Programme Agenda
November 6th
Saddlers’ Hall, London, EC2V 6BR
India Philanthropy Forum 2025 brings together a series of conversations exploring the evolving landscape of philanthropy and the ground realities shaping India’s development journey. Rooted in this year’s theme, ‘India for the World, the World for India’, the Forum will spotlight the growing momentum of Indian philanthropy, the deepening ties between the UK diaspora and their roots, and the role of women in transformative philanthropy. The day will also feature a range of sessions on how philanthropy can support and nurture various spheres in the social sector. Some of these include sessions on the role of philanthropy in the emerging field of mental health, data and AI, and narrative building. Conversations will also examine how philanthropy can embed an LGBTQIA+ lens in impact programs and fuel social entrepreneurship for lasting change.
8:30 - 9:00 AM GMT
Registration and Networking
9.00 - 9.20 AM GMT
Opening Remarks & Keynote Address:
Speakers: Sonal Sachdev Patel (GMSP Foundation, Dasra, Global Fund for Children & LSE Marshall Institute)
9.20 - 10.00 AM GMT
India Rising@2047: Strengthening Philanthropy for a Resilient Future
The India–UK corridor has long been rooted in shared purpose and collaboration, strengthened by deep ties of trust and a strong diaspora community. As India advances towards 2047, UK-based philanthropists, family offices, and diaspora leaders have a unique opportunity to build on India’s tradition of values-driven giving. Family philanthropy, now the fastest-growing source of private social funding in India, has proven its power to catalyse innovation, strengthen institutions, and drive equity. This session explores how these models of patient, strategic capital can be leveraged across borders to deepen the India–UK partnership and shape a resilient, inclusive future for both nations.
Speakers: Harshul Asnani (Tech Mahindra), Nagakarthik MP (Sauramandala), Nalini Tarakeshwar(UBS Optimus Foundation Network), Dr. Nitya Mohan Khemka (Khemka Foundation & PATH), Swatee Deepak (Global Fund for Children & EMpower - The Emerging Markets Foundation)
10:00 - 10:40 AM GMT
Session Partner
From Seed to Scale: Nurturing the Next Generation of Social Unicorns in India
A study by the British Council in 2022 estimates that India hosts around two million social enterprises. With wealth on the rise, social enterprises play a pivotal role in accelerating a range of development goals. The social enterprise model ushers in a new frontier for scale, catalytic capital, and leadership within the ecosystem—blending for-profit financial models with traditional non-profit operations to address complex social challenges. How can India leverage this path to create social impact unicorns? What will it take to channel momentum and capital to meet this moment? This session dives into the opportunities, challenges, and shifts shaping India’s social enterprise landscape. Impact leaders, accelerators, incubators, and funders will share their perspectives on unlocking the next frontier of social entrepreneurship.
Speakers: Abha Thorat-Shah (The Convergence Foundation), Prof. Kieron Boyle (OBE) (100x Impact), Richa Gupta (Labhya), Richard Hawkes (British Asian Trust)
10:40 - 11:00 AM GMT
Break and Networking
11:00 - 11:45 AM GMT
Pride in Philanthropy: Funding that Builds Bridges for Queer Inclusion and Empowerment
This session will explore why LGBTQIA+ issues remain underfunded in India despite socio-legal progress and increasing public visibility. Drawing from Dasra’s Queer Landscape Report and insights from leaders of India’s queer organisations, the panel will examine current roadblocks in philanthropy. The discussion will also make the case for UK-based and global funders to engage in cross-border philanthropy, highlighting how queer funding has become more mainstream in the UK and what lessons can be adapted to the Indian context. It will further explore whether funders, regardless of issue area, are integrating queer inclusion into their portfolios—and what’s preventing domestic philanthropy from adopting a similar lens.
Speakers: Avinaba Dutta (Karna Subarna Welfare Trust), Krishna Omkar (London Stock Exchange, Corporate M&A lawyer, Queer Britain & Rainbow Railroad), Matthew Hart (The Global Philanthropy Project), Maya Sharma (Vikalp Women’s Group), Radhika Piramal (Pride Fund India, Dasra UK & GiveOut)
11:45 - 12:30 PM GMT
She’s Giving: Women-led Philanthropy is Transforming Traditional Giving
According to the India Philanthropy Report 2025, more than half of the philanthropic families in India today have women at the helm of decision-making—embedding stronger principles of gender equity and supporting underserved causes through their giving. This leadership has shifted philanthropy away from traditional models of charity toward approaches that champion systemic change, challenge social norms, and foster collaborative funding ecosystems. The result is a transition from siloed action to sustained and transformative impact. This session brings together women philanthropists who will share their motivations, perspectives, and practices, offering an insightful look at how women-led giving is reshaping the landscape of philanthropy in India.
