Not as well known as India’s impressive economic growth story, but just as powerful is the trajectory of its vibrant philanthropic sector. Indian philanthropy's growth and this movement of giving draws on over a century-long tradition to advance urgent solutions to challenges of the moment.

For generations prior to India’s independence, and in the early days following it, individuals and families across the country committed themselves to public-oriented giving, channeling their energy and capital toward work that served a larger good. Guided by a deep sense of trusteeship, their philanthropy prioritized nation-building, particularly education, laying the groundwork for generations to come. As far back as 1892, the industrialist Jamsetji Tata established the J.N. Tata Endowment to support Indian students pursuing higher education abroad — an initiative that still exists today.

As president of the Ford Foundation, I have witnessed the legacy of these early philanthropists and nation-builders carried forward and transformed into a flourishing philanthropic sector. I have learned from many of the dynamic leaders working to expand what philanthropy in India looks like and who it serves. Together, they have contributed billions of dollars to diverse people, organizations, and ideas — and, in the process, developed a modern model of giving worthy of emulation the world over.

The scale of this sector should not be understated. Last year, India’s private philanthropists gave more than $16 billion — a number that only promises to grow. Over the next five years, private philanthropy in the country is expected to outpace overall economic growth, and grow at a rate of approximately 10% to 12%, demonstrating Indian philanthropy's significant growth.

Leaders work across a range of spaces — gender equality, women-led development, sustainable agriculture, grassroots innovations, systemic reforms, arts and culture, and mental health. Some of these areas have historically received limited attention, but that is steadily changing with significant allocations of philanthropic dollars. These leaders are fervently committed to changing those old assumptions — and to engaging with their communities to build enduring, context-informed change. As Rati Forbes of the Forbes Marshall Foundation once put it: “Philanthropy is not just about funding projects. It is about … challenging what society has long accepted as ‘normal.’”

Read the full article about Indian philanthropy's growth by Darren Walker at Devex.