India Philanthropy Forum 2026

India Philanthropy
Forum 2026

Registration | 8:30 AM - 9:15 AM

This opening sets the tone for the day, reflecting on the role of philanthropy in navigating uncertainty and global disruption. It positions philanthropy as a force that anchors trust, restores hope, and enables collective action in an increasingly complex world.

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Opening Address | 9:15 AM – 9:30 AM

This opening sets the tone for the day, reflecting on the role of philanthropy in navigating uncertainty and global disruption. It positions philanthropy as a force that anchors trust, restores hope, and enables collective action in an increasingly complex world.

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee,
Khemka Foundation

Panel Discussion | 9:30 AM – 10:10 AM

From data to decisions, this session unpacks how research and evidence can sharpen the impact of philanthropy in India. Drawing on insights from the India Philanthropy Report and India Nonprofit Report, the panel explores what the numbers reveal about funding trends, development outcomes, and persistent gaps, while examining how academia and civil society intersect to drive meaningful change. The conversation highlights how stronger evidence-building can guide philanthropic priorities, enabling more strategic, informed, and effective action.

Prof. Bhaskar Vira

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Environmental Sustainability,
University of Cambridge

Priscilla Boiardi

Team Lead,
Philanthropy Engagement,
OECD Development Centre

Marijana Sevic

Head of International,
Charities Aid Foundation

Parnasha Banerjee

Partner,
Dasra

Fireside Chat | 10:10 AM – 10:40 AM

Philanthropy holds a distinct and often underleveraged ability to invest purely for social returns. This fireside chat examines how adopting an entrepreneurial mindset to philanthropy can unlock this potential, moving beyond traditional grantmaking to more strategic, risk-tolerant approaches. It explores why philanthropic capital is uniquely positioned to back nonprofit leadership, build institutional capacity, and generate long-term social value through patience and flexibility.

Rishi Khosla

Co-founder & CEO,
OakNorth

Neera Nundy

Co-founder & Partner,
Dasra

Video | 10:40 AM – 10:45 AM

Finding Our Place creates space for honest, reflective conversations with the people shaping India’s development journey. Through intimate storytelling, the series explores the realities, tensions, and human experiences behind building lasting social change.

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Break | 10:45 AM - 11:20 AM

Panel | 11:20 AM – 11:50 AM

Climate philanthropy is fast-moving. In these rapid transitions, there must room for an equitable transition. This session brings together philanthropists, funders, sector experts, and grassroot voices to examine how climate priorities can be integrated with health, livelihoods, and agriculture to build resilient, prevention-focused systems. It also explores philanthropy as a key orchestrator that convenes actors, aligns efforts, and shapes pathways for systemic climate transition.

Rajat Sindhu

Programme Officer, India and SEA
Global Climate Initiatives
Oak Foundation

Minhaj Ameen

Founder and CEO,
Consortium for Agroecological Transformations (CAT), India

Ruchi Tripathi

Director Climate and Nature,
Global Alliance for the Future of Food

Ekta Jaju

Executive Director,
SwitchOn foundation

Panel | 11:50 AM – 12:20 AM

This session brings together queer philanthropists and nonprofit leaders in a structured dialogue exploring what it truly means to center queer realities within development work, and how more inclusive systems and approaches to social change can be built.

Bhanupriya Rao

Founder and CEO,
BehanBox

Luke Pagarani

Trustee,
Human Capability Foundation & Managing Director,
Natco Foods

Suki Sandhu OBE

Founder & CEO,
HAudeliss & INvolve

Radhika Piramal

Founding Patron,
Pride Fund India

TED-style Talk | 12:20 PM – 12:30 PM

This TED-style talk examines how power shapes the donor–doer dynamic, influencing decisions, language, and what gets valued and funded. Through the lens of a nonprofit leader, it highlights how these imbalances can limit learning and impact, and makes the case for more equitable, trust-based partnerships.

Anagha Kamath

Director of Innovation,
Mann Deshi Foundation

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

Lunch | 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM

Panel | 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM

Beyond capital, philanthropy is deeply shaped by values, purpose, and personal conviction. This session brings funders into conversation on the “why” behind giving, exploring how family values, legacy-building, spirituality, and a desire for meaningful contribution influence philanthropic choices.

Uday Khemka

Vice Chairman,
SUN Group & Vice Chairman,
The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation

Meheen Rangoonwala

Director,
Rangoonwala Foundation / MAITS

Tara Singh Vachani

Managing Trustee,
Max India Foundation, Executive Chairperson,
Antara Senior Care & Vice-Chairperson, Max India Limited

Divya Puri

Senior Manager,
Dasra

Panel | 2:15 PM – 2:50 PM

This session explores how the rise of private wealth and philanthropic infrastructure in India is shaping a new era of family philanthropy. Bringing together wealth advisors and financial leaders, it examines how private capital can move beyond traditional giving toward more strategic, long-term impact.

Tom Hall

CEO,
UBS Optimus Foundation &
Head of Social Impact & Philanthropy

Nalini Tarakeshwar

Global Head,
Standard Chartered Foundation & Corporate Philanthropy

Olivia Jenkins

Head of The Philanthropy Centre,
International, Europe and the Middle East,
JP Morgan Private Bank

Pratik Matai

Chief of Staff,
Azura Partners & Trustee, Dasra UK

Panel | 2:50 PM – 3:30 PM

India’s vast nonprofit ecosystem is a lifeline to billions, yet the capital, capacity, and networks needed to sustain and scale impact remain uneven. Grassroots leaders, philanthropists, diaspora voices, and sector experts come together to discuss how to further strengthen these connections. The conversation also spotlights dialogue with Global Majority countries facing similar challenges, exploring how more connected ecosystems and coordinated action can advance shared SDG goals and drive meaningful, lasting change.

Solomé Lemma

President & CEO,
Thousand Currents

Nidhi Gupta

Co-founder & Executive Director,
Dhriiti

Shalni Arora OBE

CEO,
Savannah Wisdom & Vice Chair,
British Asian Trust

Deval Sanghavi

Co-founder & Partner,
Dasra

Reeva Kulkarni

Manager,
Dasra

Closing Remarks | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM

The closing reflects on key insights from the day, positioning philanthropy as catalytic, intergenerational capital. It reinforces India’s role as a global hub for innovation and collaboration, and the importance of building lasting partnerships for collective impact.

Sonal Sachdev Patel

CEO, GMSP Foundation
Board Member, Dasra & Global Fund for Children
Philanthropist in Residence, LSE Marshall Institute

Dr. Nitya Khemka

Trustee, Khemka Foundation

See you at IPF London 2026!

Exciting programming, speakers, thought-provoking panels and more!

For further queries or information, write to us at ipflondon2026@dasra.org