Recently in Palo Alto, we had the very first convening of our GivingPi Salon series - an evening of dialogue, learning, and connection, hosted by GivingPi Member and Founder of
Iron Lady Foundation, Rashi Mehta. Iron Lady Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities through access to education, healthcare, clean water, and pathways to brighter futures.
True to her vision, Rashi continues to champion grassroots voices and strengthen the ecosystem for nonprofits, an effort deeply aligned with Dasra’s two-decade journey. The
Salon brought together philanthropists and changemakers committed to accelerating social impact for India. The evening held special significance as it also marked the one-year anniversary of Iron Lady Foundation, a powerful reminder of what persistence, community, and vision can achieve.
We were privileged to hear reflections from Deval Sanghavi (Dasra), Bidisha Mahanta (Zubaan), and Paulomee Mistry (DISHA) on collaboration, courage, and the long-term commitment needed to drive transformative change. Their insights left us with renewed
conviction that bold change is possible when we come together.
A heartfelt thank you to Rashi, Iron Lady Foundation's community, and our GivingPi members and friends who made this launch so memorable.
This is just the beginning - the GivingPi Salon Series will continue to spark trust, dialogue, and collective action across the globe. Here’s to many more conversations that inspire impact and shape the future of giving.
The Rockefeller Roundtable, hosted in September in partnership with The Rockefeller Foundation, convened philanthropists, sector leaders, and experts for a high-level dialogue on ‘Diaspora for Climate Resilience - Catalyzing Philanthropy for India@2047’. The
discussion explored how diaspora philanthropy can play a catalytic role in shaping India’s sustainable and resilient future. Key themes included the untapped potential of India’s 32
million-strong diaspora to contribute beyond remittances through technical expertise, capital, and partnerships for climate resilience; the urgency of addressing heat stress and food insecurity through regenerative agriculture and adaptive climate technologies; and the
growing importance of technology and nature-based solutions to align India’s rich biodiversity with climate-smart development. The conversation also spotlighted the influence of women-led and next-generation philanthropy, whose inclusive leadership and
innovative funding models are helping reimagine climate and social impact. Speakers underscored that India’s progress must remain community-centered, drawing on local wisdom to co-create solutions in sectors like air pollution and waste management. The
roundtable concluded with a call to strengthen institutional capacity and cross-sector collaboration, ensuring that philanthropic capital and expertise flow toward long-term, systemic change for a sustainable and equitable India.
A heartfelt thank you to Deepali Khanna and The Rockefeller Foundation for their unwavering partnership, vision, and commitment to advancing this important conversation
on climate action and diaspora philanthropy.
The India Philanthropy Forum (IPF) NYC 2025, held on September 23, 2025, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly week, brought together over 250 philanthropists, foundation heads, NGO leaders, social entrepreneurs, academics, and global development experts from across India and the world. Guided by the ethos ‘India for the World, the World for India’, the Forum celebrated India’s growing role as a global hub for social innovation and highlighted how Indian and South Asian voices are shaping global development priorities.
Through six curated sessions and 15 dynamic speakers, the Forum explored themes ranging from mental health and climate resilience to cross-border collaboration and diaspora philanthropy. It served as a platform for reflection, learning, and renewed commitment -
sparking new ideas, deepening partnerships, and reimagining how philanthropy can drive inclusive and sustainable change. By bridging insights, experiences, and collective intent, IPF NYC 2025 reinforced the power of collaborative action to strengthen India’s path toward a more equitable and resilient future.
The second edition of The Philanthropy Commons - Unity in Giving brought together influential diaspora philanthropists at the Indian Consulate in New York, hosted by GivingPi and Indiaspora. The evening featured an insightful panel with GivingPi Members, Maya
Patel, Deepak Raj, Sunil Wadhwani, and Sheetal Sheth, moderated by GivingPi Member Sandeep Singhal, which centered on the pivotal role of philanthropy in shaping India’s future.
India was presented as a dynamic laboratory of innovation, where community health models, women’s collectives, digital inclusion, and education offer scalable, homegrown solutions.
The panelists shared inspiring examples of partnerships that grew from pilot initiatives to large-scale projects, fueled by strong local leadership, sound governance, and alignment with Indian institutions.
Speakers underscored the importance of trust-based, community-driven approaches, highlighting how long-term, flexible support can unlock grassroots leadership. Engaging the next generation of philanthropists was identified as essential to maintaining and expanding this momentum.
GivingPi Member Ravi Venkatesan, Founder of the Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME), is nurturing entrepreneurial mindsets and driving inclusive economic growth across India. As a backbone organization, GAME brings together a network of partners, funders, and ecosystem players to inspire and
catalyze a nationwide entrepreneurial movement. While entrepreneurial aspiration thrives in select communities, it is often limited by socio-economic barriers, cultural norms, and a lack of visible role models and success stories. GAME seeks to shift this
narrative by mobilizing ecosystem actors to make this an accessible and aspirational path for all. In partnership with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, GAME is helping strengthen the CM Yuva Udyami Yojana, launched by the MSME Department.
