At the India Philanthropy Forum (IPF) during Dasra Philanthropy Week 2026 (DPW), the panel Legacy 2047: India’s Defining Philanthropy Moment brought together leading voices to examine how India can shape a bold and intentional philanthropic future as it approaches its centenary year of independence. The discussion focused on what it will take to build enduring legacy through structured, value-driven giving. GivingPi Founders Circle Member, Rajan Navani and GivingPi Members Radha Goenka and Atul Singh each offered distinct but complementary perspectives on legacy and responsibility.
Rajan reflected on the deeply embedded culture of family giving in India, emphasizing that as wealth scales, philanthropy must be institutionalized with intention. Succession planning, formal structures, and enabling infrastructure are critical because legacy is not only about values, but about translating those values into action.
Radha spoke about stewardship in multi-generational families, underscoring that wealth carries an obligation and that each generation must strengthen what it inherits, including its commitment to giving. For her, philanthropy is not episodic charity, but a sustained discipline rooted in accountability and long-term responsibility.
Atul positioned philanthropy as central to legacy-building in a country defined by first- and second-generation wealth creators. Structured giving, he noted, allows families to transfer not only capital but purpose across generations, calling for stronger advisory frameworks and collaboration between donors, communities, and government.
The session also featured insights from Bhavini Malhotra, who highlighted the need for philanthropic capital to grow faster than GDP to meet India’s development needs.
Together, the panel made one message clear: as India stands at an inflection point, philanthropy must grow not just in scale, but in seriousness, discipline, and ambition, ensuring that the legacy we build by 2047 reflects both prosperity and purpose.
At the India Philanthropy Forum (IPF) during Dasra Philanthropy Week 2026 (DPW), the panel Building the Beacon: Journey of Pride Fund India centered inclusion as foundational to India’s future - not peripheral to it. The conversation examined how Pride Fund India is translating access, dignity, and opportunity into lived realities for LGBTQIA+ communities.
Moderated by GivingPi Member Radhika Piramal, the session confronted a difficult truth: domestic philanthropy in India has yet to step forward meaningfully for LGBTQIA+ rights. She underscored that the moment demands moving beyond token gestures toward sustained capital, jobs, and institutional pathways that enable dignity and long-term opportunity.
Akshay Tyagi, representing the Keshav Suri Foundation founded by GivingPi Member Keshav Suri, reflected on how far removed boardrooms can be from lived experience. He emphasized that if India aspires to global leadership, it must recognize that inclusion is not aspirational rhetoric - it is structural necessity.
Parmesh Shahani made the case for engaging with the queer economy not only as a moral imperative but as a strategic one, noting that businesses and nations alike perform better when they are inclusive. There can be no Viksit Bharat without fully embracing the LGBTQIA+ population.
Koyel Ghosh brought attention to the layered marginalizations queer individuals face - across caste, class, religion, and gender.
Ramkali shared a powerful reminder that real change is not charity, but visibility and rightful presence in every institution - from hospitals and courts to schools and workplaces.
The session reinforced a clear message: Pride Fund India is not simply funding programs - it is building a beacon. One that signals that inclusion is not optional, but foundational to the India we seek to build.
At the India Philanthropy Forum (IPF) during Dasra Philanthropy Week 2026 (DPW), the panel Big Bets, Bold Steps: Giving for India@2047 examined what it truly takes for philanthropy to rise to the scale of India’s ambition. The conversation challenged funders to think beyond incremental change and commit to long-term, systems-level transformation.
GivingPi Member Karishma Shanghvi called for reinvention and audacity in philanthropy. She emphasized that the role of capital is not to protect programs, but to empower solutions. This requires measuring the right goals, adopting a systems lens, and staying focused on solving the core problem - rather than becoming attached to a specific intervention. Boldness, she suggested, lies in the willingness to evolve.
Sameer Shisodia reinforced that sustained change is built on healthy ecosystems, urging funders to reflect on whether they are acting as enablers of progress or inadvertently becoming gatekeepers.
Reshma Anand underscored the urgency of India’s demographic window, reminding the audience that institution-building demands patience, long runways, and the discipline to resist chasing the next “shiny” idea.
The session closed with the thought that big bets are not merely about scale of funding, but about depth of commitment. True boldness, she noted, must show up not just in the size of our commitments, but in our patience, intentionality, and willingness to stay the course.
