Photo by Ayaneshu Bhardwaj on Unsplash
By Ami Misra, Associate Director and Prachi Pal, Manager, Dasra
A new chapter is unfolding in Indian philanthropy that looks beyond who gives, focusing on how giving is enabled. As wealth transitions across generations and new givers enter the field, families are beginning to invest in the systems that make philanthropy more strategic, collaborative, and resilient. Often referred to as philanthropy infrastructure, these investments span a wide spectrum: giving platforms, nonprofit capacity building, data systems, collaboratives, research hubs, and narrative-building efforts that shape how and why people give.
These investments may be less visible than programmatic grants, but they are foundational. Like roads or power lines in an economy, infrastructure enables capital, knowledge, and collaboration to move with purpose. While the field is still evolving, families are playing a critical role in shaping a stronger, more future-ready philanthropic ecosystem in India.
A shift in priorities
Historically, family philanthropy in India has been concentrated on direct service delivery in areas such as education, healthcare, and livelihoods. While these remain essential, funding priorities are beginning to shift. Increasingly, families are complementing their programmatic giving with strategic investments in platforms and systems that underpin a robust philanthropy ecosystem.
According to the India Philanthropy Report 2025, 39% of family philanthropists express intent to invest in ecosystem building. This trend spans legacy families, ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs), and emerging philanthropists such as high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and affluent donors. The shift is also echoed more broadly: the India Philanthropy Report 2024 notes a fivefold increase in philanthropy collaboratives since the pandemic, 37% of which focus specifically on strengthening the giving ecosystem.
These shifts reflect a growing recognition that effective giving is not just about what is funded, but also how the act of giving itself is enabled.
How families are strengthening the infrastructure of giving
This evolution is taking tangible form across four areas: collaborative giving vehicles, narrative change, sector capacity building, and centres of excellence that enhance the public good.
- Collaborative giving vehicles are gaining traction as instruments for strategic philanthropy. From pledges and pooled funds to structured platforms and alliances, these mechanisms enable funders to share risk, align strategy, and engage more meaningfully with the nonprofit ecosystem. ACT Grants, co-founded by Prashanth Prakash, functions as a venture philanthropy platform that backs tech-driven social solutions. Similarly, Nikhil Kamath’s Young India Philanthropic Pledge (YIPP) is galvanising first-generation wealth creators to pledge 25% of their wealth, driving momentum and inspiring their networks and peers to give.
- Narrative change is emerging as a strategic area of investment for family philanthropists. Through campaigns, convenings, media platforms, and knowledge assets, funders are helping shape how underrepresented issues are perceived and prioritised. Raj Mariwala, through the Mariwala Health Initiative, is advancing inclusive mental health narratives by supporting research and resources on suicide prevention and trauma-informed care. Parag Agarwal’s India Animal Fund is using webinars, data, and advocacy to elevate animal welfare as a priority on the philanthropic agenda.
- Strengthening sector capacity is another critical pillar. From data systems and digital tools to governance frameworks and leadership development, families are supporting the backbone that allows nonprofits to operate with greater resilience. The Koita Foundation is equipping NGOs with technology expertise and operational support to enhance analytics and scale their impact sustainably. Rati Forbes continues to support India Leaders for Social Sector (ILSS) to build talent pipelines across the ecosystem.
- Centres of excellence that enhance the public good are receiving renewed philanthropic attention. From universities and research centres to innovation labs and cultural platforms, funders are investing in long-term institutions that deepen knowledge and catalyse systems change. Godrej DEI Lab reflects the Godrej family’s commitment to embedding equity across corporate India. The Harish and Bina Shah Foundation’s ₹250 crore contribution to Ashoka University is a landmark investment in India’s academic and intellectual infrastructure.
Barriers and bridges
Despite growing interest, ecosystem investments need greater participation from domestic givers across India and Asia. Institutional funders in Europe and North America still anchor a large part of this work, but domestic funders in the region may be hesitant to back what is seen as ‘indirect’ work. Unlike programmatic grants, investments in platforms, capacity-building, or field-strengthening often lack visible, short-term returns.
A key barrier is definitional. With limited shared vocabulary around what counts as infrastructure, newer givers often struggle to find clear entry points. Lower visibility into long-term outcomes, few widely known success stories, and uncertainty around what success looks like continue to deter broader participation.
At the same time, there is a real opportunity. Institutional funders in the Global North can play a catalytic role by investing in philanthropy support organisations (PSOs) in India and Asia to build the confidence of domestic givers. Their philanthropic seed grants can serve as catalytic capital to spur domestic momentum. Domestic PSOs can leverage this moment as a mandate and a pathway forward. By curating learning spaces, designing collaborative vehicles, building peer networks, and translating infrastructure goals into actionable strategies, ecosystem investments can be made more visible, accessible, and aligned with donors’ aspirations. It is an opportune time for families in India and Asia seeking to deepen their philanthropic practice to move beyond the ‘what’ and invest in the ‘how’. With their flexible capital and risk appetite, family philanthropists are uniquely positioned to champion the backbone that strengthens both their giving and the sector.
Ami Misra is an Associate Director at Dasra, where she anchors research and insights, driving key flagship reports and publications on India’s philanthropy and development ecosystem.
Prachi Pal is a Manager at Dasra, where she drives thought leadership and research on India’s philanthropy ecosystem.
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