Smita Ram

The India Philanthropy Forum continues to be a space where the sector comes together with honesty and shared intent. It was a pleasure speaking with Safeena Husain and Dr. Armida Fernandez, two stalwarts whose journeys offer deep lessons in building, sustaining, and staying rooted in purpose. Conversations like these remind us that learning from each other is as important as the work itself.

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India Philanthropy Forum 2026 | 26 February 2026 Pathfinders in Praxis: Role of Institutional Philanthropy in Uncertain Times As uncertainty reshapes the global landscape, institutional funders are re-examining how capital can create deeper, more durable impact. Join sector leaders as they reflect on what has endured, where systemic gaps remain, and how philanthropic capital can generate stronger multiplier effects through core support, co-funding, institutional capacity, and accountability to communities. Ashwin Iyer, Martin Tan, yamini mishra, Parnasha Banerjee Request an Invite: https://luma.com/usedxdjm #DPW2026 #IndiaPhilanthropyForum #Philanthropy #SocialImpact 

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Philanthropy in India is evolving from individual intent to shared purpose. In the season premiere of Unusual Suspects, Geetika Dadlani, Associate Director at Dasra and Head of GivingPi, explores a pivotal shift: the rise of philanthropy networks that are moving funders from funding outputs to enabling systemic outcomes. She reflects on how networks are creating space for families to step back, reflect on their intent, and embrace giving that is bold, strategic, and deeply human. As Indian philanthropy becomes more ambitious, collaborative, and future-focused, what role will trust, alignment, and community play in shaping its next chapter? To find out, listen to the conversation here - https://lnkd.in/dGpkBQF9 moneycontrol .com, Earshot Media, Gaurav Choudhury #UnusualSuspects #FamilyPhilanthropy #GivingWithPurpose #GivingPi #StrategicPhilanthropy #IndiaPhilanthropy #PhilanthropyNetworks #FutureOfGiving #Dasra #ImpactMatters #SocialChange

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Hot off the press: We launched the 16th edition of the India Philanthropy Report (IPR) during the Dasra Philanthropy Week. In our recent media conversations on the report, we asked as we answered questions: Does philanthropy in India need its own "Mutual Funds Sahi Hai" moment? Just as wealth management requires a sophisticated backend of advisors, vehicles, and messaging, our report argues that philanthropy needs a similar step change. The data in IPR 2026 makes the "why" very clear. While we are seeing a steady 9-11% CAGR in giving. This pace isn't enough to meet the on-ground demand. We need an acceleration to a 25% growth rate. Achieving this requires better support infrastructure, enabling regulation, and narrative shifts. When I talk about "demand" in philanthropy, I’m referring to the needs of communities battling systemic gaps. These needs are bridged every day by nonprofits and social enterprises working on the ground. I am ending this post with personal reflection as I contribute to my sixth IPR. As a student of the social sciences who works in this sector, my relationship with philanthropy is complex. Philanthropy is inextricably linked to inequality. However, my experiences have shown me the undeniable power of collective intention. In an era of uncertainty, investing in each other’s well-being is about sharing and co-existing. It is the only hopeful choice. The ROI is a moral imperative. https://lnkd.in/dfKcdb6x Please find the report link above. Kudos to the Dasra and Bain team for putting the report together successfully, yet again. Shout out to my teammates Prachi Pal (She/Her) and Anushka Dias, for this edition! :)

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This conversation feels especially timely for India. In our recent interview with BW Businessworld, together with AVPN Chair Achal Agarwal, I shared a conviction I hold strongly: social organisations must be financially sustainable if they are to shape markets at scale. When business sustainability is missing, impact is too easily relegated to the margins and treated as philanthropy rather than as a core driver of economic growth. India stands at a powerful inflection point. With a young workforce, expanding digital public infrastructure and growing pools of catalytic and commercial capital, we have the ingredients to build enterprises that are both purpose-driven and performance-led. The question is not whether impact belongs in the mainstream economy. It is whether we are ready to design systems that enable it to thrive there. That means strengthening the full ecosystem: patient and blended capital, enabling policy, accountability standards, and platforms that connect founders to markets and long-term partners. I am optimistic about India’s future. Not because the hurdles are small, but because the ambition and capability across our impact community are growing rapidly. India has the potential to demonstrate how inclusive growth can be investment-ready, scalable and globally relevant. That is also why it feels timely for the AVPN Global Conference 2026 to be held in #India. The conversations we need about sustainable impact, capital alignment and system building are already unfolding here. Bringing the global community together in India this year is not symbolic. It reflects where the momentum is, and where the future of impact is being actively shaped. Read the interview here: https://lnkd.in/gWxyh-JH #AVPN2026 #socialimpact #socialinvestment #philanthropy

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I had the privilege of sharing a few insights for the Dasra India Philanthropy Report 2026. This was based on observations around enabling factors for philanthropy in different parts of Asia- thanks to the presence of Global Philanthropists Circle members in the region. Congratulations to the team behind it for bringing together thought-provoking insights in this report! About IPR: In its 16th edition, the India Philanthropy Report (IPR) 2026, co-created by Dasra and Bain & Company, examines giving trends across funder archetypes — CSR, Retail Givers, UHNIs, HNIs, and Affluent Givers. This year's report finds India at an inflection point: domestic family wealth is rapidly institutionalizing, the Indian diaspora is growing in influence, and philanthropic hubs are emerging across Asia. It underscores family philanthropy as the backbone of private giving, where structured support can unlock significant upside. As India moves through this formative institutional window, strengthening philanthropic infrastructure is a critical lever for greater wealth stewardship and long-term impact. Link to the report: https://lnkd.in/g9yMHTj3 Prachi Pal (She/Her) Ami Misra Anushka Dias Geetika Dadlani Susan Dass

