Giving Compass' Take:

• Alex Counts, writing for Indiaspora, discusses Indian's philanthropic complementarity, and how India's social sector is able to coordinate on different issues. 

• How can the American social sector follow suit and implement more collaborative practices between organizations?

• Check out Dasra's Indian Philanthropy Report 2019. 

Despite India’s impressive economic growth and growing global influence, it has many urgent unmet humanitarian needs. The nation’s young and growing population will either emerge as a tremendous asset for the country and for the world (a “demographic dividend”) or as a ticking time bomb (a “demographic disaster”).  Actions taken in the next few years will determine which scenario becomes reality.

Clearly, some of India’s needs can be effectively addressed by leveraging knowledge and resources from diaspora populations and trustworthy philanthropic organizations that can effectively channel their resources to implement solutions.

The 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a useful framework for philanthropic work in India.  Of particular importance are goals one through five: end poverty in all its forms everywhere; zero hunger; good health and well-being; quality education; and gender equality.

A growing number of the best organized Indian philanthropies are upholding high standards of philanthropic professionalism.  They also believe in active and pragmatic coordination and collaboration amongst philanthropic actors, such as other non-profit organizations working on similar or adjacent issues, governmental bodies, beneficiaries, academics, volunteers, and donors.

In November when I travelled to Bangalore, I had the opportunity to visit with four such organizations.  Each has areas of strength and distinction in advancing the humanitarian agenda in India; all channel the talent and wealth from the Indian-American diaspora to advance their missions. They were: Arogya World, Foundation for Excellence, Magic Bus, and Pratham.

What struck me most was how their strategies for addressing the needs of marginalized populations complemented each other.  It is noteworthy that each of these four (and also two others mentioned below) is involved in Indiaspora and sends a senior representative to our annual Forum each year to contribute to vigorous and enlightening discussions of philanthropy.

Read the full article about power of philanthropic complementarity by Alex Counts at Indiaspora.