India Philanthropy Alliance Staff
Alex Counts, Executive Director
The Alliance is led by Alex Counts, who was deeply involved in the founding of the Alliance back when he was CEO of the American India Foundation. He continues to guide the growth and development of IPA, in consultation with the board of directors, by designing strategies and annual plans that grow and shape the Alliance for the fulfillment of its mission and vision for the future.
Alex has been published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review and The Chronicle of Philanthropy among other leading publications. He is also the author of four books which include Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind.
Meenakshi Mahajan, Deputy Director
Meenakshi Mahajan brings over two decades of experience in nonprofits and philanthropy across India and the U.S. At IPA, she leads the India Giving Day initiative, manages high-priority operations—from finance to compliance—and serves as liaison to IPA’s technology working group.
Previously, as Chief Operating Officer, she played a pivotal role in building IPA’s operational infrastructure and enhancing partner engagement. Her experience also includes roles at Magic Bus USA, the Ford Foundation, and other organizations focused on social equity.
Peg Fourré, Senior Advisor
Peg Fourré began working with the Alliance in August 2021 and was instrumental in the launch of India Giving Day and the expansion of the Youth Essay Competition. She continues to advise on both campaigns and remains actively engaged in advancing IPA’s mission through collaborations with key network organizations and oversight of IPA’s digital communications.
Dana Chan, Program Officer
Dana Chan assists in the administration of India Giving Day, the Youth Essay Competition, IPA board record keeping, and other key functions of the alliance. She is instrumental in evaluating candidate organizations for India Giving Day and identifying candidates for special grants to support India Giving Day events.
India Philanthropy Alliance Advisors
Brianne Fischer, Legal and Compliance Adviser (United States)
Brianne is the Founder and CEO of Fischer LMC. Her career launched at Grameen Foundation USA where she ultimately served as Director of Legal, Operations and Compliance for business transactions, anti-bribery and counter-terrorism compliance, international and domestic operations, governance, and general corporate legal needs. She also served as Legal Counsel at Innovations for Poverty Action before striking out on her own to start Fischer LMC.
Rahul Rishi, Legal and Compliance Advisor (India)
Rahul Rishi leads the Social Sector Practice at Nishith Desai Associates offering legal and tax counseling worldwide. A graduate of Gujarat National Law University with a Masters in Development Studies from Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, Rahul has extensive experience in advising clients on social impact bond, impact investing, foreign contribution laws, CSR and cross-border philanthropies.
Anjani Kumar Sharma, Legal and Compliance Advisor (India)
Anjani Kumar Sharma is the co-founder and Director of SAGA – Southern Accountability and Governance Alliance Pvt. Ltd. He is an advisor to leading corporate foundations, funding organizations, NGOs, government institutes and bodies, and universities. Anjani has authored various books and papers on subjects like, CSR, laws related to charities in India, taxation and start-ups. He specializes in legal, governance & finance issues related to voluntary organizations.