Recently, the launch of SIRA - a collective for Nurturing Care in India, took place in Mumbai. Convened by LGT Venture Philanthropy, LGT Wealth India, Synergos and GivingPi, the evening brought together philanthropic families, foundations, and implementing leaders around one shared ambition: that every child in India is supported through a seamless continuum of care across the first six years of life.
It was a privilege to have GivingPi Founders Circle Member, Prince Max von und zu Liechtenstein alongside Peggy Dulany, in a candid conversation moderated by GivingPi Member, Rumana Hamied, on intergenerational stewardship, legacy, and value-led giving. The message was clear: capital alone is not enough. Enduring impact demands humility, partnership, and the willingness to listen deeply - especially to those closest to the problem.
Through the evening, we explored what coordinated action for early childhood truly requires. From a powerful “put a finger down” exercise led by CIFF that reminded us how many fundamentals we take for granted, to a grounded discussion between funders and implementers on what alignment looks like in practice - trust, patience, honest communication, and shared outcomes emerged as non-negotiables. Immersive installations and VR field journeys brought the lived realities of mothers, frontline workers, and young children into the room - reinforcing why the first six years are decisive for India’s long-term human capital trajectory.
A defining moment was the unveiling of the Nurturing Care Funders’ Pledge - a collective commitment to mobilize long-term, catalytic capital and to act in coordination rather than in silos. Funders who signed the pledge include Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), The Convergence Foundation, Dovetail Impact Foundation, Grand Challenges Canada, Kathiwada Foundation, LGT Venture Philanthropy, and Veddis Foundation. SIRA means “thread” in Sanskrit. And that is precisely what this collective seeks to do - weave together funders, implementers, evidence, and government alignment so that care in the early years is not fragmented, but whole.
If the early childhood space resonates with you, we invite you to join this collective. Sign up to the Nurturing Care Funders’ Pledge here and be part of building India’s future from the very start.
In partnership with the MacArthur Foundation, GivingPi convened The Philanthropist Roundtable in New Delhi for a closed-door conversation on how Indian philanthropy must evolve in the years ahead. Featuring John Palfrey, alongside Aparna Uppaluri and Neera Nundy, the discussion explored how philanthropy can balance urgency with long-term commitment - moving beyond short-term responses toward approaches that build lasting change.
One clear theme was the rise of new wealth from India’s startup ecosystem. These donors are not only contributing capital, but also bringing hands-on involvement and problem-solving mindsets. At the same time, the group reflected on the need for patience. While some decisions can and should move quickly, meaningful social change takes time and sustained effort.
Collaboration was another strong thread. Participants emphasized that working together requires more than shared funding - it calls for trust, transparency, and regular engagement. The importance of working with government systems, rather than around them, was also highlighted as key to ensuring that promising ideas can endure beyond initial pilots.
The conversation also touched on the importance of being honest about what isn’t working, investing adequately in strong organizations, and staying close to the communities philanthropy seeks to serve.
The roundtable reinforced a simple but important idea: the next decade of Indian philanthropy will require not just more capital, but more thoughtful, collaborative, and long-term action.
On the sidelines of Mumbai Climate Week, during the India visit of Dr. Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, the Foundation convened a private dinner hosted by GivingPi Member, Govind Iyer, in partnership with Dasra, bringing together leading philanthropists and sector leaders for a candid dialogue on advancing systems-level impact across education, healthcare, water security, and climate.
The conversation was anchored in lived experience and bold ambition. GivingPi Member, Amit Chandra, reflected on water scarcity and empowering farmers; Dr. Anand Bang shared insights from decades of community health work; Safeena Husain spoke about scaling girls’ education; and Venkat Krishnan and GivingPi Member, Amita Chauhan, discussed building scale and trust through GiveIndia.
Several themes surfaced with clarity - embedding a gender lens to reach the last mile; leveraging AI and data for sharper targeting; listening deeply to communities as co-creators of change; and working in close partnership with the government to influence durable policy shifts. Underpinning it all was a shared belief that philanthropists must act not only as funders, but as long-term strategic partners willing to make catalytic bets.
GivingPi Members also present were Nandita Dugar and Luis Miranda - contributing to a rich exchange on how capital, when aligned with systems thinking, can help unlock inclusive and sustained progress in India.
As part of Dasra Philanthropy Week (DPW) 2026, GivingPi Member Taraknath Woddi joined a panel discussion co-hosted by Project Tech4Dev and Dasra on 24th February in Mumbai. The session convened funders, NGOs, and ecosystem partners to explore how technology and AI are being applied across the development sector - and what meaningful support could look like going forward.
