Recently, GivingPi hosted its rst-ever Masterclass, the start of a new series that will bring philanthropists and practitioners together to engage with some of the most urgent questions facing philanthropy today. In partnership with the Gates Foundation and Dalberg, the inaugural session focused on equity in education, a theme central to India’s future.
The evidence brought forth during the masterclass was sobering. Millions of children in India remain out of school, learning outcomes have stagnated for over a decade, and inequities
persist for girls, children with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities. Most striking of all the data discussed was the intergenerational link - a mother’s education has a
transformative effect on her children’s learning outcomes - especially for girls - underscoring the powerful returns of investing in female education.
Against this backdrop, GivingPi Member Radhika Bharat Ram drew on two decades of experience with the Shri Ram Education ecosystem, re ecting on how intentional reforms have made inclusion possible. Today, 25% of Shri Ram School’s students come from underserved communities, alongside pioneering programs for visually impaired learners. As she reminded us, “We don’t need to empower them - they already have the power. What we need to do is enable them.”
The Masterclass highlighted that equity in education is not a distant aspiration, but a moral and developmental imperative. It also underscored philanthropy’s unique role, when strategic, evidence-driven, and collaborative, in shifting outcomes at scale.
This was just the beginning. Through this new series of Masterclasses, GivingPi will continue to create spaces for recreation, learning, and action on the issues that will shape India’s
future.
GivingPi Member Meheen Rangoonwala leads with a vision that bridges inclusion and culture, ensuring children with disabilities can thrive with dignity, while also strengthening South Asia’s arts ecosystem. As Founder and Trustee of MAITS and Global Program Manager at the ZVM Rangoonwala Foundation, Meheen has spearheaded initiatives that have transformed the lives of children with disabilities in India. Under her leadership, MAITS has delivered 33 training programs across 23 organizations, directly reaching 31,480 children and equipping 1,271 caregivers with essential skills. Her work with Satya Special School in Puducherry is expanding access further through low-cost adaptive devices, training Anganwadi workers to deliver home-based support, and developing a sustainable in-country training structure. This approach is not just about training or equipment, it is about empowering families, reducing the physical burden on mothers, and enabling children to eat, play, learn, and thrive. Additionally, as Trustee of the Art South Asia Project (ASAP), founded in 2021, Meheen is nurturing the cultural fabric of the region. ASAP strengthens the infrastructure for modern and contemporary arts through grants, collaborations, and professional development. Its current partnership with Asia Art Archive in India hosts Assembling Art Archives: Workshops for South Asia - a 10-month program supporting 20 early- to mid-career arts professionals from across Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. By convening global and regional practitioners, this initiative is advancing knowledge exchange in archiving and arts education, culminating in a symposium in Kathmandu this November. Alongside, ASAP’s Art Murmur talk series continues to connect artists, academics, and subject specialists in critical conversations around South Asian art.
For over 25 years, GivingPi Member and the Dalal Family Foundation Founder Nayan Dalal has led the Foundation in advancing health, education, and community wellbeing in the US and India. Their mission being, ensuring every child has access to education and empowering women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly to live with dignity and independence. In India, their work spans the Ayati Girl Icon program in rural Uttar Pradesh, improving hygiene practices for hundreds of girls; the Jyoti Dalal College of Commerce and Management in Surat, educating over 4,000 girls; and the Disabled Women Empowerment Project in Bhavnagar, providing women with disabilities the skills, tools, and capital to build livelihoods. In Sitapur, the Swarachna School and girls’ hostel serves 13 villages, delivering holistic education with a focus on girls’ empowerment. Across these initiatives, the Dalal Family Foundation is creating pathways to education, economic opportunity, and social inclusion - proving that investing in one woman or child can transform entire communities.
GivingPi Member Leena Dandekar, Founder of Raintree Foundation, is leading efforts that place nature at the heart of development. In the Northern Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, the Foundation’s watershed development program in Velhe block, Pune is demonstrating how ecological restoration can directly transform lives, exemplifying a systemic approach. Through innovative structures like loose boulder check dams that recharge groundwater, reduce erosion, and retain soil moisture, the initiative is building resilience in both landscapes and communities. Spanning over 2,100 hectares across 9 villages, these efforts are already improving water security for more than 4,000 people, strengthening agriculture, safeguarding drinking water, and sustaining rural livelihoods. With 3,632 m³ of water storage capacity and 8,130 m³ of ground water recharge annually, it supports smallholder farmers while also bene ting downstream communities. By working with nature rather than against it, Leena and the Raintree Foundation are showing how philanthropy can create lasting impact at the intersection of ecology, community, and climate resilience.