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🌍 CSR Collaboration Opportunity | Healthcare • Education • Food Support 🌍 Our NGO, *Unnatisheel Chhayaapath Jan Kalyan Samiti*, is actively seeking CSR partnerships with Corporates and Banking Institutions to implement community welfare initiatives across Madhya Pradesh. We are inviting CSR collaboration for the following social impact projects: 🍲 Free Food Distribution for Poor & Needy Families 📚 Education Support for Underprivileged Children 🏥 Free Health Checkup & Medical Camps 🚑 Emergency Healthcare & Community Support Programs These initiatives aim to support economically weaker communities by improving access to nutrition, education, and healthcare services at the grassroots level. We welcome CSR partnerships from leading organizations including: Reliance Industries Limited Tata Group Adani Group ITC Limited UltraTech Cement NTPC Limited ONGC Foundation Indian Oil Corp Limited Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited HDFC Bank ICICI Bank Cares Axis Bank Foundation State Bank of India Together, let us create sustainable social impact and empower communities in need. 📩 CSR Teams may connect with us for project proposals and collaboration discussions. #CSR #CSRIndia #EducationForAll #HealthcareForAll #FoodForAll #NGOIndia #CorporateSocialResponsibility #SocialImpact #CommunityDevelopment #MadhyaPradesh

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𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐜 𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞-𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 📌 In the latest Market Pulse, Prabhir Correa, Director & Head - Philanthropy, Impact Advisory & Strategic Alliances at Waterfield Advisors, reflects on how Indian families are gradually shifting from one-off, instinct-driven philanthropy to more structured and outcome-focused approaches. While the overall scale of giving across the ecosystem remains relatively steady, families that are active philanthropists are asking sharper questions about impact, systems change and long-term effectiveness, with growing openness to collaboration and co-funding. He notes that philanthropy remains the primary entry point to impact for most Indian family offices, with a clear separation between giving and investing. Impact investing is still largely adjacent to mainstream investment strategies rather than an extension of philanthropic intent, and blended finance participation by families remains limited. Even among next-gen family members, greater awareness of sustainability and social issues does not always translate into immediate shifts in capital allocation, especially when business growth and consolidation remain top priorities. Decision-making processes within family philanthropy are also becoming more structured and inclusive. Women continue to play a central leadership role, while professional teams are increasingly shaping strategy, governance, and measurement. Families are seeking a balanced approach to impact measurement, combining evidence and structure with learning, reflection, and narrative, to better understand where capital is creating meaningful change and how philanthropic strategies can evolve over time. 🔗 Read the full interview here - https://lnkd.in/gNBPNZDW

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I keep returning to this question when we talk about innovation in the social sector. How do we fund change that is built to last?  This question, also posed by Rekha Koita, shaped the conversation at the India Fundraising Conference 2026, where I joined the session “Bridging the Gap: Patient Capital for AI & Digital Innovation” with Shaveta Sharma-Kukreja from Central Square Foundation and Suhel Bidani from the Gates Foundation. I shared reflections from our journey at Educate Girls and what it takes to thoughtfully use digital and AI-led tools across our work. In my experience, these decisions are rarely about technology alone. They are shaped by intent, timing, and mostly whether the systems we build are solving a real problem. That is where patient capital becomes critical. It trusts the process, not just the outcome. It understands that strong systems take time and that real impact rarely fits into short funding cycles. It’s required to design, build and implement including change management within the organisation For those thinking about where and how to give, this mindset matters. The kind of capital you choose shapes the kind of change you enable. ILSS - India Leaders for Social Sector #IFRC2026

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Just returned from India! Very proud we (The Resource Alliance) co-hosted #IFRC with ILSS - India Leaders for Social Sector - and welcomed over 1,000 fundraisers, nonprofit leaders, philanthropists, and ecosystem partners. The programme was all focused on Capacity & Capital — from building fundraiser capability, to strengthening organisational systems, to shifting ecosystem-level practices. India stands at a rare intersection of growth, generosity, and choice. #IFRC reminded us that this moment will not be defined by capital alone — but by the leadership of fundraisers. Some take aways from the conference: 🔹 Fundraising is leadership, not support. Across sessions on fundraising capacity, governance, and next-gen leadership, one theme was consistent: fundraisers shape what gets funded, how money moves, and what the sector values. This is strategic work — not transactional work. 🔹 Care and values must lead capital. India’s culture of Seva Bhav — giving rooted in humility, service, and compassion — was a powerful undercurrent. 🔹 Growth without purpose is fragile. Yes, domestic philanthropy is growing — across CSR, family philanthropy, individual giving, and new finance models. But #IFRC sessions on systems change reminded us that more money does not automatically equal more impact. Capital must be aligned with real social need. 🔹 Capacity building is not overhead — it is strategy. Data and case studies across the programme showed that organisations investing in fundraising capacity, systems, leadership, and talent grow faster, retain donors better, and build resilience. Funding programmes without funding capacity limits impact. 🔹 Systems change requires patient, collaborative capital. Sessions on participatory giving, pooled funds, and innovative finance reinforced that one-off projects are not enough. Long-term change requires ecosystem-level investment, collaboration, and a willingness to fund what is less visible but more essential. 🔹 Fundraisers must help set the rules of the game. From conversations on ethics, governance, and full-cost funding to dialogues with funders and CSR leaders, #IFRC made one thing clear: fundraisers sit at the intersection of mission and money. The choices we make — what we accept, what we challenge, what we advocate for — shape the future of civil society. And yes, the only truth about fundraising everywhere across the globe: If you don't ask, the answer is no! #IFRC #IndiaFundraisingConference #FundraisingLeadership #CapacityBuilding #Philanthropy #SevaBhav #CivilSociety #ResourceAlliance #ILSS

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