Blog-post

Dr. Akhil Shahani is the Managing Director of The Shahani Group and a prominent education entrepreneur in India. He has pledged to donate over 50% of his net worth to philanthropic causes through the LivingMyPromise initiative. The First Generation: Charity Born from Struggle My grandfather arrived in India from Sindh after Partition, carrying little more than resilience. Out of the chaos of displacement, he founded the Shahani Trust, dedicated to helping poor Sindhi migrant

Mudar Patherya, an LMP Promisor, has pledged to dedicate half his wealth to philanthropy and continues to live this commitment through his work in Kolkata. From restoring heritage buildings to rejuvenating public spaces, he has been at the forefront of citizen-led urban renewal. A former cricket journalist turned communications consultant, he also founded Kolkata Gives to connect donors with grassroots NGOs, ensuring that giving creates tangible impact. Every Indian city has

Bharati Dasgupta, co-founder and former trustee of Catalysts for Social Action, has dedicated decades to advocacy for adoption and institutional-child care, transitioning from the corporate world to a lifetime of social impact. She is also one of the earliest signatories of the LivingMyPromise initiative. When givers, doers, and dreamers come together for a cause, a Collective is born; an alliance that turns scattered efforts into lasting impact. This is my story of why Col

Not yet ready yet to commit 50% of your wealth? Not ready yet to commit 50% of your wealth? You can still get going with your giving journey—right now, right where you are. We often think of giving as something reserved for the ultra-wealthy or as a milestone to reach once everything else is sorted in life. Or we think “I can do a little, but let me first be sure I can afford to give more”. But the truth is, giving can—and should, in most cases, be far higher than where it cu

When I left the boardrooms of global corporations, I didn’t walk away from ambition — I redefined it. It was a journey that led me to discover the diversity and inequality in India, to forgotten schools in rural India, and to the quiet courage of non-profit leaders fighting every day to change lives with far too little support. I realised that true wealth lies not in what you accumulate, but in what you enable for others. That’s the philosophy behind my philanthropy today — t

It began, like most good things at LivingMyPromise, with a conversation. At the LMP Annual Meet in Bangalore earlier this year, a group of Promisors—individuals who have each pledged to give away at least half their wealth to causes they care deeply about—gathered to discuss a challenge that many in the development sector face but few talk about openly. An NGO secures funding. Agreements are signed. The intent is clear. And yet, the funds don’t arrive on time. Stuck in corpor

We were delighted when a company requested us to train girls for different roles. The company had never hired girls or girls with disabilities before. This was our first all-girls batch. So, they arrived from remote villages. Some, over 60% disabled, came in on all fours. They were too poor to afford calipers, they said, and had learned to walk using their hands. Dull, listless faces, crushed by a society, where if you are a girl, rural, poor and disabled, it meant four blows

I grew up in a small town in India and was exposed to human suffering quite early. When I started my career, I decided to do something for the under-privileged kids who used to beg on the streets while my son used to sit next to me in the car. This realization of inequality and the role that education plays in one's growth led me to start a foundation to bring under-privileged kids into the schooling system - from my first stock grant in 2013. I always wanted to do something

People often whine about comparing apples and oranges, but the REALITY is that we actually do make that comparison several times every single day in our lives. Occasionally, we do it literally when we go to the market to buy fruit- and decide whether to buy apples or oranges! But more often, it is choosing between going out to dinner or a movie instead. Watching something on Netflix v/s scrolling through reels on your phone or reading a book. There are 2 ways to compare appl

In a world where everything has a price , what happens to the priceless? How do we bring them back into circulation ? Disconnection is a growing epidemic - You can’t put a price on the smile or phone call you received , just as you can’t put a price on any of our deepest gifts. Compassion, Empathy, Gratitude , Generosity , Trust and Kindness . Think of a time you were very grateful. Everybody wins when generosity grows as it is NOT a zero sum game. Instead of asking -

