A new era of Indian philanthropy

Not as well known as India’s impressive economic growth story, but just as powerful is the trajectory of its vibrant philanthropic sector. This movement of giving draws on over a century-long tradition to advance urgent solutions to challenges of the moment. For generations prior to India’s independence, and in the early days following it, individuals and families across the country committed themselves to public-oriented giving, channeling their energy and capital toward work that served a larger good. Guided by a deep sense of trusteeship, their philanthropy prioritized nation-building, particularly education, laying the groundwork for generations to come. As far back as 1892, the industrialist Jamsetji Tata established the J.N. Tata Endowment to support Indian students pursuing higher education abroad — an initiative that still exists today. As president of the Ford Foundation, I have witnessed the legacy of these early philanthropists and nation-builders carried forward and transformed into a flourishing philanthropic sector. I have learned from many of the dynamic leaders working to expand what philanthropy in India looks like and who it serves. Together, they have contributed billions of dollars to diverse people, organizations, and ideas — and, in the process, developed a modern model of giving worthy of emulation the world over. The scale of this sector should not be understated. Last year, India’s private philanthropists gave more than $16 billion — a number that only promises to grow. Over the next five years, private philanthropy in the country is expected to outpace overall economic growth, and grow at a rate of approximately 10% to 12%. Leaders work across a range of spaces — gender equality, women-led development, sustainable agriculture, grassroots innovations, systemic reforms, arts and culture, and mental health. Some of these areas have historically received limited attention, but that is steadily changing with significant allocations of philanthropic dollars. These leaders are fervently committed to changing those old assumptions — and to engaging with their communities to build enduring, context-informed change. As Rati Forbes of the Forbes Marshall Foundation once put it: “Philanthropy is not just about funding projects. It is about … challenging what society has long accepted as ‘normal.’” This work offers vital lessons in disruption, sustained support, and creative thinking for philanthropists everywhere. Harish and Bina Shah’s unrestricted $11.3 million, five-year commitment to Educate Girls, an organization advancing girls’ education, represents a powerful commitment to long-term systemic shifts. Anu Aga’s close involvement with Teach For India demonstrates the value of giving not just capital but time and personal support. Ajit Isaac’s Isaac Centre for Public Policy and Centre for Public Health remind us that the work of social justice has no end date — that to maximize impact, commitments of capital must be matched by commitments of time. And Vidya Shah’s dedication to philanthropic collaboration and mentoring emerging women philanthropists offers a model of inclusive leadership and intergenerational partnerships. Today, Indian philanthropy is more expansive than ever — both in terms of who gives and where they direct their support. Women lead more than half of India’s family philanthropies. Over a third of family philanthropies are intergenerational or led by members of a rising generation. This next generation of philanthropists dare to reimagine what is possible for philanthropy. Raj Mariwala of the Mariwala Health Initiative, for instance, believes that mental health is a fundamental human right and has implications for all other social inequities — a broad, intersectional view of justice that just years ago might have been harder to find. Incentivized by India’s landmark corporate social responsibility laws, corporate giving, too, defines the philanthropic landscape. Just last year, companies gave approximately $4 billion towards health, education, rural development, environmental causes, and more. I think of this giving as the embodiment of what Jamsetji Tata once said: “In a free enterprise, the community is not just another stakeholder in business but is, in fact, the very purpose of its existence.” I’ve seen, even over the course of a decade, India’s philanthropic landscape undergo a stunning transformation. It is difficult to understate the tremendous scale, diversity, and intentionality of Indian giving today, or how far its impact extends. We can see its reach in the engagement and generosity of the Indian diaspora in the United States, which has contributed about $200 million to Indian organizations working on education, health care, gender equality, and climate change initiatives — a number that analysts expect to increase to $2.5 billion over the next five years. At the Ford Foundation, we’ve witnessed this evolution since establishing our offices in India in 1952. In the ensuing seven decades, we’ve seen Indian philanthropy shift from individual acts of giving to collective movements of impact, the effects cascading across India and beyond. We’ve learned that the most enduring change comes from solidarity, from partnering with those on the front lines to see where their experiences and wisdom lead us. India’s new era of philanthropy embodies India’s syncretic and inclusive values — nurturing ideas, empowering individuals, and fortifying institutions that promise to advance nation-building for many generations to come.