The following excerpt is from the chapter, "Leading Meaningful Change: Building a Culture of Philanthropy among Indian-Americans" by Deepak Raj and Ashish Shah from the newly released anthology Kamala Harris and the Rise of Indian Americans, (July 15, 2021), conceptualized and edited by Tarun Basu and published by Wisdom Tree. Indiaspora, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, served as an advisor for this anthology. Reprinted with permission.

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America is one of the most philanthropic countries in the world. In 2019, US charitable giving hit $450 billion according to the latest Giving USA report. While corporate and foundation donations are also on the rise, individual donations make up the vast majority of giving, rising 4.7 percent to $310 billion. The Indian-American community has tremendous philanthropic potential, and we see the decade of 2020 as a very important time for elevating its level of giving. There are more than four million people of Indian origin who live in the US, a community that has one of the highest median household incomes of any immigrant group. Our community includes successful entrepreneurs, prominent CEOs, physicians and healthcare professionals, noted academicians, and other professionals. We are a young, growing, well-educated, and socially aware group. All these factors should arguably make us uniquely predisposed to giving generously, but a survey of giving habits and trends of the Indian diaspora conducted by Dalberg and Indiaspora in 2018 highlighted that we may not be making philanthropic contributions at our full potential. While

Indian-Americans are great at donating time and volunteering, we lag behind when it comes to donating money, compared to the rest of the American population.

The survey found that Indian-American volunteering hours are twice the US average. However, the estimated donation rate of Indian-Americans is 1.5 percent of income per year, compared with the American donation rate of 4 percent per year—a gap that increases with income. The result? A “giving gap” of $2–$3 billion between current giving and what the diaspora would give if they matched the US average rate. One of the key goals of Indiaspora, a US nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of the global Indian diaspora, is to double diaspora philanthropy in the coming years as part of their philanthropy and social impact work.

Diaspora in Need: Supporting the “Invisible Minority”

While Indian-Americans are often referred to as the most successful ethnic group in the US, a study by Devesh Kapur and Jashan Bajwa of Johns Hopkins University identified a small but expanding group of immigrants from India who are struggling in their adopted homeland. An analysis of US Census data of 2018 found 6.5 percent of Indian- American households live below the poverty line that equates to more than a quarter-million members of the diaspora living in need. Many of these individuals are not citizens, making their challenges even more intense. This presents an opportunity for diaspora philanthropy to work with nonprofit organizations to rally around impoverished Indian-Americans with localized support to help them get on their feet and on the road to success. We are beginning to see discussions in the philanthropy community around some potential options that could help Indian-Americans struggling with poverty. Some ideas and strategies include focusing on countries where poverty is most concentrated, or working with specific vulnerable communities such as children and victims of domestic violence.

Leading the Way

Philanthropy is changing. 

Whether its donations target an Indian metropolis or a local American town, aim for financial or social impact, or build personal or networked relationships, the community is proving that they are able to tackle a diverse set of needs with a wide variety of approaches. And recent increases in intensity and giving prove that it is truly a transformative moment for Indian-American engagement. We believe the diaspora has stepped forward to serve as the model for twenty-first-century philanthropic leadership.