UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar

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.

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UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar

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.

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UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar

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.

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UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar UHNW & Advising Sharmila Rao Thakkar

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.

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