In the News

April 2, 2024 - The April 2024 issue of Sathee magazine published an article written by Alex Counts, Untapped Potential: How the Indian Diaspora Can Revolutionize Philanthropy in India.

March 21, 2024 - Sustainability Next interviewed Alex Counts to discuss how Indian Philanthropy Needs to Become More Inclusive, Long-term Oriented. The interview was also recorded on their YouTube Channel

March 21, 2024 - The American Bazaar wrote a piece that highlights The 5th Annual Youth Essay Competition. The competition invites middle school and high school students who are US citizens to identify the most pressing issues facing India today and propose ways in which we can be a part of the solution.

March 21, 2024 - CSR Mandate featured an article written by Alex Counts, Beyond Financial Giving: The Power of Volunteerism, which highlights the benefits of volunteering both for the individual and the organization.

March 17, 2024 - New India Abroad featured an Op-Ed written by Alex Counts, Bridging the Gap: Strategies to increase Indian American giving to India's SDGs, arguing that diaspora giving could represent a small but crucial source of financing to ensure that the targets are met.

March 11, 2024 - Alex Counts wrote an article for India CSR titled, Impact Investing: A Growing Trend in Indian American Philanthropy. For many people, the walls between making money and improving society have been gradually coming down over the last 20 years, leading to some exciting hybrid or blended approaches. India and Indian Americans have been at the forefront of this new thinking.

March 3, 2024 - American Bazaar published two articles highlighting the success of India Giving Day, which raised more than $5.5 million in its second year. The first article titled, India Giving Day a huge success features the growth of the India Giving Day movement and a video interview with Alex Counts, Director of IPA and India Giving Day. The second article titled, India Giving Day raises more than $5 million features the generosity of India Giving Day’s lead sponsor, Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST), for their sponsorship of campaign and two major grants awarded on India Giving Day.

March 2, 2024 - The American Bazaar posted a video interview of India Philanthropy Alliance Executive Director Alex Counts speaking to IPA Advisor Venky Raghavendra on the sideline of the India Giving Day event at Drexel University in Philadelphia on March 1, 2024.

February 27, 2024 - Alex Counts authored an article for the Alliance Magazine titled, The social impact opportunities of AI in India. To paraphrase Bangladeshi Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, trends such as financial and technology innovation, the proliferation of social media, and globalization can massively help or harm society’s most vulnerable people. Which scenario becomes reality depends in large part on enlightened government policies and bold efforts by civil society, especially nonprofit organizations, to harness these forces for good.

February 25, 2024 - Indiaspora shared an article Women in Philanthropy and Leadership written by India Giving Day planning committee members; Manisha Bharti, Sejal Desai, and Minoo Gupta

February 23, 2024- The Press Trust of India interviewed Alex Counts, Executive Director of IPA, about the upcoming India Giving Day and published an article titled, 33 non-profit bodies to participate in second India Giving Day in US that has since been picked up by The Times of India, Hindustan Times, Deccan Herald, Business Standard, and The Pioneer, among others.

February 23, 2024- The CSR Universe interviewed Alex Counts, Executive Director of IPA, to get a fresh take on US-India philanthropy one week before India Giving Day. "IPA serves as a vital bridge between the United States and India, harnessing the collective power of philanthropy to effect positive change," says Counts.

February 17, 2024- The American Bazaar offers a prelude to the second annual India Giving Day event to be held at Drexel University on March 1, 2024. The speaker lineup includes Deepak Raj, Founder of Raj Associates; Nalini Saligram, CEO of Arogya World; Paul Glick, Executive Director of Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST); and Manisha Bharti, CEO of Pratham USA.

February 16, 2024- Alex Counts, Executive Director of India Giving Day and India Philanthropy Alliance, spoke to Authority Magazine in an interview titled, Celebrating Diversity: Alex Counts Of The India Philanthropy Alliance On How To Build Inclusive Communities, especially in campaigns like India Giving Day.