Kashvi Trust, founded by GivingPi Member Nitasha Thapar, is transforming the lives of young women by meeting them at every stage of their growth and equipping them with the tools to thrive. Building on this foundation, the agship Kashvi Manzil program has empowered over 6000 women, especially those who have dropped out of formal education, with intensive skills to secure meaningful careers and economic freedom. In its continuity begins the Kashvi Disha, the Trust’s vocational, career readiness and livelihoods program that has already supported more than 1000 women in identifying their strengths and exploring future pathways. For those pursuing higher education, Kashvi Udaan offers a exible, tech-enabled learning experience that enables out-of-school learners complete their education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). This online model is designed for learners who may not be able to attend physical centres due to geographical, familial, or personal constraints. Together, these initiatives create a continuum of empowerment that allows girls to dream bigger, build stronger foundations, and achieve their ambitions. At the heart of it all is Nitasha Thapar, whose unwavering belief in the potential of every young woman fuels Kashvi’s mission. Through her leadership, Kashvi is opening doors and enabling agency in those who choose to turn their setbacks into comeback.
GivingPi Members Usha and R. Sundar, Co-Founders of Hi5 Youth Foundation, are marking ten years of transforming young lives through the power of sport. What began as a vision to use basketball as a tool for development has grown into a movement that now trains 4,000+ children every day across 35 centers in 8 states. Through its multi-year programs, the foundation develops young children into skilled players and successful school teams, equipping them to leverage their achievements on the basketball court toward obtaining a college degree and enhancing their economic prospects. Last month, as the Foundation commemorated its decade-long journey, it not only re ected on the many lives it has had the privilege to support but also expressed deep gratitude to the partners and supporters who have walked alongside it over the years. Looking ahead, the Foundation remains committed to a future where sport continues to be a catalyst for dignity, resilience, and empowerment for India’s youth
GivingPi Member and Director of the Pagaria Foundation, Vaidhei Pagaria is championing an initiative that blends sustainability with care. Through the Foundation’s soft toy collection drive, launched during Daan Utsav, gently used and new toys are collected, sanitized, and distributed to children in rural and tribal communities. So far, the drive has delivered 1,000+ toys, bringing joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging to underserved children. Beyond this, it also advances key UN Sustainable Development Goals - from health and well-being to responsible consumption and reduced inequalities. By transforming something as simple as a toy into a symbol of dignity and inclusion, Vaidhei and the Pagaria Foundation are showing how community-driven philanthropy can spark joy today while laying the foundation for a more sustainable tomorrow. If you would like to collaborate or support, write to [email protected].
Setco Foundation, led by GivingPi Member Urja Shah as President and Managing Trustee, champions the power of sport through its agship Shikhar Program. A strong believer in Sports for Development, the foundation leverages sport as a catalyst to foster life skills, discipline, self-reliance, ownership, a sense of belonging and community, and leadership in children and youth. Building on her deep experience of working with women and girls, Urja has extended the foundation's commitment to nurturing young, local talent and ground-up empowerment and agency by seeding and supporting an independent community-driven non-pro t, the Judo and Sports Association of Panchmahal (JSAP). This partnership has created meaningful opportunities for grassroots athletes - nurturing talent from Panchmahal and beyond, hosting state-level judo, woodball and athletic competitions, and opening platforms for children and youth in both rural and urban communities to pursue their dreams and goals. At its heart, the initiative re ects Setco Foundation’s vision: driving social impact and resilience through innovative, community-centered programs.
GivingPi Member Vani Gupta, Founder of The Bigger Picture, is demonstrating how personal commitment can transform lives. Through their hunger program, The Bigger Picture has been offering daily meals to 1000+ children, working to ensure that vulnerable communities have access to nutritious meals – addressing not just food insecurity, but also restoring dignity and hope for those who often go unseen. Equally inspiring are the individual stories of impact that highlight the compassion at the heart of Vani’s work. When Vani learned about Aziza, a young girl born with hearing loss, she mobilized her network to raise funds for a life-changing cochlear implant surgery. Today, Aziza can hear for the rst time – opening up a world of connection, communication, and opportunity once out of reach for her. Together, these interventions re ect the ethos of The Bigger Picture: philanthropy that is deeply human, rooted in dignity, and focused on unlocking potential— whether by nourishing communities or changing the trajectory of a child’s life.
PTI
India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS) and the Harish & Bina Shah Foundation (HBSF), the family foundation of GivingPi Members Harish and Bina Shah and Amira Shah Chhabra, have launched the Harish and Bina Shah Centre for Talent and Leadership. This pioneering institution will strengthen India’s nonpro t leadership pipeline through agship programs, women’s leadership accelerators, and community-led platforms, aiming to equip 1,000+ leaders by 2030.
Vidya Shah and Naina Subberwal Batra
Despite growing attention, gender-lens investing is still too often treated as “pink capital,” overlooking the structural inequities women face. This article argues for rethinking philanthropy and investment through a systemic, intersectional lens — positioning gender as a baseline for all decisions, not a sidebar.
