Indian philanthropy is innovating with growing wealth, particularly through women-led initiatives and professional donors. Collaboration among givers is increasing, focusing on education, health, and institutional strengthening. New intermediaries are assisting in scaling efforts, leading to significant societal impact and an unstoppable momentum in India.
Indian philanthropy is growing steadily, though not as much as it should, given the extreme wealth creation in the country. Yet, as it becomes ever clearer that the rich have a moral imperative to drive a more inclusive society, the wealthy have begun to innovate, Indian style.
Women-led philanthropy is finally gaining prominence even though women have historically held less wealth As salaried professionals become wealthier, they seem more keen than traditional business community donors to invest in strengthening ecosystems and building institutions.
All of this is excellent news to bring serious risk capital into various unfulfilled societal missions.
But if there is a trend one can specifically highlight, it is collaboration. More Indian givers are talking more to each other, figuring out how to share concerns, experiences, and hopes. They are learning to find ways to work together, either as co-donors to various societal missions, such as education and health, or as partners in other ways. We have better understood that we cannot do anything significant by ourselves; that there is plenty of talent around; that some foundations specialise in certain areas and are willing to lend their expertise-whether on convening, technology, government partnerships, talent management, and more.
For me, that is the most heartening trend I have witnessed in the past year. I have attended numerous meetings where philanthropists, young and old, mature and inexperienced, have met to seriously discuss an impactful way forward. More intermediaries too have come in to help Indian donors make a start, to scale their work, or to figure out impact.
This has also helped several civil society organisations to strengthen their institutions and scale their outreach as never before.
India looks unstoppable now in every way.