Speakers: Anne-Lindsay Makepeace (Magic Bus UK), Geetika Dadlani (GivingPi & Dasra), Meheen Rangoonwala (Rangoonwala Foundation), Sonal Sachdev Patel (GMSP Foundation, Dasra, Global Fund for Children & LSE Marshall Institute)
12:30 - 1:45 PM GMT
Lunch Break
1:45 - 2:30 PM GMT
Behind the Screens: Shaping Powerful Narratives of Impact through Philanthropy
India is witnessing a soaring of grassroots stories reaching the global stage. Narratives of gender, caste, biodiversity, climate change, and the gig worker economy, centred in the Indian context, have been lauded at the Oscars and Cannes, making this a rising moment for the diverse and complex narratives rooted in the Indian context. These stories go far beyond the mainstream. This session will be an interactive panel discussion with filmmakers, producers, and funders who shed light on how philanthropy has the power to build impactful narratives. The panel will reflect on films with tangible impact on society, spotlighting the lived realities of the marginalised. The discussion will also unpack how philanthropy can nurture stories of impact, reaching schools, remote villages, and communities — not only as passive subjects, but as active co-partners in building narratives for change.
Speakers: Anushka Shah (Civic Studios), Georgia Arnold (GA-Agency), Richie Mehta (Writer & Director)
2:30 - 2:45 PM GMT
Grassroots Resilience: Championing Giving Practices Rooted in Listening
Philanthropic foundations hold immense potential to invest deeply in communities. Yet, the playbook for building sustainable community resilience is seldom one that can simply be followed — it demands patience, trust, and dynamism, nurtured through strong partnerships and authentic relationships. True, lasting impact emerges when patient growth is paired with robust mechanisms that strengthen the donor-community relationship. In this fireside chat, we bring together a domestic philanthropist and a proximate NGO leader to explore how philanthropy can be both transformative and intuitive when rooted in agility, adaptiveness, deep listening, and care.
Speakers: Jayesh Joshi (VAAGDHARA), Leena Dandekar (Raintree Family Office & Raintree Foundation), Shibani Gosain (Dasra)
2:45 - 3:15 PM GMT
Break and Networking
3:15 - 4:00 PM GMT
Mind the Gap: Driving Philanthropy towards Mental Health and Wellbeing
In India, the National Mental Health Survey (2015–16) highlights that nearly 150 million people need active mental health support, yet fewer than 30 million receive adequate care. At the same time, the past decade has seen critical shifts — the growth of local leadership, innovations in community-based care, and global philanthropy beginning to recognise the interconnectedness of mental health with other development goals, from education and livelihoods to gender equity and climate resilience. This creates a powerful moment to convene funders, thought leaders, and practitioners to reimagine what mental health philanthropy in India could look like — ambitious, collaborative, and intersectoral. The session will spotlight perspectives from global foundations and local experts who are invested in a global mental health approach that is rooted in grassroots wisdom.
Speakers: Elisha London (Prospira Global), Jules Chappell (Kokoro), Professor Miranda Wolpert (Wellcome Trust), Rhea Yadav (Wysa)
4:00 - 4:30 PM GMT
Reimagining Impact: How Data and AI Can Strengthen Philanthropy
As technology becomes central to how change is created and measured, philanthropy has a pivotal role in shaping its direction. This session unpacks how funders can strengthen India’s social sector by understanding how organisations working at the forefront of social issues can leverage data, technology, and AI to boost impact. The conversation will explore how technology can make giving more transparent and effective, support nonprofit capacity, and ensure that data and innovation advance inclusion rather than deepen inequities.
Speakers: Donald Lobo (Project Tech4Dev, Glific & Dalgo), James Walsh (The Agency Fund), Saransh Vaswani (Saajha)
4:30 - 4:45 PM GMT
Closing Remarks
Speakers: Tarun Jotwani (Dasra Global Council)
4:45 - 6:30 PM GMT
Cocktails and Networking
11:45 - 12:30 PM GMT
Roundtable
Inclusive By Design: Conversations on Driving Responsible Businesses
Speakers: Ajit Dayal (Quantum Advisors India), Ilishio Lovejoy (Laudes Foundation), John Hoffmire (University of Oxford), Kunera Moore (Tiny Miracles), Layla Meerloo (Living Wage Foundation), Meher Pudumjee (Thermax Limited), Richard Mason (Pentland Brands), Sonvi Khanna (Social Compact), Stefania Perna (Thomson Reuters Foundation)
