India Philanthropy Forum 2025
New York City

11:00 - 11:10 AM

Registration & Networking

11:10 - 11:15 AM

Opening Remarks

Prachi Pal and Reeya Bharadwaj, Dasra

11:15 - 11:45 AM

India@2047 : What will it take to build a more inclusive and resilient future?

As India approaches its centenary of independence, it stands at a pivotal juncture shaped by economic ambition, demographic strength, social innovation, and growing global influence. With a vibrant civil society, evolving philanthropy ecosystem, and a thriving culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, the country has a unique opportunity to shape a future that is both inclusive and resilient.

This session will explore the bold opportunities on India’s path to 2047 and delve into how philanthropy can invest in ideas, institutions, and communities that build long-term resilience. From supporting underfunded issues and regions to strengthening local leadership and institutional capacity, speakers will reflect on how philanthropy can help build the systems and momentum needed to unlock India’s full potential in the decades ahead.

Moderator:

Aditi Agrawal, Dasra

Speakers:

  • Sandeep Singhal, Board Member, ACT Grants
    Senior Advisor, Avaana Capital
  • MR Rangaswami, Founder & Chairman, Indiaspora
  • Reshma Anand, Regional Director, Ford Foundation
  • Kalpana Kanthan, Chief Development Officer, American India Foundation

11:45 - 12:15 PM

Catalyzing across borders : How can families and diaspora shape the future of global philanthropy?

As global philanthropy evolves, family foundations and diaspora givers are increasingly playing a catalytic role in advancing long-term, value-driven change. From funding community-rooted efforts to bridging intergenerational priorities, these actors are uniquely positioned to move capital with proximity, purpose, and agility. But unlocking this potential requires more than intent—it needs an enabling ecosystem, aligned values across generations, and pathways for bold, cross-border collaboration.

In this fireside chat, speakers will reflect on the shifting landscape of global giving, the growing influence of family philanthropy in shaping transformative action, and the opportunities for diaspora families to accelerate systemic, inclusive change across geographies and generations.

Moderator:

Geetika Dadlani, Associate Director, Dasra

Speakers:

  • Uday Khemka, Vice-Chairman, N.J. Khemka Foundation
  • Rajan Navani, Chairman & Managing Director, JetLine Group of Companies
    Founder & CEO, JetSynthesys

12:15 - 12:25 PM

Building blocks: How can India’s philanthropy ecosystem keep pace with its growing ambition?

As more families and institutions step into philanthropy, what support do they need to give more effectively? This presentation offers an initial exploration into the actors, gaps, and opportunities that define India’s evolving philanthropy support ecosystem.

Speakers:

  • Mitali Chakraborty, Executive Director, P150
  • Prachi Pal, Manager, Dasra

12:25 - 12:30 PM

NGO spotlight : Why women’s stories matter?

Speakers:

  • Bidisha Mahanta, Executive Director, Zubaan

12:30 - 01:00 PM

Leading with intention : What happens when women shape philanthropy?

Women are taking on growing leadership roles across philanthropy—leading foundations, guiding family decisions, and shaping forward-looking approaches to giving. Yet globally, women and girls remain significantly underfunded, despite clear evidence that investing in them yields lasting returns for families, communities, and economies.

This session brings together leaders and changemakers to explore how giving evolves when women are not only at the center of philanthropic priorities but also shaping where and how capital flows. It will highlight how this dual lens of investing in women and in partnership with them can drive more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready systems of care, leadership, and impact.

Moderator:

Rohit Menezes, Partner, The Bridgespan Group

Speakers:

  • Dr. Sunita Maheshwari, Co-founder, The Telerad Group
  • Yamini Mishra, Country Director, MacArthur Foundation, India
  • S. Mona Sinha, Global Executive Director, Equality Now

01:00 - 01:25 PM

New frontiers: How can philanthropy shape a more holistic future?

As the world grapples with compounding crises from rising mental distress to deepening climate risks , philanthropy is being called to show up differently. No longer confined to issue silos, funders today have an opportunity to reimagine their role: not just as capital providers, but as stewards of connection, and collaboration.

In this fireside chat, speakers will reflect on how philanthropy, especially family giving across the Global South, can build more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready systems. Through personal reflections and systemic insights, the conversation will explore what it means to lead with care, how we move beyond fragmented approaches, and what bold shifts are needed to shape a more holistic philanthropic future.

Moderator:

Deval Sanghavi, Co-founder & Partner, Dasra

Speakers:

  • Peggy Dulany, Founder and Chair, Synergos
  • Dr. Nitya Mohan Khemka, Director, PATH and Trustee, Khemka Foundation

01:25 - 01:30 PM

NGO spotlight : Why grounding solutions in community knowledge works?

Speakers:

  • Ashwini Kulkarni, Director, Pragati Abhiyan

01:30 - 01:55 PM

Resilient by design : How can philanthropy strengthen locally rooted climate solutions?

Climate change is experienced differently across geographies, and effective responses must reflect this diversity. Community-based solutions tailored to specific regional needs and grounded in local knowledge are increasingly recognized as essential for long-term resilience. Many frontline communities, including indigenous and rural populations, hold deep ecological knowledge and lived experience in adaptation, regeneration, and care. Yet their insights often remain untapped in formal strategies.

This session will explore how philanthropy can move closer to the ground, supporting climate solutions shaped by local realities, knowledge, and leadership. Stakeholders will unpack the opportunities, tensions, and pathways of “going local,” and what it takes for philanthropy to build trust, listen differently, and strengthen community resilience.

Moderator:

Manjyot Ahluwalia, Regional Lead Asia, The Global Methane Hub

Speakers:

  • Vikas Mehta, Executive Director, SED Fund
  • Dia Mirza, UN SG's Advocate for SDGs and UNEP Goodwill Ambassador
  • Siddharthan Balasubramania, Senior Director, International, ClimateWorks Foundation

01:55 - 02:00 PM

NGO spotlight : How are NGOs making data work to advance impact?

Speakers:

  • Dr. Ruchit Nagar, CEO and Co-founder, Khushi Baby

02:00 - 02:25 PM

Responsible innovation : How can philanthropy catalyze data, tech and AI to advance social impact?

As conversations around data, technology, and AI grow across sectors, their potential to accelerate social impact in India is coming into sharper focus. From improving service delivery to generating real-time insights, these tools present new possibilities for addressing complex development challenges. Yet the gap between promise and practical implementation remains wide.

This session explores what it will take for philanthropy to help bridge that gap – by investing not just in tools, but in the underlying infrastructure and shared systems needed to make innovation truly inclusive and impactful. Speakers will reflect on how funders and civil society can work together to ensure that data and AI serve those most in need.

Moderator:

Nandkishore Kalambi, Chairperson, ATREE, USA

Speakers:

  • Dr. Amita Gupta, Florence Sabin Professor of Infectious Diseases and Director of the Division of infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
  • Dr. Venkat Srinivasan, Founder and Managing Director, Innospark Ventures

02:25 – 02:30 PM

Closing Remarks

Speakers:

  • Xerxes Mullan, Founding Partner, Avestar Capital

02:30 - 03:00 PM

Networking

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