(Editor’s Note: Philanthropy is not only about addressing today’s needs. It is also about the values we pass on, the communities we strengthen, and the impact we hope future generations will carry forward. In the final installment of our series on Indian American philanthropy, we examine how families are engaging younger generations in giving, how donors can navigate the challenges of philanthropy, and where opportunities exist to expand the community’s collective impact. The article concludes with a forward-looking perspective on strengthening the philanthropic ecosystem, building trust between donors and nonprofit organizations, and encouraging broader participation—including greater opportunities for women donors. This is the concluding installment of the original article by The Bridgespan Group, produced in collaboration with the Ford Foundation and reproduced with permission. The original text remains unchanged.)
By: Rohit Menezes, Isaiah Baker, Bradley Seeman
Engaging Across Generations
Philanthropy is deeply connected to society and politics, but it is also deeply personal. Many of the Indian American diaspora donors we spoke with view their philanthropy not only as a way to have an impact on the world, but also as an avenue for transmitting culture and values across generations. Cross-generational engagement is an especially ripe issue for Indian nonprofits, which observe and are concerned about a declining connection between successive generations of Indian Americans and India.
The Tarsadia Foundation, which today comprises three generations, is intentional about engaging the next generations. “For us, the next generations are very respectful to the wishes of the patriarch,” says Dayal. “But they don’t have ties to India like the first generation. We’ve organized service trips to India where the family might not have gone on their own—so they can see the reality on the ground and make a connection of their own.”
Across the Indian American diaspora philanthropy ecosystem, there are similar stories of multigenerational commitment being upheld by American-born children. Examples include Sapphira Goradia Shaw’s work with the Vijay and Marie Goradia Foundation—an anchor funder of Pratham USA, Project ECHO, and Antara International—and Pia Desai’s work with the Desai Sethi Foundation—a funder of economic mobility, education, and health programs that is active simultaneously in the United States and India.
“I was raised in a culture that was generous. You are supposed to care about your family and community. If you can help, you help. Actually, you don’t think of it as ‘help.’ It’s just what you do.”
-SAPPHIRA GORADIA SHAW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VIJAY AND MARIE GORADIA FOUNDATION
A common experience among these families is an effort to stay connected to India through regular trips and the active engagement of the next generation in philanthropic practice, wherever it occurs. “I grew up going to India every other year, which was instrumental in forging who I am. I grew up with so much, and on my trips, I got to see in stark ways how differently my parents grew up,” says Sapphira Goradia Shaw. She adds, “I was raised in a culture that was generous. You are supposed to care about your family and community. If you can help, you help. Actually, you don’t think of it as ‘help.’ It’s just what you do.”
To read part-1 and 2, pleasse click on the link below.:
Indian American Philanthropy — Part 1: A Community’s Growing Generosity
Indian American Philanthropy — Part 2: Building Community Through Giving
Numerous Indian NGOs and Indian American philanthropic institutions understand the importance of connecting across generations of givers and are investing in activities to help families engage the next generation. For example, the American India Foundation offers a youth ambassador program for high school students that provides diaspora youth with immersive experiences in India. The India Philanthropy Alliance sponsors an annual essay competition for middle and high school students to share their thoughts on key development issues in India. AKF USA exposes the next generation of community members to the foundation’s work through summer camps and internships in South Asia and Africa, and through the Youth Ambassadors program, where high school students research AKF projects and find ways to implement similar programs in their local communities.
Because the “Indian American” identity is often not well defined, the act of giving can be an opportunity for families to reinforce and transmit their culture. “A major influence for me was my mother,” says Mehta of Iron Lady Foundation. “I am trying to pass down philanthropy to my own daughter. She just raised $1,000 from a bake sale in her school. It’s enough to help open a water pump and provide water for 500 people in India.”
Through our interviews, we heard many stories of parents engaging their children in philanthropy to keep the family connected to their traditions and culture. “For those of us who were born here, brought up here, and grew up here,” Bharti of Pratham USA explains, “it’s challenging to sustain and pass on our language and culture to our kids. As we become parents, philanthropy can become the way we share our values and traditions with our own children.”
