Leaders In US-India Philanthropy Celebrate Growth, Call For Bolder Giving
India-West Staff Reporter
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — More than 170 leaders in US-India philanthropy gathered on October 28 for the Philanthropy Summit organized by Indiaspora and the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), celebrating the rapid rise of Indian American giving and setting an ambitious agenda to expand its reach and impact.
The summit, which coincided with Gandhi Jayanti earlier in the month, reflected on Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals of service and stewardship. Dr. K. Srikar Reddy, Indian Consul General in San Francisco, opened the event, stressing the vital role philanthropy plays in strengthening both nations.
A new report by Dalberg, commissioned by Indiaspora and IPA, revealed striking progress: Indian-American giving has tripled in six years, rising to between $4 billion and $5 billion annually. The “giving gap” — the shortfall between actual giving and what the community would give if matching the average American rate — has narrowed from $2.5 billion in 2018 to about $1 billion. The study found that the wealthiest Indian Americans are now giving at higher rates than the U.S. average.
Participants credited initiatives like India Giving Day and GivingPi for energizing this growth and pledged to close the giving gap entirely. They also previewed the “Using Data and Research to Advance Everyday Giving in India” study, which highlights how nonprofits can engage grassroots donors and volunteers more effectively.
Debates during the summit emphasized giving “with heart and mind,” moving beyond narrow measures of efficiency to focus on long-term impact. Panels explored issues such as the intersection of philanthropy and technology, centering community voices, and balancing breadth and depth in social impact.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi urged Indian Americans to pair civic engagement with generosity, while entrepreneur Desh Deshpande, delivering the keynote, called on donors to embody Gandhi’s principles of truth, nonviolence, and service.
Young philanthropists Aneesh Gupta of Indiana and Eesha Kondapalli of North Carolina, winners of IPA’s Youth Essay Competition, inspired attendees with their $1,000 gifts to CRY America and the Stray Animal Foundation of India.
