FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alex Counts
Executive Director, India Philanthropy Alliance
email: alex@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org
India Philanthropy Alliance Announces 7th Annual Youth Essay Competition: #YouthWithPurpose
Middle and high school students are invited to shape the future through the power of writing.
Washington, DC, USA — March 25, 2026 — The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), a U.S.-based coalition of nonprofit organizations focused on India, proudly announces its 7th Annual Youth Essay Competition. This year’s theme,#YouthWithPurpose, highlights the role young people can play in creating a better future for India and the world, with critical thinking, problem-solving, and writing.
Since the competition’s launch in 2020, the Youth Essay Competition has served as a platform for young voices to engage with global challenges and learn about the role philanthropy can play in addressing them. Students are invited to research one of the most pressing issues they see India facing today and write a compelling essay that examines the challenges and offers potential solutions based on their research and lived experience.
“We believe that young people bring fresh perspectives to complex social challenges and can inspire innovative solutions,” said Alex Counts, Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance. “This competition reinforces that students have the power to shape India’s future through creative ideas and a commitment to making a difference.”
Essays will be evaluated separately in Middle School and High School categories by a panel of nonprofit professionals. Each year, approximately ten standout essays are selected for publication on the India Philanthropy Alliance website, offering students an opportunity to share their ideas with a broad audience and connect with organizations working towards meaningful change.
Winners in each category will have the opportunity to present their ideas at a national gathering of philanthropists, business leaders, and nonprofit executives in the fall. In addition, winners will be able to direct a $1,000 grant to the charitable organization of their choice. Runners-up will be able to direct a $500 grant to a nonprofit they select, and their essays will be promoted through IPA’s website and social media channels.
The deadline for essay submissions is July 1, 2026. Winners will be notified in early September and invited to attend and speak at a major philanthropy conference in Dallas, Texas, on September 29. Airfare and accommodations for the two winners will be provided by IPA.
“India’s progress depends on young voices with vision, courage, and heart. Neha Gupta, Executive Director of Teach for India U.S. and personally, a sponsor of the Youth Essay Competition, shared, “At Teach for India U.S., we witness daily how powerful it is to empower young people to change the world. We need to listen more intentionally to our children— to learn from their ideas, their hopes, and their sense of possibility, which is exactly the opportunity afforded by the Youth Essay Competition. Supporting this platform not only amplifies the voices of these brilliant young minds but also introduces them early to the spirit of philanthropy and civic leadership. Ingredients critical for building a better future for all of us.”
Through the Youth Essay Competition, the India Philanthropy Alliance continues to demonstrate the power of writing as an impetus for social impact. By encouraging students to explore solutions to the pressing challenges they see, IPA aims to nurture the next generation of changemakers and philanthropists.
About the Youth Essay Competition
The India Philanthropy Alliance Youth Essay Competition, launched in 2020, encourages young people to explore philanthropy and global problem-solving through research and writing. Open to middle and high school students who are U.S. citizens or residents, the competition challenges participants to identify critical issues facing India and propose thoughtful, well-researched ideas for how individuals, communities, and organizations can be part of the solution.
The Youth Essay Competition is sponsored by Sehgal Foundation, Ujala Foundation, Mamta Bhandari, and the Gupta Giving Fund.
About the India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) The India Philanthropy Alliance (http://www.indiaphilanthropyalliance.org) is a coalition of nonprofit, philanthropic, and charitable organizations that mobilize people and funding in the United States (and elsewhere) for development and poverty-reduction programs in India. The twenty-two core network organizations include Aarti for Girls, Agastya USA, Akanksha Education Fund, Akshaya Patra, American India Foundation, Antara International, Arogya World, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment USA (ATREE USA), Children’s Hope India, CRY America, Community Pure Water, Foundation for Excellence (FFE), Indiaspora, Karya, Milaan Foundation, Pratham USA, Sehgal Foundation, Teach for India U.S., Vibha, Vicente Ferrer Foundation, VisionSpring, and WISH Foundation.
For any questions, please contact Alex Counts, Executive Director at India Philanthropy Alliance, at alex@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org.
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