October 5, 2023- American Bazaar recaps the kick-off event for India Giving Day at Drexel University. The article features a panel discussion by prominent philanthropists Raj Gupta of Ujala Foundation, Deepak Raj, Co-Chair of India Philanthropy Alliance, and Ravi Reddy of Community Pure Water.

October 2, 2023- India Philanthropy Alliance announced the launch of their 2nd Annual India Giving Day Campaign with the help of PR Newswire. The announcement was immediately picked up by over 300 news outlets that include Yahoo! Finance, Market Watch, Finanzen Net, Benzinga, Markets Insider, KTLA, WGN TV, WFLA, and News Channel 8.

September 26, 2023-American Bazaar covers IPA’s partnership with Drexel University to launch India Giving Day 2024.

September 7, 2023-American Kahani published an article written by Shaunya Kumar, winner of the 2023 Essay Competition in the high school category. Shaunya spoke passionately on behalf of the Dalit caste and offered solutions to address this problem.

September 1, 2023-American Bazaar covers the results of the 2023 Youth Essay Competition and speaks to the breadth of topics, diversity of judges, and statements from the winners. Read the full article here.

August 29, 2023- IPA Announces the Winners of the 2023 Youth Essay Competition. See the notice that was sent to news stations here and visit our essay competition webpage to read the essays.

August 15, 2023- In celebration of India’s Independence Day, leading members of the Alliance pledge to redouble their efforts to ensure educational opportunities for every Indian girl; one of the most potent ways to promote social and economic independence for women and the communities where they live. Read the article published by Indiaspora here.

August 10, 2023-The National Center for Family Philanthropy published an article by Sharmila Rao Thakkar which sheds light on trends and motivations behind Indian American giving through interviews with leading philanthropists. A longer version of the article can be found on our blog.

July 14, 2023- The Philanthropy News Digest published an article by Alex Counts, Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance, reviewing the seven principles of philanthropic giving that guide many of the most impactful donors who also find their philanthropy the most meaningful to them.

July 7, 2023- Raj L. Gupta, a prominent figure in the global business community and recently appointed National Co-Chair for India Giving Day, co-authored this article about India’s surge onto the international stage, as evidenced by the vast media exposure during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington D.C. Along with his co-authors, Govind Agrawal and Mukul Pandya, Raj Gupta calls on the diaspora of India to act in accordance with their capacity.

May 9, 2023- Manisha Bharti, CEO of Pratham USA & Sejal Desai, Executive Director of Akanksha Education Fund, spoke to Times of India about the importance of allowing younger generations to connect with and participate in initiatives like India Giving Day.

May 5, 2023- Alex Counts, Executive Director of IPA, spoke to Inside Philanthropy about the potential of Indian American philanthropy in the near future, and how the IPA and its network organizations collaborate to mobilize support for developmental initiatives in India.

March 14, 2023- The success of India Giving Day was covered by dozens of news sources and featured the 1000+ donors who contributed to the campaign and Shivansh Chhaya Kapil for the release of his original song, “India here to give”, in celebration of India Giving Day.

March 13, 2023- Sathee magazine covered the Youth Essay Competition online and in their print edition.

March 1, 2023-The Chronicle of Philanthropy published an article by Alex Counts, Sejal Desai, and Jay Sehgal, “Tips for Creating a Successful Young Professionals Program.”

February 28, 2023- New India Abroad features India Giving Day activities and the national effort to catalyze giving to benefit India.

February 24, 2023- The Hindu businessline draws from their interview with IPA Director Alex Counts and a video message from USISPF president Mukesh Aghi, to take a closer look at India Giving Day.

February 22, 2023- India West covers the launch of the 4th Annual Youth Essay Competition.

February 7, 2023- An excellent article, written by Susan Appe, Associate Professor of public Administration and Policy at the University at Albany in New York. The title is, “On the first ever India Giving Day, the highest-earning ethnic group in the US gets a chance to step up and help their homeland”.

