The New Donor Reality: What’s Driving Giving in 2026?
Women of Color in Fundraising & Philanthropy · June 2026 · Session
What’s actually changing in major-donor behavior right now? In this session I dug into the shifts following the 2024 election cycle and continued economic uncertainty — the rise (and real limits) of donor-advised funds as a primary giving vehicle, how Gen X portfolio-managers give differently from values-driven Millennials, and where donor response is diverging from long-standing industry habits.
Watch/learn more → [link to be added]
When Philanthropy Becomes a Family Affair: Advising Across Generations
National Network of Consultants to Grantmakers · June 2026 · Conference Session
Families now direct a growing share of philanthropic capital — through private foundations, donor-advised funds, LLCs, family offices, impact-investing platforms, and advocacy vehicles. This session unpacked what makes advising families uniquely rewarding and complex: navigating generational transitions, evolving donor identities (women, next-gen, multicultural, and values-driven donors), and the overwhelm of too many choices — and how advisors can position themselves as trusted guides across wealth, values, governance, and strategy.
Learn more → [link to be added]
Charting the Constellation of Advisors: Insights Across UHNW Giving
Geneva Global · April 2026 · Webinar
The opening session of Geneva Global’s three-part Constellation Conversations series, building on our white-paper collaboration with the Gates Foundation. I joined leading voices in philanthropy to map the constellation of advisors guiding ultra-high-net-worth giving, with practice-based insights for advisors on where donors actually turn for expert help.
Watch the webinar → [link to be added]
Giving Is Good for You: How and Why Philanthropy Benefits the Donor
India Philanthropy Alliance · March 2026 · Essay
A growing body of research shows that generosity — practiced intentionally and consistently — measurably strengthens the emotional, social, physical, and professional well-being of the giver. In this piece I reflect on the science and the lived experience behind giving, and how generosity not only supports communities but enriches the lives of those who practice it.
Read the essay → [link to be added]
Emerging Philanthropists: The Next Generation of Giving
Yale Philanthropy Conference · February 2026 · Panel (Moderator)
I moderated this conversation on how younger philanthropists are reshaping the sector — new priorities, new approaches, and evolving definitions of what it means to give — while surfacing the questions emerging donors are asking as they work to align values, impact, and responsibility.
Learn more → [link to be added]
Multigenerational Philanthropy & Shared Leadership (Episode 16)
Illuminate Philanthropy Podcast · November 2025 · Podcast
A conversation on how values, lived experience, and shared leadership shape giving. We talked about multigenerational involvement, centering community voice, and the often-overlooked power of boards as catalysts for change.
Listen to the episode → [link to be added]
Charting the Constellation of Advisors: Where Do Philanthropists Get Expert Advice?
Gates Foundation Philanthropic Partnerships Team + Geneva Global · August 2025 · White Paper
Where do the world’s wealthiest donors get expert advice? This white paper goes inside the philanthropy-advising market guiding an estimated $17 trillion in ultra-high-net-worth giving — mapping the constellation of experts who help donors define their mission and chart their legacy. I was proud to contribute.
Read the white paper → [link to be added]
Global Roots, Local Impact: Empowering, Enabling, and Giving to India
It all begins with an idea.
Reflections from a Dasra Philanthropy Week 2025 Panel
India’s rapidly evolving philanthropic landscape presents both tremendous opportunity and complex challenges – especially for members of the Indian diaspora who feel a deep desire to give back. As the country approaches its 100th year of independence in 2047, this is a pivotal moment to reflect on what it means to be part of a global Indian community with a local impact mindset.
At this year’s Dasra Philanthropy Week (DPW 2025), I was honored to join fellow thought leaders, advisors, and philanthropists in conversation about how to close the gap between intention and impact, build trust, and enable meaningful giving. What follows are my reflections and some key insights from that panel discussion.
Challenges in Multi-Generational Diaspora Philanthropy
Declining Enthusiasm Among Younger Generations
Shifts in Priorities (Traditional giving to India often focused on poverty alleviation, education, and religious institutions)
Trust & Transparency Concerns
Different Approaches to Giving
The Power and Potential of Diaspora Giving, But Not Without Hurdles
The Indian diaspora contributes between $1.5 to $2 billion annually to charitable causes worldwide – nearly $831 million of that directly to India, making up more than a third of all foreign donations under India’s FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act). And yet, despite this substantial contribution, many diaspora donors still face significant obstacles. Some of the greatest challenges emerge not from a lack of desire, but from the generational evolution of philanthropic values and expectations.