Exploring the Opportunities
There are strong natural forces at the heart of Indian American philanthropy, closely tied to the ideas of identity and belonging—expressing values and interests, building community, and connecting across generations.
Given patterns of migration and wealth creation, the evidence suggests that Indian American diaspora philanthropy is still in its early stages. The community is already making strong contributions of effort and money. But an even more vibrant and potentially transformative Indian American philanthropy is possible in the years to come, as the community deepens its roots in the United States and more individuals move in their life journeys from building their wealth to giving back.
“As we become parents, philanthropy can become the way we share our values and traditions with our own children.”
–MANISHA BHARTI, CEO AND GLOBAL EXECUTIVE, PRATHAM USA
For Indian American individuals seeking to explore and deepen their philanthropy, there are many opportunities to examine what is possible. It can help to reflect on questions such as these and to hear how peers have answered them: What experiences of giving have been especially meaningful and joyful for me and why? What family and community values are showcased by my giving? Given my personal story, how can I “pay it forward” to others? What would it look like for me to leave my mark with my generosity—and what support do I need to achieve that? Who can I give alongside in order to increase my learning and joy?
We also heard a lot about challenges, whether in attracting new donors or in finding effective ways to connect to the next generation. Our interviews revealed that donors often struggle to find high-impact partner organizations and to navigate the limitations of giving as a solo venture. For donors already interested in giving to India, we heard challenges about building trust with organizations, overcoming practical barriers, such as the complexity of India’s foreign philanthropy regulations and other regulatory concerns, and knowing where funding in India might have the most impact.
Sharmila Rao Thakkar, a philanthropy advisor who works with Indian American donors and families, says, “When it comes to giving to India, many donors want to give but may not be sure how or where to begin. They are looking for trusted guidance on credible organizations, crossborder giving, and making informed philanthropic decisions. With the right support, they can give in ways that are meaningful to them and make a difference.”
“People are often nervous about giving to India,” adds Neera Nundy, co-founder of Dasra. “They may have questions about an organization’s credibility, governance, and how funds will be used, which can create hesitation. There is a lot of work to do in terms of building trust and stronger relationships.”
The story of Indian Americans is being written in real time. And our interviews revealed several areas that struck us as fertile ground for exploration as a community.
“When it comes to giving to India, many donors want to give but may not be sure how or where to begin. … With the right support, they can give in ways that are meaningful to them and make a difference.”
–SHARMILA RAO THAKKAR, PHILANTHROPY ADVISOR
There is an opportunity to sharpen the narrative about the breadth and depth of the Indian American diaspora experience, including its generosity. Better understanding how the community expresses its values and interests will help shape the Indian American identity itself. To do this, community members ought to freely share their stories and listen to those of their peers. Nor should this dialogue be confined to philanthropic settings. It can happen in families, communities, religious spaces, professional groups, and civic settings—exploring the powerful connection between the act of giving and the meaning of being Indian American. More systematic collection of—and reflection on—data on Indian American giving might also better inform both the givers and organizations receiving money.
A rigorous, coordinated set of investments would help advance the success of the philanthropic ecosystem—not merely individual organizations—as its goal. This includes more formal ways to stimulate Indian American philanthropy and encourage giving to India, such as:
- Articulating why giving matters and the diaspora’s distinctive role in giving to India
- Connecting donors across interest areas and geographies, both in the United States and India
- Helping donors and their advisors understand how to surmount regulatory and other barriers to giving in India
- Helping donors in the United States develop understanding and trust with Indian nonprofits
- Creating vetted lists and channels for diaspora funding of specific organizations and issues
- Strengthening the fundraising capabilities of Indian nonprofits to tell their stories and connect more effectively with Indian American donors
Women-focused philanthropy offers a targeted opportunity to reach segments of the diaspora. Indian American women are growing in wealth, yet the joint report on Indian American diaspora giving found that Indian American women give 40 percent less of their income than men do, and 18 percent report that they have not been asked to give to causes they care about. Based on the zeal and creativity we found among the women donors we interviewed for this article, and the paucity of significantly scaled efforts to engage them, we believe that women-focused giving circles or other collaborative opportunities have great potential to increase giving among Indian American women.
