India Giving Day raises more than $5 million

On March 1st, 2024, India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) and Drexel University hosted their second-ever India Giving Day (IGD), at the Drexel LeBow School of Business in Philadelphia, receiving an outpour of support, record donations, and active participation from youth. With $5,543,837 raised by 1,770 donors to be given to thirty-three organizations, India Giving Day, 2024 left a lasting mark.

Alex Counts, the Executive Director of IPA, reacting soon after the event, said, “India Giving Day was so much bigger, so much more energetic with more organizations taking part, and we have raised more than $5,000,000, but what I would say is the biggest result is the creativity. All these thirty-three participating organizations, all their volunteers, all their staff, and all their board members did small and big things to promote their causes. What we are redefining is what India Giving Day really is. The creativity was off the charts.”

READ: India Giving Day a huge success: IPA Executive Director Alex Counts (March 3, 2024)

Paul Glick, Executive Director of the Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), which was the lead sponsor of IGD, spoke at the event and stressed the importance of partnerships while commending the impact of Indian non-profits so far.

Glick, on behalf of RIST, announced grants to two organizations, Arogya World to help combat India’s diabetes epidemic and WHEELS Global Foundation to address malnutrition in newborns. RIST is an organization that awards grants to organizations working to alleviate societal inequities and poverty in India.

As part of the day-long activities, Counts curated a fireside chat with three accomplished women, Nalini Saligram (Founder of Arogya World), Sumeet Rawla (Chief Philanthropy Officer at Community Pure Water), and Manisha Bharti (CEO of Pratham USA) to discuss the unique role of women in the world of philanthropy and what the philanthropic community can learn from women philanthropists.

READ: First India Giving Day raises $1 million for 25 Indian nonprofits (March 7, 2023)

The panelists talked about the role of women in the philanthropic landscape, shared examples of their own role models for philanthropy and also elaborated on the unique philanthropic capabilities of women.

A significant part of the program was focused on the youth and students from Drexel. Small group discussions were facilitated where Drexel University students got insights and perspectives from the speakers and philanthropy leaders at the event. The experienced leaders, however, commented that it was equally valuable learning to get the views and ideas of future philanthropists.  Students from Drexel University also participated as moderators of the panels on improving education, public health, and access to clean water.

RELATED: Second India Giving Day campaign launched at Drexel (October 5, 2023)

Earlier in the program, Dhanushree and Harinipriya, two schoolgirls who are part of Nalanda Way’s Project Sakhi, shared their journeys and moved the audience with their energy and clarity of thought.

Highlighting the struggles they faced, they credited Nalanda Way for setting them up for success and the paths they find themselves on now. Project Sakhi has gone on to assist more than 225 girls like Dhanushree and Harinipriya by providing support around learning, emotional skills, and health and hygiene among other areas.

(Aishwarya Singh is the Founder and co-host of South Asia’s first and largest true crime podcast, The Desi Crime Podcast)