While 65% of first-generation Indian-American donors say they prioritize giving to India, that number drops to just 30% among second- and third-generation donors (Bridgespan, 2022). Younger donors are often less emotionally connected to India than their parents or grandparents and increasingly focused on causes including climate justice, equity, and mental health – often U.S.-based or intersectional in scope – rather than solely poverty alleviation, education, or religious institutions. Their approach to giving is also changing. Where previous generations favored informal, relationship-based philanthropy supporting extended families, community projects, or faith-based initiatives, the next generation of donors seek structured engagement, are interested in impact metrics, and entrepreneurial models such as collective giving or impact investing.
Compounding this generational shift are concerns about trust and transparency. Many donors express frustration with navigating India’s NGO sector, evaluating nonprofit credibility, and understanding how their funds are used. Compliance challenges under FCRA only add to this complexity, leaving some donors unsure of how to proceed.
Bridging the Gap
Encourage intergenerational philanthropy conversations within families.
Use storytelling and real-time impact metrics to engage younger donors.
Provide flexible giving options like impact investing and donor-advised funds (DAFs).
From Challenge to Opportunity: Building Bridges
The path forward is full of promise. To bridge the generational and logistical divide in diaspora philanthropy, we must first recognize that flexibility, transparency, and intergenerational engagement are essential.
Families can start by making philanthropy a shared conversation, encouraging storytelling across generations and focusing on shared values. Donors, especially younger ones, are more likely to give when they can see their impact in real time and when giving vehicles align with their interests. Donor-advised funds (DAFs), impact investing, collaborative/collective giving, and giving circles provide more flexible, structured pathways for engagement.
Making Giving to India More Accessible
India’s social sector is massive – over 200,000 registered NGOs and countless informal actors – making it hard to identify trustworthy and impactful partners. But curated platforms are emerging to help. Organizations like Dasra (GivingPi), Accelerate India Philanthropy (Living My Promise), GuideStar India, and India Philanthropy Alliance offer donors a way to explore and support vetted, high-impact projects.
Still, navigating FCRA regulations remains a challenge. Here’s where intermediaries play a vital role. Partners including Myriad USA, CAFAmerica, GiveIndia, Dasra, and GlobalGiving provide donors with compliant ways to give, ensuring due diligence and proper reporting while removing many administrative hurdles.
The Rise of Strategic and Collaborative Philanthropy
Increasingly, donors want to do more than just give – they want to engage.
Giving circles such as those facilitated by NEID Global and PhilanthropyTogether are allowing donors to pool resources, build collective strategies, and co-create impact. Corporate giving has also evolved under India’s CSR mandate (which requires corporations to donate 2% of profits to social causes), opening new doors for public-private partnerships. And more philanthropists are now blending business acumen with social innovation – channeling their expertise from fields like tech, finance, and law into scalable solutions.
This shift from charity to strategy is redefining what it means to give. Donors are seeking long-term, systemic change, not just short-term fixes.
The Critical Role of Philanthropy Advisors
As this landscape grows more complex, philanthropy advisors are becoming indispensable partners for diaspora donors.
Advisors can help:
Mitigate risk through due diligence, ensuring donors fund credible, impact-driven organizations
Design giving strategies that reflect a donor’s values, goals, and legacy
Support multigenerational engagement, using tools like the National Center for Family Philanthropy (NCFP) Family Giving Lifecycle Toolkit and those from 21/64.
Navigate compliance and structure giving through DAFs, direct grants, or impact investments
How Advisors Add Value to Diaspora Giving
Provide Due Diligence & Risk Management - Vet partners and projects to minimize risk and build donor confidence.
Craft Tailored Giving Strategies - Align philanthropic goals with personal values, causes, and family legacy.
Facilitate Donor Education - Provide insight into local contexts, giving vehicles, and best practices.
Navigate Compliance and Optimize Structures - Guide donors through legal requirements and set up effective giving mechanisms (e.g., DAFs, intermediaries, direct grants)
As the field grows, so does the infrastructure. Growing communities including P150 (a global network of 400+ philanthropic advisors who collectively shape and move billions in giving each year) and the National Network for Consultants to Grantmakers (a network of experienced professional consultants serving grantmakers), as well as advisor training programs such as Daylight Advisor’s Impact Philanthropy Advisor Certification and Building Impact’s Advisors Accelerator Meaningful Giving Guide Certification, are creating an ecosystem of skilled professionals to support diaspora philanthropy.
