The fourth annual India Giving Day, held on March 13, brought together 51 nonprofit organizations working across social and environmental sectors in India, highlighting the growing role of the Indian diaspora in driving impact back home.
At the heart of this year’s campaign was a three-hour livestream, accessible globally across platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and the official website. The format offered a more personal and interactive window into the initiatives being supported, allowing viewers to engage directly with nonprofit leaders, celebrities, and other stakeholders.
“For the diaspora, the opportunity to move as one community often comes in the form of a festival or historic commemoration,” says Kalpana Kanthan, a member of the India Giving Day Steering Committee and Chief Development Officer of the American India Foundation. “We see India Giving Day as a Festival of Giving to India, a unique opportunity to be joined solely by our commitment to empowering lives and connecting to India through a movement for good.”
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This year’s campaign leaned into the theme #PowerOfUs, underscoring the collective strength of the Indian diaspora in supporting India’s development agenda.
“There are more than 6 million Indian Americans in the United States, many of whom have been immensely successful in their careers,” says Alex Counts, Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance, the driving force behind the initiative. “Every day, more of them are realizing that philanthropy is a learned skill that improves with practice and study. India Giving Day facilitated both learning and action to advance high-impact donations.”
Among the key highlights was INDIA GIVING DAY LIVE!, which remains available on the Alliance’s social media channels, alongside more than 65 events held across the United States to raise awareness and funds. The campaign continues through the end of the month, with events planned in cities including New York City, Palo Alto, West Newton, and San Francisco.
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A distinctive feature of India Giving Day has been its focus on recognizing innovation and grassroots effort among participating nonprofits. This year, top honors for securing the highest number of unique donors went to Pallium India Inc., Arogya World, and Vibha. Meanwhile, the American India Foundation, Sehgal Foundation, and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) USA raised the highest funds.
The largest gathering so far was hosted by Ek Kadam Aur in Germantown, Maryland, drawing around 600 attendees.
“India Giving Day, which began as an experiment four years ago, has now grown into a powerful movement. We are thrilled with its continued success this year,” said Jay Sehgal, Chair of the India Philanthropy Alliance and Executive Vice President of Sehgal Foundation, USA. “The future looks bright, especially as we see the commitment and leadership of so many young people hosting events and fundraisers for causes they care about.”