February 7, 2023 - India Philanthropy Alliance announces the launch of the 4th Annual Youth Essay Competition.

February 7, 2023-American Kahani published an article on How Indian American Community is Addressing Social and Economic Issues Through Philanthropy, written by India Philanthropy Alliance director, Alex Counts.

January 31, 2023- The Times of India posted an article reviewing trends in Indian-American philanthropy, written by India Philanthropy Alliance director, Alex Counts.

January 23, 2023- American Kahani reports Indian American philanthropy is moving to bridge the community’s “giving gap”.

January 13, 2023- The India Philanthropy Alliance press release, on the Countdown to the First-Ever India Giving Day was picked up by more than 300 news publications! Read it here with the Associated Press.

December 15, 2022- The Chronicle of Philanthropy published an article co-written by Alex Counts, Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance, Sejal Desai, Executive Director of Akanksha Education Fund, and Jay Sehgal, Executive Vice President of Sehgal Foundation. The article presented winning formulas for engaging youth in the philanthropic process.

October 12, 2022- The India Philanthropy Alliance announces the winners of the 2022 Youth Essay Competition and the Philanthropy Summit in New York City where they will present their ideas.

October 6, 2022 -American Bazaar covers IPA’s announcement of India Giving Day through their AB wire service.

October 3, 2022- India Philanthropy Alliance announces a bold new campaign to increase the scale and impact of philanthropy benefitting India. The inaugural India Giving Day will be held on March 2, 2023.

March 7, 2022- American Bazaar announces IPA’s Youth Essay Competition and reviews past highlights.

March 4, 2022- India West reviews the key elements of IPA’s Youth Essay Competition.

March 3, 2022- INDIA New England News covers the launch of IPA’s Youth Essay Competition.

March 2, 2022- India Philanthropy Alliance announces the launch of the 3rd Annual Youth Essay Competition.

November 4, 2021- India West announces the results of the 2021 Youth Essay Competition and recaps the issues addressed by competition winners and runners up.

October 19, 2021- The American Bazaar takes a closer look at Rithani Saravanakumar's winning essay on the importance of supporting small family farms in rural India.

October 19, 2021- The Results are In! Read IPA’s press release announcing the winners, runners-up, and finalists of the 2021 Youth Essay Competition .

October 1, 2021 - The India Philanthropy Alliance Two Years On In this article IPA Director Alex Counts and Pratham USA Executive Director Bala Venkatachalam speak to accomplishments, lessons learned and challenges faced in the early years of IPA's journey as a coalition.

May 5, 2021 - IPA and two of our leaders were featured in a National Public Radio (NRP) segment on the Indian-American diaspora’s response to the COVID crisis in India.

February 23, 2021 - Youth essay contest winner Maher Adoni presents his ideas in an interview with Feras Ismail.

February 22, 2021 - IPA’s 2nd annual essay contest was covered by American Bazaar.

October 1, 2020 - Essay contest winners Rohan Chalamalasetti and Maher Adoni are featured in an article by American Bazaar.

May 8, 2020 - The India Philanthropy Alliance published a press release about its essay competition and members’ work on COVID-19.

March 9, 2020 - IPA’s youth essay competition received excellent coverage in American Bazaar.

October 2, 2019 - The Alliance announced itself to the broader Indian, Indian-American, and philanthropy communities in its first press release.

IPA’s formation received coverage from many media outlets:

News India Times: “Indian-Americans launch new philanthropy initiative for India”

Deccan Herald: “11 non-profit bodies form India Philanthropy Alliance”

Business Standard: “11 nonprofit bodies join to form India Philanthropy Alliance”

Fund for NGOs: “New India Philanthropy Alliance launched to advance Humanitarian and Development Goals”

Tribune India: “11 nonprofit bodies join to form India Philanthropy Alliance”

Republic World: “Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti: Nonprofit Bodies Form Philanthropy Alliance”

The Hans India: “11 non-profit bodies join to form India Philanthropy Alliance”