Recently, GivingPi, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins and ACT Grants, hosted a pivotal roundtable titled 'Accelerating Impact: Philanthropy’s Role in Shaping India’s Path to 2047' in Mumbai. This exclusive gathering brought together 15 visionary philanthropists and GivingPi Members to reimagine philanthropy’s potential as India approaches its centenary year of independence. The discussions centered on three critical themes: leveraging philanthropy as a catalyst for innovation, adopting bold and disruptive approaches to development, and fostering cross-sector collaboration for scalable impact. Attendees explored how philanthropy can drive advancements in technology, research, and data science to address India’s most pressing challenges in health, education, and beyond. The event sparked valuable insights, from highlighting gaps in current philanthropic strategies to identifying opportunities for collective action and partnerships. It also emphasized the urgency of time-sensitive interventions to meet India’s developmental goals. By fostering dialogue and collaboration, this roundtable marked an important step toward pioneering sustainable, high-impact solutions for an equitable and prosperous India. We’d like to extend our gratitude to GivingPi Member, Amita Gupta, Neetisha Besra, Deputy Director of the Gupta Klinsky India Institute, JHU and Suhel Bidani, Digital and AI Lead at BMGF for making this roundtable possible. GivingPi Members who attended and participated in the roundtable were Adam Khorakiwala and Dr. Akhil Shahani.
Roundglass Foundation, founded by GivingPi Founders Circle Member, Sunny Gurpreet Singh, has made remarkable strides in 2024, with impactful initiatives in environmental sustainability, education, and community development. The Billion Tree Project reached a major milestone, planting over 10,00,000 saplings last year, surpassing a total of 30,00,000 trees planted. With a 90% sapling survival rate and the creation of 15,000 MGNREGA jobs, the project continues to deliver substantial environmental and economic benefits. The Foundation’s Waste Management Program expanded to 265 villages, reaching more than 53,000 households and converting 27,000 tons of wet waste into compost. This effort reduces landfill waste and creates a cleaner environment for communities. In education, Roundglass supported 6,479 children across 325 Learn Labs, promoting joyful learning experiences. The Foundation’s Sports Centers reached over 12,000 children, with 27% female participation in the 1Girl1Football program. Additionally, 132 Yoga Centers conducted over 37,000 sessions, benefiting over 25,000 participants. With more than 400 trained youth involved as changemakers, Roundglass Foundation continues to strengthen its programs and drive sustainable, community- focused growth. To know more, click here.
GivingPi Members and Co-Founders of Catalysts for Social Action (CSA), Shibani and Vipul Jain, are continuing to make a significant impact on the lives of children in institutional care and those aging out of care at 18, known as 'care leavers'. Recently, CSA organized a National Conference on Aftercare Services in collaboration with UNICEF and A Future for Every Child. The conference focused on the critical role of aftercare services, which provide young care leavers with vital resources like education, vocational training, mentorship, and life skills. CSA runs the largest Aftercare Program in India, supporting over 2,500 care leavers, with more than 600 new enrollments each year. With a retention rate of 95% and an employment rate exceeding 70%, the program demonstrates the positive impact of comprehensive aftercare support. The conference brought together government officials, NGOs, training institutes, corporate partners, and employers to share best practices and build a collaborative network aimed at ensuring all care leavers have access to aftercare services by 2030. To know more, click here.
The Handloom School (THS), established under the aegis of WomenWeave Charitable Trust, is a family initiative of GivingPi Member, Yeshwant Rao Holkar. THS is a school of Indian handloom, which blends tradition with global relevance. The school’s focus goes beyond education and operates to transform handloom communities into hubs of innovation and economic stability. Recently, the school celebrated the graduation of 15 talented young women weavers from Maheshwar, Mandleshwar, and Kharadi in the Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh. These women successfully completed the Certificate in Skilling the Unskilled (CSTU) – Batch III, a program designed to equip them with essential weaving skills, ensuring sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurial opportunities in the handloom sector. Through this initiative, THS is not only preserving India’s rich textile heritage but also empowering women with financial independence and the ability to transform their communities. By fostering both craftsmanship and business acumen, the school plays a critical role in revitalizing the handloom industry while enabling artisans to thrive in a competitive global market. To know more, click here.
Ek Saath - The Earth Foundation, founded by GivingPi Member, Pragya Kapoor, recently partnered with Project Baala to address the critical issue of menstrual hygiene and awareness for women on Elephanta Island. This collaboration began with a comprehensive survey to better understand local menstrual practices, health challenges, and the barriers women face in accessing proper care and products. The initiative aims to break long-standing menstrual taboos by fostering open dialogue and education, empowering women to take charge of their health. Additionally, the project will provide sustainable menstrual products, ensuring women have access to safe and eco-friendly alternatives. By creating a supportive community around menstrual health, Ek Saath is working to not only improve access to necessary resources but also to change societal attitudes towards menstruation, promoting dignity and well-being for women on Elephanta Island. To know more, click here.
GivingPi Member, Ganesh Natarajan is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Lighthouse Communities Foundation, which has been at the forefront of creating impactful opportunities for disadvantaged youth. The Foundation’s collaboration with Vanderlande India Global Capability Center has provided over 1,000 young brighter futures. To know more, click here.
GivingPi Member Vedika Agrawal, through the Motilal Oswal Foundation, is taking a significant step toward improving access to higher education. The foundation has committed to funding the education of 108 students from 14 states at Mewar University, covering their full tuition fees. This initiative directly addresses the financial barriers that often prevent talented students from pursuing higher education. By enabling access to quality learning opportunities, the program aims to equip these students with the skills and knowledge needed for long-term success. To know more, click here
Parag Agarwal, Kasturi Gandhi and Mahima Shard
In this opinion piece, GivingPi Member and Founder of India Animal Fund (IAF), Parag Agarwal, and Dasra team members, Kasturi Gandhi and Mahima Sharda, explore the complexities of human and animal welfare amidst India's development narrative.
Gautam John
This piece authored by Gautam John, CEO, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, emphasizes that systemic change is most effective when communities lead, rather than when solutions are imposed from the top down. He expresses the need for philanthropy to shift from rigid frameworks to fostering deep connections, co- creation, and trust, enabling meaningful and adaptive transformation.
Luis Alvarado & Shloka Nath
This article authored by Luis Alvarado, Head of GAEA, World Economic Forum and Shloka Nath, CEO, India Climate Collaborative, explains how India's growing philanthropic sector is crucial in bridging climate finance gaps through innovative public-private partnerships, systemic solutions, and collaborative funding models to drive sustainable and equitable development.
