More than 160 leaders from the U.S.-India philanthropy community gathered in Dallas to discuss the growth of American philanthropy to India and Indian American giving of time and money to causes in both countries. The annual Philanthropy Summit, organized by Indiaspora and the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), was held September 28-29 in Dallas. The organizers said the gathering focused on the growth and maturation of philanthropy across the U.S.-India corridor.
The summit culminated in a communiqué issued by IPA and Indiaspora on Oct. 2, coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti. The communiqué outlined several themes, including the importance of philanthropy in the United States, India and transnational causes, while emphasizing the role of Indian Americans in supporting social and environmental causes.
Giving to US and India seen as complementary
The delegates said giving to causes in India, the United States and transnational causes should not be viewed as competing priorities.
They said the Indian American community is already generous with its time and money and argued that the community is moving beyond simply closing a giving gap toward setting higher standards for philanthropy. The communiqué also said progress against social or environmental injustice in one part of the world benefits people elsewhere. The summit also addressed discrimination and violence against Indian Americans and other immigrant groups.
The participants said attacks based on ethnicity, culture or religion should be condemned and that violence and threats against people viewed as outsiders are unacceptable in the United States, India or elsewhere.
Focus on civil society and philanthropic infrastructure
The communiqué stressed that successful philanthropy depends on a strong civil society and called on governments to protect democratic civil society organizations so they can operate and advocate freely.
The participants also described philanthropy as a skill that can be developed through study and practice. They pointed to the annual summit, the India Philanthropy Forum organized by Dasra and the upcoming Johns Hopkins India Conference as opportunities to strengthen philanthropic capabilities. Another major theme was the need for greater investment in the infrastructure of nonprofit organizations.
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The delegates said investments in recruiting, training and supporting fundraising staff can generate significant returns when made strategically. The communiqué noted that India-focused nonprofits in the United States have effectively relied on volunteers but have often underinvested in organizational infrastructure and talent.
The summit also highlighted the importance of involving young people and young professionals in philanthropy.
Health and India’s development goals
Preventive health was another priority identified by the delegates, particularly efforts to reduce diabetes and cardiovascular disease in India and among Indian Americans.
The participants expressed support for the Menlo Park Declaration, which was spurred by Arogya World, and pledged to actively support it. The delegates also connected their philanthropic efforts to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of Viksit Bharat, referring to India’s goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Local Dallas philanthropic leaders and organizations were highlighted during the summit, including Raj and Anna Asava, co-founders of Hunger Mitao; Amit Banerjee of Philanthropy Kids; and IPA board members Sejal Desai and Ushree Roy.
Leaders call for strategic giving
Dallas business and philanthropy leader Anurag Jain, in his opening keynote, emphasized that giving can also benefit the giver and drew on sacred texts from multiple religions to make his point.
At a welcome dinner at the University of Texas at Dallas, business and philanthropy leader Satish Gupta urged the community to contribute to social improvement in both the United States and India and to oppose anti-Indian hate. Neha Gupta, executive director of Teach For India U.S. and the inaugural recipient of the Deepak Raj Rising Star Award, encouraged delegates to determine what they need to live comfortably before devoting what remains to service.
Dr. Kadhir Rajagopal, founder of Miracle University, discussed his approach to addressing America’s dropout crisis and said the model could be scaled nationally with sufficient support.
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Rohit Menezes of the Bridgespan Group highlighted the need for nonprofits and their financial backers to invest in revenue-generating capacity. “It takes money to generate revenue,” Menezes said, while calling for investments in hiring, training and supporting major gift officers and giving them sufficient time to produce results.
India Giving Day planned for March 2027
In his closing remarks, Alex Counts, executive director of the India Philanthropy Alliance, said the organization was prepared to help expand the quantity and quality of American philanthropy to India while encouraging strategic giving more broadly.
Counts also invited participants to support the fifth India Giving Day, scheduled for Mar. 12, 2027.
Shoba Viswanathan, managing director for the U.S. and Global West at Indiaspora, said the Dallas gathering demonstrated the willingness of philanthropists to invest time and effort in strategic giving. She said continuing the conversation would help increase the impact of philanthropic work and make philanthropy more accessible to people who are new to it.
The summit was sponsored by the Sehgal Foundation, Aatmic Philanthropy, the Gupta Agarwal Charitable Fund, Myriad USA and Windmill Craftworks.
The University of Texas at Dallas hosted a symposium and welcome dinner on Sept. 28, while the Communities Foundation of Texas hosted the summit itself.