Through this collaboration, GAME brings together regional stakeholders - including government bodies, corporates, educational institutions, financial organizations, and community groups - to co-create localized solutions tailored to each region’s
unique challenges. Together with NITI Aayog, GAME is transforming
entrepreneurship into a movement that fuels sustainable growth and large-scale job creation across India.
GivingPi Members Ujwala Rao and Pranav Parekh have been associated with the Happy Feet Home Foundation for over three years - as advisors, friends, and steadfast supporters of its mission. Happy Feet Home is a safe and nurturing space for children and young adults living with HIV, Thalassemia, Cancer, and
Hematological disorders. Through its daycare center and hospital outreach programs across Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai, the NGO provides holistic care - encompassing nutrition, education, career readiness, therapy, and emotional support - ensuring every child feels heard, loved, and valued. Now in its 11th year, the organization continues to expand its reach, aiming to impact 4,000 children this year. To learn more about Happy Feet Home, click here.
The Dr. Shantilal K. Somaiya School of Art at Somaiya Vidyavihar University, Mumbai, is rethinking what an art institution can mean for India today — one that expands beyond skill to encompass thought, community, and purpose. Led by Siddharth Somaiya under the guidance of Samir Somaiya, and directed by noted art
critic and educator Abhay Sardesai, the School has launched pioneering programmes - including Maharashtra’s first Master’s in Art History and India’s first in Art Criticism - alongside courses in art appreciation for students to foster crossdisciplinary creativity.
Two landmark buildings designed by architects Sameep Padora and Jitendra Mistry will soon house this growing vision, creating spaces of openness, reflection, and collaboration. Through global initiatives like Art@ICH at the Harvard India Conference, the School continues to connect Indian art and artists to the world. At its heart, the Dr. Shantilal K. Somaiya School of Art stands as a living bridge
between history and possibility - nurturing artists who see creation as both inquiry and contribution.
GivingPi Members Raj and Anna Asava, Founders of HungerMitao, are leaving a legacy of compassion through their mission to eradicate hunger across communities in the United States. On September 29, 2025, HungerMitao celebrated its 8th anniversary, marking a journey that has enabled over 80 million nutritious meals to children, seniors, and families in need. What began as a heartfelt initiative has grown into a powerful, community-driven movement in partnership with Feeding America and its network of 200+ food banks nationwide. Through this collaboration, the Asavas are inspiring the Indian diaspora in the US to unite for a shared purpose, ensuring everyone has access to food. Drop a line to [email protected] to join the movement and make an impact.
GivingPi Member Namrata Shirodkar, Founder and Director of the Mahesh Babu Foundation, is committed to transforming lives across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana through a holistic approach to empowerment. Through the Krishna Garu Scholarship, the Foundation enables meritorious students from under-resourced
backgrounds to access quality education and realize their academic aspirations.
Beyond education, Namrata’s efforts extend to strengthening livelihoods - supporting single mothers with sewing machines that help them achieve financial independence and stability. Her commitment to nurturing holistic growth is also reflected in the Foundation’s school sports initiatives, which equip children with
sports kits to promote health, confidence, and teamwork from a young age.Together, these efforts embody a belief in opportunity, dignity, and the power of giving to create lasting change.
GivingPi Member Avinash Khemka, an industrialist from Cuttack, began his journey of compassion during the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, providing food and support to migrant workers traveling along Odisha’s highways. A simple act of empathy soon grew into a collective movement, inspiring many people to join in. Determined to make this a lifelong mission, Avinash founded The Amulya Jeevan Foundation (AJF) - a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting the most vulnerable and marginalized in society. Since its inception, AJF has served over 80,000 cooked meals to migrant workers, distributed more than 2,00,000 food packets across medical centers, railway stations, and slums, and provided 80,000+ rotis to animal shelters. Guided by the belief that every life is precious, the Foundation works across several thematic pillars - including food, education, health, livelihood, happiness, and mental well-being - to create meaningful, lasting impact for those most in need.
Deval Sanghavi & Neelesh Hundekari
In this article, Deval Sanghavi and Neelesh Hundekari highlight how short-term, projectbased grants constrain NGOs from achieving scale and resilience. Drawing parallels with India’s MSME success, they argue for catalytic, multi-year, trust-based funding that
strengthens institutional capacity, leadership, and innovation - enabling non-profits to plan, adapt, and create sustainable impact.
Timsy Jaipuria
India’s mental health landscape is evolving - from early interventions for children to community-based care for seniors - reflecting a growing awareness that emotional wellbeing must be nurtured across every life stage. Yet experts stress that awareness alone isn’t enough; real progress depends on systemic change that integrates prevention, access, and compassion into India’s social fabric.