My Simple Philosophy: Resource Adequately + Invest Strategically to Achieve Results Philanthropy is, frankly, a rounding error on social spending, perhaps accounting for a low % single digit of it. This humbling realization has deepened my perspective during 25+ years of giving. Despite its modest scale, philanthropy remains critically important—it keeps us grounded, provides satisfaction that we are using our blessings meaningfully, & connects us as citizens to societal issu

LivingMyPromise is not just a commitment—it is a movement grounded in the philosophy of intentional and collaborative giving. By bringing together high-net-worth individuals who commit to donating at least 50% of their wealth to social causes, LMP fosters purposeful giving aimed at creating systemic change. Unlike traditional philanthropic efforts that often prioritize visibility and grandeur, LMP keeps its focus razor-sharp: driving real change where it’s needed most. The in

Philanthropy is witnessing a transformation led by women changemakers who are shaping the sector with empathy, inclusivity, and a focus on systemic impact. Women across the globe, including those within LivingMyPromise (LMP), are redefining how wealth is used to address pressing social challenges, breaking barriers in a field historically dominated by men. Importantly, giving is universal—anyone, regardless of amount of wealth, can contribute to making a difference. The Hurun

Navoday Foundation: Empowering Women, Transforming Lives In the serene villages of Tamulpur district, Assam, an inspiring initiative is rewriting the script of economic empowerment for rural women. The Navoday Foundation, with support from the LivingMyPromise (LMP) community, is leveraging small contributions to create a big impact. This case study underscores how a unique confluence of diverse philanthropists, local changemakers, and innovative solutions can make a real diff

Philanthropy's Great Convergence In FY22, $18.7 billion was spent on social activities and projects in the country, says India Philanthropy Report 2023, prepared by non-profit organisation Dasra and global consultancy Bain & Co. While CSR was $3.3 billion, family philanthropy and contributions from family offices, ultra-high net worth individuals, high net worth individuals and affluent accounted for another $3.6 billion. Retail philanthropy added up to $4 billion. Foreign fu

Journalism has seen a substantial rise in philanthropic spending over the past 5 years, a study says There has been a “substantial” increase in philanthropic spending for journalism over the past five years, particularly outlets that serve poor and minority communities, a report issued on Thursday said — but journalists need to tighten ethical rules that govern the new spending, it recommended. The struggling news industry is increasingly relying on donations and subscription

Family Philanthropy: The Key to Bridging India’s Social Sector Funding Deficit Family philanthropy, which includes contributions from UHNIs (net wealth >INR 1,000 crore), HNIs (net wealth of INR 200–1,000 crore), and affluent givers (net wealth of INR 7–200 crore), is a significant source of private domestic contributions. Despite a funding deficit in the social sector, this form of giving can bridge the gap, currently accounting for 33% of private domestic contributions. It’

Family philanthropy to grow by 18% in India: Report At present, family philanthropy in India has immense potential to lead the country’s philanthropic movement, driving sustainable and inclusive development at the policy level. However, the projected 18 per cent growth in family philanthropy by Indian Philanthropy Report 2023 is not enough to meet growing demands. The need of the hour is to fill in the gaps between family philanthropists and fund seekers to impact investment

Fostering Sustainable Institutions: Philanthropy’s Time to Invest in NGO Capacity Building Capacity building is one of the most complex aspects of what it takes to impact lives at scale and is a critical element in ensuring non-profits’ sustainability, resilience, and effective functioning. While technical and programmatic proficiency is essential, scaling up of impact requires investment in strengthening internal systems, processes, and people beyond the programs. The truth

In 2018 during Daan Utsav, or the weekly festival of giving held across India, a group of six volunteers involved with the event started questioning why India didn’t have anything like the Giving Pledge, under which several billionaires world over had pledged to donate a certain portion of their wealth to charity. “We questioned why this should be restricted only to billionaires, and why we couldn’t have something similar in India,” Girish Batra, one of the people involved in