Indian Americans are one of the wealthiest and fastest-growing ethnic groups in the United States. Many Indian Americans are using their success to give back to their communities through philanthropy. During the lead up to the inaugural India Giving Day, held on March 2, 2023, we had the opportunity to speak with several Indian American philanthropists who shed light on the motivations and giving trends in the community.

These philanthropists believe that giving back is not just about writing a check, but also about making a verifiable difference in the lives of others. They are actively engaged in supporting causes that are important to them, and they are using their resources and expertise to both create lasting change and to inspire others to get involved in philanthropy.

Philanthropic Values and Approaches: Giving Back is a Duty

For many Indian Americans, giving back is a duty. It is a way to pay it forward and recognize the opportunities that they have been given to achieve success. “We are privileged to be in this position,” says philanthropist Rajesh Shah of the Shah Happiness Foundation. “It’s our responsibility to give back. Most of our giving is related to effectively bringing equal opportunity to as many people as possible. From there they can use their drive, motivation, creativity and ingenuity to lift others up. It’s ultimately a virtuous cycle.”

Ruyintan Mehta, too, shares a deep sense of obligation to give back to India due to the world-class education he received. He takes a hands-on approach to his giving, visiting India, conducting due diligence, and funding smaller and more nimble organizations that can make an immediate impact. The one piece of advice Mehta hopes others will heed: “We need a culture shift from one of a scarcity mindset that leaves some thinking in terms of not enough to one of abundance, where we can inspire each other to give as much as we can.”

Relationship-building and learning are key for Mehta, who sees his role as a messenger to encourage giving amongst his colleagues and friends, to engender gratitude for the generosity from which he’s benefited. While he’s not certain his children will support similar causes, or efforts in India at all, he does ensure that the people he encounters, including his family, understand that wealth is relative and what we have can make a significant difference in India.

“If I were to characterize how we approach our philanthropy, first and foremost it would be about having a big heart; you need generosity, and you have to have the spirit of giving – which for me was innate (and now something we try to bring to our next generation),” shares Suri Sehgal of the Sehgal Foundation. “Time and patience to learn, to understand what works and doesn’t, and then to tweak our funding to achieve the greatest impact—this has marked our philanthropic journey, principles of learning and relationship building, which coincidentally are also guiding principles from our business.”

By giving of their time, talent, treasure, ties, and testimony, Indian Americans are drawing on an understanding of giving back as a duty and encouraging others to do the same.

India Giving Day

Indian Americans tend to be highly engaged in their philanthropy, with many taking an active role in the organizations they support. In addition to giving, this includes serving on boards, providing guidance to the organizations they support, and getting involved on the ground for programs they support in India. This high level of engagement is often driven by a desire to ensure that their donations are being used effectively and making a real difference with solutions that address root causes.

Read the full article about Indian American giving by Sharmila Rao Thakkar at the National Center for Family Philanthropy.