Tarak offered a grounded perspective on AI adoption in the social sector. Rather than integrating AI simply to appear “AI-ready,” he emphasised the importance of applying technology to solve clearly defined problems. He also unpacked the cost implications of different AI models, comparing Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), and highlighted the potential efficiency of GANs for sector use cases. At a broader level, he raised important questions about the long-term costs of AI infrastructure and sustainability.
As NGOs increasingly experiment with data and AI to design programmes, deliver services, and scale impact, the conversation underscored the need for philanthropy to keep pace. Tarak noted that funders must be intentional and open to supporting AI solutions that are problem-led — grounded in the real needs of organisations and the communities they serve.
The exchange served as a timely reminder: technology in the social sector should not be driven by trend, but by purpose.
A few weeks ago, we convened our first GivingPi gathering in Seattle, generously hosted by Sharmila Rathinam. The evening brought together GivingPi families in the region for a thoughtful exchange grounded in shared values and a collective commitment to accelerating meaningful social impact. Conversations centred on responsibility, long-term stewardship, and the role families can play in shaping more equitable futures.
We were also encouraged by the work of EatHappy, whose food recovery and rescue efforts illustrate what practice-led, community-rooted solutions can look like when dignity and scale are held together. Operating at the intersection of technology, food insecurity, and lived experience, their work offers a compelling example of how philanthropy can catalyze impact while remaining deeply responsive to community needs.
During a recent visit to Shikha Academy, GivingPi Members had the opportunity to see firsthand how a globally recognized academic framework can be thoughtfully contextualized for low-income communities. Shikha’s adaptation of the Cambridge curriculum demonstrates how academic rigor can be preserved while ensuring relevance, accessibility, and sustained support for both students and educators.
The walkthrough offered an in-depth look at the academy’s systems-led approach to delivering high-quality education - from classroom instruction and educator development to leadership processes and continuous improvement mechanisms. Interactions with GivingPi Member Karishma Shanghvi, Founder of Shikha Academy, and her team highlighted how quality is embedded institutionally, rather than reliant on individual effort alone.
Conversations over lunch created further space to reflect on what it takes to build and sustain excellence within a whole-school model - and what philanthropy can learn from institutions that design for durability from the outset.
GivingPi hosted an exclusive tour at the India Art Fair (IAF) 2026, South Asia’s premier platform for modern and contemporary art. Building on the wonderful response to last year’s walkthrough, this edition marked a continuation of our partnership with IAF through a thoughtfully curated experience for our philanthropic community. The walkthrough highlighted select presentations across some of the fair’s most significant sections and galleries, offering participants insightful perspectives on the region’s evolving cultural landscape. The intimate exploration brought together galleries, artists, and institutions that are shaping India’s vibrant arts ecosystem, creating space for meaningful dialogue and shared discovery.
By Bain & Company and Dasra
In its 16th edition, the India Philanthropy Report 2026, co-created by Dasra and Bain & Company, examines giving trends across CSR, retail donors, UHNIs, HNIs, and affluent givers - highlighting India at a pivotal institutional moment. As family wealth formalises and diaspora influence grows, the report underscores family philanthropy as the backbone of private giving and calls for stronger infrastructure to unlock long-term stewardship and impact.
By Geetika Dadlani | The Times of India
In this opinion piece, Geetika Dadlani, Head of GivingPi, asserts that India’s ambition to lead in STEM must be matched by urgent investment in foundational literacy and numeracy. Highlighting the work of GivingPi Member Sanjay Palsamudram and the Palsamudram Family Trust, she makes the case for full-spectrum philanthropy that strengthens both early learning and advanced scientific pathways - ensuring India’s growth is inclusive as well as globally competitive.
By Alex Counts | INDIAWEST
In this piece, Alex Counts argues that strong philanthropic ecosystems - not just individual donors - are what enable cross-border impact between India and the United States. Highlighting platforms such as GivingPi and other collaborative initiatives, he makes the case that a coordinated, well-supported diaspora giving ecosystem can deepen bilateral ties and set a global standard for philanthropy.
By Aleem Jivraj | AVPN
This article states that while Southeast Asia has no shortage of impactful grassroots NGOs and growing philanthropic capital, few organizations are able to scale sustainably due to gaps in long-term funding, leadership depth, and ecosystem support. It makes the case for patient, flexible capital and stronger intermediary platforms to help community-based organizations grow into durable, system-shaping institutions.