Looking Ahead: Building a Culture of Giving with Lasting Impact
If we want to ensure that diaspora giving endures through future generations, we must build a culture of philanthropy rooted in trusting relationships, education, and engagement.
For donors, that means:
Starting small, but staying engaged – philanthropy is about more than writing checks, it’s about continuous learning and relationship-building.
Leveraging networks and peer learning opportunities – joining giving circles, collaborating, and finding trusted advisors.
Thinking long-term and focusing on systemic change – providing patient capital, committing to address root causes, and engaging family members and proximate partners along the way.
For advisors and nonprofits, it means:
Meeting donors where they are and offering flexible, accessible entry points.
Clearly communicating outcomes and telling stories that resonate.
Creating space for the next generation to participate and lead by integrating them into family conversations early.
The Indian diaspora has always been generous. With intentional support, better infrastructure, and intergenerational inclusion, this generosity can transform into lasting, strategic impact.
Want to Learn More or Connect?
Reach out to me at sharmila@srtadvising.com
Explore resources from Dasra, Giving Pi, P150, Network of Engaged International Donors
SAPHA Spotlight Series, Episode 4: Sharmila Rao Thakkar
South Asian Public Health Association Podcast · April 2024 · Podcast
Marking SAPHA’s 25th anniversary, this conversation traces my path from health communications and public health into philanthropic advising — and the through-line of equity, social impact, and leadership across communities. As a co-founder and founding board member of SAPHA, it was a full-circle conversation.
Listen to the episode → [link to be added]
Indian American Philanthropy: A Tradition of Seeding Change and Inspiring Giving
National Center for Family Philanthropy · August 2023 · Article
Indian Americans have a long and thriving philanthropic tradition — one the current and next generation continue to carry forward. This piece explores the trends and motivations behind Indian American giving, and the story of the first-ever India Giving Day (March 2, 2023), now an annual event.
Read the article → [link to be added]
The Value of Staying Connected in a Changing Philanthropic Landscape
Foundant Technologies · April 2022 · Keynote
On “connected philanthropy”: how communication, collaboration, and co-creation strengthen collective impact.
Learn more → [link to be added]
Building Sustainability and Resilience: Lessons from Disaster Response
Foundant Technologies · December 2021 · Podcast
Lessons on resilience drawn from frontline pandemic and disaster work.
Listen to the episode → [link to be added]
Engaging the Next Generation in Family Philanthropy
National Center for Family Philanthropy · November 2021 · Workshop Series
I organized and facilitated a series of webinars and workshops on bringing the next generation and emerging family-philanthropy leaders into the fold — for NCFP’s Trustee Education Institute, its Emerging Leaders Peer Network, and next-gen family philanthropists.
Learn more → [link to be added]
The Value of a Borough Disaster Preparedness Coalition in Bridging Gaps
Frontline (COF Foundation) · October 2021 · Article
How Staten Island’s nonprofit COAD coalition met community needs through COVID-19.
Read the article → [link to be added]
Lessons Learned from the Pandemic: How Funders Can Be More Supportive Partners
Candid · January 2021 · Article
Practical reflections for funders wanting to better support communities in crisis.
Read the article → [link to be added]
Governance Best Practices: Building a Positive Relationship with Your Board
Westchester Community Foundation & Support Center for Nonprofit Management · March 2020 · Workshop
The Executive Director–Board Chair partnership is interdependent, and it only works with consistent communication and trust. This workshop explored how the two can clarify roles, nurture a supportive relationship, and create space for honest conversation — the foundation of a healthy board and organizational culture.
Learn more → [link to be added]
Working Together: How the Board & ED Partnership Impacts Board Culture
Candid & Support Center · January 2020 · Workshop
Keys to a board–ED relationship that fosters a healthy governance culture.
Learn more → [link to be added]
The High Impact Board
Jay & Linda Grunin Foundation & Support Center · February 2019 · Workshop
The building blocks of an effective, impactful nonprofit board.
Learn more → [link to be added]
On Relationships: Recalling the Heart & Mind of Philanthropy
Foundant · October 2018 · Article
Respect, empathy, and trust as the foundation of lasting funder–grantee relationships.
Read the article → [link to be added]
South Asia and Giving Back: Your Guide to Getting Started
Good Indian Girl & South Asian Philanthropy Project · October 2017 · Guide
How do you give well when donating back to South Asia? This practical guide offers a starting point for diaspora donors planning year-end gifts or mapping where to focus their giving in the year ahead.
Read the guide → [link to be added]