INDIA GIVING DAY

October 2, 2022 | Author: Alex Counts, Director at India Philanthropy Alliance
FOR RELEASE MONDAY, October 3, 2022

Contact: Alex Counts
Director, India Philanthropy Alliance
mobile: 202-257-8739
email: alex@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org

Press Release

Washington, DC, USA —The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), a U.S.-based coalition of 14 nonprofit, philanthropic, and charitable organizations that operate programs in India, has announced it will host a day of giving to aid India in achieving their humanitarian and development goals. India Giving Day (IGD), which will be held on March 2, 2023, will celebrate the gift of giving and the impact that philanthropy has already had and can have in India. This announcement coincides with Gandhi Jayanti, the annual celebration of Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, and the formation of IPA three years ago, which was covered in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

The Alliance has set up a Steering Committee to manage most of the affairs of India Giving Day. This committee is co-chaired by Sejal Desai, the Executive Director of Akanksha Education Fund, and Manisha Bharti, Global Executive and CEO of Pratham USA, and is supported by representatives from the American India Foundation, CRY America, GiveIndia, Indiaspora, Project ECHO, and Sehgal Foundation. The committee will continue to add members as the campaign evolves.  Its five national co-chairs are Sapphira Goradia, Deepak Raj, MR Rangaswami, Suri Sehgal, and Sunil Wadhwani.

 “There is tremendous potential in having a special day of giving to benefit India,” says Sejal Desai, who is co-chairing this event. Sejal has good reason to be optimistic. She previously worked with a community foundation whose giving day now raises more than $62 million annually for over 3000 nonprofit organizations. “The Indian diaspora has been an active beneficiary of and contributor to the US economy,” says Sejal. “As this population continues to thrive and grow, an energizing giving day that brings together the NGO and donor community in support of India would offer a meaningful way to make a difference.”

India is the world’s largest democracy and has made significant progress on social and environmental issues over the past 25 years. However, India and its 1.3 billion people still have many urgent and unmet needs including quality and inclusive education, equitable access to health care, clean water, and more.

"It has been a thrill to be visiting India again after a brief hiatus and to witness the inspiring developments that are happening throughout the country," says Manisha Bharti, Global Executive and CEO of Pratham USA. "There are so many brilliant and compassionate people doing such extraordinary work. India Giving Day will be the perfect opportunity for us to support them with the resources they need to do more of it!"

Indian American philanthropy is expected to grow in the coming years from an estimated $1 billion currently to $3 billion annually.  IPA seeks to influence how quickly this growth takes place and the quality of giving that it translates into. “India has come a long way since our independence, just 75 years ago. But there is so much more that is possible, if each of us is willing to do our part,” says Deepak Raj, Chairman of the India Philanthropy Alliance.

The inaugural India Giving Day (IGD) will be held on March 2, 2023, and annually thereafter. It will include an emphasis on volunteerism and engaging youth, young professionals, and second and third generation members of this vibrant community. It will promote effective, thoughtful, and joyful giving to shape and accelerate the envisaged growth in Indian- American philanthropy. Related activities will be held in the 10 days before IGD.

 Alex Counts, director of the Alliance, called on all those who have a connection to India to get involved.  “Mark your calendars for March 2, 2023,” says Alex. “Start thinking about how YOU and people in your community might take part in this campaign to improve the lives of millions of people in need.”

Nonprofit organizations are encouraged to apply to be a part of the India Giving Day by visiting www.indiagivingday.org.  With generous support of the Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), $100,000 has been raised for a matching fund to benefit participating nonprofits, and the campaign expects that amount to grow significantly in the months ahead.

About the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA)

The India Philanthropy Alliance (https://www.indiaphilanthropyalliance.org/) is a coalition of nonprofit, philanthropic and charitable organizations that mobilize people and funding in the United States (and elsewhere) for development and poverty-reduction programs in India.

The fourteen member organizations include Agastya USA, Akanksha Education Fund, Akshaya Patra, American India Foundation (AIF), Antara International, Arogya World, CRY America, Foundation for Excellence (FFE), Indiaspora, Pratham USA, Project ECHO, Sehgal Foundation, VisionSpring and WISH Foundation. This article written by Bala Venkatachalam of Pratham USA and Alex Counts, Director of India Philanthropy Alliance, reviews first two years of the Alliance’s work.

For any questions, please reach out to Alex Counts, Director at India Philanthropy Alliance at alex@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org.

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