October 2, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alex Counts
Executive Director, India Philanthropy Alliance
mobile: 202-257-8739
email: alex@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org
India Giving Day 2026 to Celebrate the #PowerOfUs
Nonprofit Organizations focused on India must apply by October 31.
Washington, DC, USA, October 2 - The India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), a U.S.-based network of nonprofit, philanthropic, and charitable organizations focused on India, has opened registration for their 4th annual India Giving Day which will be held on March 13, 2026. The 2026 campaign will focus on the #PowerOfUs and the capacity of the Indian American diaspora to play a pivotal role in achieving India’s strategic development agenda, based on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals that were adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
India Giving Day, which was launched in the spring of 2023, is modeled after highly successful community giving days that are happening in a growing number of U.S. cities. India Giving Day is unique in that it is a nationwide campaign to support nonprofit organizations working in a country outside of the U.S., while most giving days are community or regionally based. The India Philanthropy Alliance has been working to foster a more robust and better recognized culture of giving among Indian Americans since its inception in 2019. India Giving Day is its flagship campaign to increase the scale and impact of philanthropy benefiting India.
“We are excited to take India Giving Day to the next level this year. The new report by Dalberg tells us that Indian American philanthropy has grown significantly over the last 6 years, and India Giving Day has been one of the sources fueling that growth,” says Alex Counts, Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance. “Now we must build on and accelerate that momentum to help more people and ecosystems thrive in India through supporting the best nonprofits in India, and arguably in the world.”
The success of India Giving Day has grown from 1,031 donors giving $1.3 million in its inaugural year to 2,691 donors giving $8.8 million in 2025, its third year. Much of this has been made possible through volunteer fundraisers who are hosting events, vocal on social media, and encouraging their networks to join in the initiative.
As it has in the past, India Giving Day will host dozens of carefully vetted organizations working in the fields of education, health care, livelihood development, women and children’s programs, programs for the elderly, environmental sustainability, and more.
“One of the greatest benefits of India Giving Day to our supporters is that we offer a trusted platform with organizations that have been carefully vetted and are working in nearly every field of interest and concern,” says Deepak Raj, chairman of the India Philanthropy Alliance and a National Co-Chair of India Giving Day.
“There is a wonderful spirit of solidarity among participating organizations, with some of them hosting collaborative events that feature the work of multiple organizations. This allows attendees to identify which organizations most closely align with their philanthropic priorities," adds Sejal Desai, the Executive Director of Akanksha Education Fund who also serves as the Co-Chair of the India Giving Day Steering Committee.
Manisha Bharti, the CEO and Global Executive of Pratham USA, notes, "India Giving Day aims to grow the amount, impact, and joy of American philanthropy to India. In our first three years, we have achieved that. And the best is yet to come!" She added, "Last year, hundreds of youth and young professionals took part in our campaign, with support from the Youth Leadership Council, and we expect even greater participation this year."
Organizers are encouraging every Indian American family to consider giving $100 or more to the charity or charities of their choice during the India Giving Day campaign window, which begins on March 1 and culminates on Friday, March 13, which is India Giving Day itself. Based on the number of organizations participating, this act alone, if undertaken widely, would double the budget and impact of the work happening on the ground in India.
India Giving Day is led by a Steering Committee of IPA Board Members and Staff and supported by a host of National Co-Chairs, Ambassadors, and the Youth Leadership Council.
India Giving Day is sponsored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Jain Family Foundation, Avestar Capital, Sehgal Foundation, Wadhwani Impact Trust, Ujala Foundation, and the Raj Family Foundation.
For any questions, please reach out to Alex Counts, Executive Director at India Philanthropy Alliance at mailto:alex@indiaphilanthropyalliance.org.
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