Given what we have learned, we are, on balance, optimistic about Indian American diaspora philanthropy. And we are also encouraged by the potential this giving can have. The United States offers many opportunities to give and, likewise, India’s vibrant social sector offers a wide range of ways to make a big impact on the lives of people and communities.
America’s vibrant and ambitious Indian diaspora community has shown it can and will make meaningful investments. Going forward, there are many promising opportunities for the Indian American community to sustain and grow its philanthropic momentum—from engaging peers to investing in the ecosystem to developing women-focused spaces.
Wherever the giving is directed—whether in large or small amounts—we believe that Indian American philanthropy will continue to draw its strength and vitality from how it expresses values and interests, builds community, and strengthens connections across generations.
(Rohit Menezes is a partner in The Bridgespan Group’s San Francisco office. Isaiah Baker is a consultant and Bradley Seeman is an editorial director. Both are based in Bridgespan’s Boston office. The authors would like to thank Bridgespan colleagues Alia Ali (alum) and Bryan Cortes for their support in preparing this article.)
Endnotes
1 Pew Research Center, “Facts about Indians in the U.S.,” https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/factsheet/asian-americans-indians-in-the-u-s/.
2 Anurodh Kumar, “Top 10 U.S. Companies Led by Indian-Origin CEOs: A Quiet Global Takeover,” Medium, Dec. 18, 2025, https://medium.com/powerbi-microsoft-fabric/top-10-u-s-companies-led-by-indian-origin-ceos-a-quietglobal-takeover-38b0876ba381.
3 Michelle Ko et al., “Asian American Diversity and Representation in the Health Care Workforce, 2007 to 2022,”
JAMA Network Open, 2024, https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2824975.
4 Alexandra Starr, “Here To Stay: How Indian-Born Innkeepers Revolutionized America’s Motels,” NPR, March 5,
2016, https://www.npr.org/2016/03/05/469180918/here-to-stay-how-indian-born-innkeepers-revolutionized-americasmotels.
5 Andy Robaina, Milan Vaishnav, Sumitra Badrinathan, and Devesh Kapur, “Indian Americans in a Time of Turbulence: 2026 Survey Results,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Feb. 2026, https://carnegieendowment.org/ research/2026/02/indian-americans-in-a-time-of-turbulence-2026-survey-results.
6 Ibid.
7 Dalberg, Indiaspora, and the India Philanthropy Alliance, “Indian American Philanthropy Narrows Giving Gap from $2–3 Billion to Just $1 Billion,” press release, 2026, summarizing the report From Closing the Gap to Setting the Standard: The State of Philanthropic Giving in the Indian American Diaspora, https://dalberg.com/announcements/ press-release-indian-american-philanthropy-narrows-giving-gap-from-2-3-billion-to-just-1-billion-new-reporturges-the-community-to-set-the-global-standard-for-philanthropy/.
8 Indiaspora, “From Students to Benefactors: Indian Americans’ $3 Billion Investment in American Universities,” press release, Oct. 2, 2025, https://indiaspora.org/press-release/from-students-to-benefactors-indian-americans-3- billion-investment-in-american-universities/.
9 The Bridgespan Group and Give, Pathways to Unlock US Diaspora Giving to India, report, July 2025,
https://indiaspora.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Bridgespan-and-Give-Report.pptx.pdf.
10 Alex Counts, “How and Why to Achieve a Breakthrough in American Philanthropy to India,” India Philanthropy
Alliance blog, https://www.indiaphilanthropyalliance.org/blog/new-study-builds-on-earlier-ones-by-themacarthur-and-gates-foundations-to-show-how-and-why-to-achieve-a-breakthrough-in-americanphilanthropy-to-india.
11 Alex Counts and Nishant Pandey, “Nonprofit Success Strategies for Partnering with Government: Lessons from
India,” Indiaspora Blog, Oct. 2022, https://indiaspora.org/nonprofit-success-strategies-for-partnering-withgovernment-lessons-from-india/.
12 Dhirendra Gajbhiye, Sujata Kundu, Alisha George et al., “Changing Dynamics of India’s Remittances — Insights from the Sixth Round of India’s Remittances Survey,” RBI Bulletin, March 2025.
https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/BS_ViewBulletin.aspx?Id=23260#T1.
