now working with the Pig Training Institute, Aligarh, to integrate these best practices into their training modules, ensuring widespread adoption of improved animal welfare standards.
GAME – Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship, Founded by GivingPi Member Ravi Venkatesan, has taken a significant step towards advancing entrepreneurship in Andhra Pradesh by signing an MoU with Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty – India (SERP) and the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFST) under the state’s ‘One Family, One Entrepreneur’ initiative. This collaboration will empower 1 lakh women entrepreneurs, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Lakhpati Didis’, where women earn sustainable income and drive community transformation. By fostering agri-entrepreneurship, expanding renewable energy solutions, and increasing access to credit, markets, and resources, this initiative will unlock new economic opportunities for women and youth. With a strong focus on self-reliance and inclusive growth, GAME’s efforts will not only fuel economic activity but also strengthen India’s progress toward the SDGs on gender equality and decent work. To know more, click here.
GivingPi Member Poonam Nanda is the Trustee & Chief Mentor of the Yuvraj Singh Foundation (YouWeCan), which is making significant strides in transforming women’s healthcare in India through the ‘Swasth Mahila, Swasth Bharat’ initiative. Focused on early detection and preventive healthcare for breast cancer, the initiative has now surpassed a significant milestone - 50,000+ health scans conducted across India. This achievement has been made possible through the support of Xiaomi India, whose partnership has strengthened the program’s reach, and the dedication of the on-ground team, whose efforts continue to drive impact in underserved communities. With a
commitment to early diagnosis and accessible healthcare, Swasth Mahila, Swasth Bharat is empowering women and creating lasting change in India’s healthcare landscape. To know more, click here.
Dasra and Bain & Company
Contributing high volumes to the GDP – family businesses are laying the cornerstones for a Viksit Bharat by 2047. Their historic contribution to nation building is mirrored in their giving journeys, through personal philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In its 15th edition, the India Philanthropy Report (IPR) 2025, co-created by Dasra and Bain & Company, delves into key trends shaping private philanthropy in India across different funder archetypes. Drawing on firsthand insights from the GivingPi network, the report examines how families are shaping India’s economic and social fabric through both personal philanthropy and CSR, while also underscoring the growing need to strengthen the country’s philanthropy support infrastructure.
Dasra and Kearney
Nonprofit work has long been a part of India’s developmental fabric. But for the world to truly appreciate this, the sector must find the language to tell its story. In its inaugural edition, India Nonprofit Report (INR), co-published by Dasra and Kearney, takes a step in this direction. The report provides cutting-edge insights into the non- profit sector, exploring its evolving dynamics—shifts in scale, scope, and pace. Analyzing 400 survey responses by NGOs working across India on varied thematic areas, insights from 30 in-depth NGO interviews, and official NGO Darpan data, it offers a structured social impact taxonomy to unpack the operations, evolution, and impact of nonprofits.
Dasra and SVP India
Dasra, in collaboration with SVP India, conducted a pioneering research study examining the philanthropic motivations and behaviors of professionals in India. Inspired by similar research by Stanford PACS in the U.S., this study explores two key questions: What influences the giving patterns of professionals? How do they engage in philanthropy? Through first-hand insights from professional givers, the study provides insights into the factors that influence motivations, giving approaches, challenges, and opportunities that shape the philanthropy of professionals.
Dasra and P150
As India’s philanthropy landscape evolves, the role of strategic support services is becoming increasingly important. This first-of-its-kind whitepaper, published by Dasra in collaboration with P150, analyzes the current state of India’s philanthropy support ecosystem—mapping key players, identifying challenges, and highlighting opportunities to strengthen advisory services for funders and drive more effective giving.
