Going beyond charity: Philanthropy in India seeks to offer the right solutions

Mumbai: Philanthropy in India is evolving significantly, with ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs) playing an increasingly important role in solving problems and catalysing sustainable development, a report by Accelerate India Philanthropy (AIP) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) revealed.

The report was based on interviews with 100 UHNIs, ensuring diverse representation across net worth, geographical location, source of wealth, and stage of giving.

The findings show that 30% of the top 100 UHNI philanthropists donate to educational causes, while 21% contribute to healthcare. About 11% donate to environmental and sustainability initiatives, and only 5% donate to sports activities.


If UHNIs channel just 5% of their annual incremental wealth, they could contribute an estimated ₹75,500 crore annually, five times the total CSR spent by India Inc. in FY23, according to the report.

About 84% of respondents prefer to support a wide range of causes, allocating their philanthropic resources to more than one cause, with over 50% contributing to three or more causes.

The report also noted that about 56% of philanthropists prefer direct grant-making due to its simplicity, while 70% of larger and more involved philanthropists choose to route their philanthropy through an operating or grant-making foundation.

According to Ashish Dhawan, founder-CEO of AIP, philanthropy in India is transitioning from traditional, informal giving to more strategic and impactful engagement. "Young first-generation wealth creators are leading this shift, focusing on long-term solutions rather than one-time charitable acts."

About 70% of respondents cite structural challenges, procedural complexities, and information gaps as barriers for philanthropists in India, while 34% point to personal challenges and 12% to cultural challenges.