Working in next-gen philanthropy is challenging. How does one deal with wrong perceptions, pressure, and proof-of-success? Amira Shah Chhabra, a participant in the Investing for Impact for the Next Generation program, shares her learnings from dealing with everyday limitations and experiencing the calming feeling of belonging.

As a young philanthropist, I have found that the terms “impact investing,” “next-gen philanthropy,” and “online fellowship” (in lieu of an in-person program due to the pandemic) have something in common: one raised eyebrow from anyone even kind enough to consider them seriously.

It has taken me seven years to stop feeling apologetic about being a young philanthropist. The general skepticism behind philanthropy and impact investing persist, however, and I often find myself in a position to justify their effectiveness and stand my ground in advocating for them. During the Investing for Impact for the Next Generation program, I came to realize that I’m not alone in facing the challenges of perception, pressure, and proof-of-success that come with working in the fields of philanthropy and impact investment.

One of the most encouraging takeaways was the camaraderie we built. It was uplifting and reassuring to connect with close to a dozen peers from across China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India. Meeting practitioners from such diverse backgrounds gave me the opportunity to hear about their experiences, work, and future ambitions.

Over the course of six months, we got to exchange ideas and learn from one another as well as experts in the field. It was wonderful to see how the community members, and especially invited guest speakers, were open to meet outside of the sessions and identify opportunities for joint action.

Read the full article about next-generation philanthropy from avpn.