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Fashion Value Chain
3 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Beyond Chequebooks: SVP India Champions Strategic, Engaged Philanthropy for Social Impact
As India's philanthropic landscape matures, a quiet revolution is underway-one that goes far beyond chequebooks and charity events. Social Venture Partners India (SVP India), a network of over 750 compassionate individuals across eight major cities, is reshaping how we give. SVP India's model of 'engaged philanthropy' reflects a deeper, more strategic way of giving: combining financial support with time, expertise and networks to transform grassroots NGOs into high-impact organisations. Social Venture Partners India is a pan-India collaborative philanthropy organisation According to Bain & Company's India Philanthropy Report 2024, India's ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) are becoming more strategic in their giving. But beyond the top tier, even working professionals and mid-level donors are seeking deeper engagement. SVP India reflects this shift. Its members-49% of whom are senior working professionals and 34% business owners-don't just contribute financially. They actively work alongside NGOs to build capacity, improve governance, and enhance operational efficiency. Over the past decade, SVP India's partners have volunteered more than 25,000 hours with over 100 NGOs. The organization's structured process begins with rigorous NGO shortlisting, followed by the careful pairing of a Lead Partner whose professional experience aligns with the NGO's needs. These partnerships typically last for at least three years, allowing for deep collaboration and measurable progress. The result is not just stronger NGOs, but a cadre of philanthropists with firsthand insight into the challenges of the social sector. More than 90% of SVP India partners have stayed on for over five years-a testament to the community's impact and relevance. For NGOs, SVP India offers far more than financial support. Consider a Pune-based organisation working with hearing-impaired children. Despite a strong educational model, they faced scaling challenges. After partnering with SVP India, they were connected with a senior CSR consultant and a social sector strategist. This collaboration helped the NGO expand to a larger facility, secure job placements for students through corporate partnerships, build a robust fundraising network, and amplify awareness of their unique school model. This is not an isolated success. The strength of SVP India lies in its ability to mobilize sector-specific knowledge and networks. Partners have helped NGOs redesign governance frameworks, pitch to institutional funders, establish strategic collaborations, and even join policy advisory boards. The SVP staff-backed by over 180 years of collective social sector experience-curate tailored engagement programs based on partners' interests. Whether in healthcare, women's empowerment, waste management, disability rights, or employment generation, SVP ensures that partner involvement is both strategic and sustainable. A growing trend in Indian philanthropy is 'beyond money' giving-volunteerism, pro bono services, and network access. The Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023 notes a 30% rise in non-financial philanthropic contributions by professionals. SVP India is a practical embodiment of this trend. Its ecosystem enables learning, cross-sector collaboration, and long-term partnerships. Many partners continue to support NGOs beyond their initial commitment, often taking up advisory roles or mentorship. For those looking to begin or deepen their philanthropic journey, SVP India offers a tested, thoughtful model. It's a space where giving is not an act of charity, but a strategy for systemic change. It's where seasoned professionals find purpose beyond corporate boardrooms, and where small NGOs gain access to resources typically reserved for large institutions. At a time when India's development challenges are complex and interconnected, SVP India's model of strategic, hands-on philanthropy is not just relevant-it is essential.
Business Standard
23-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
SVP India Announces Fast Pitch 2025 Finale to Spotlight Grassroots Changemakers Across India
NewsVoir Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 23: Social Venture Partners India (SVP India), India's largest community of engaged philanthropists, will host their annual marquee online event 'Fast Pitch' on April 24. This high-impact virtual fundraising event aims to bring powerful grassroots stories to the fore, offering a national platform for select NGOs to connect with citizens across our country, share their social impact journeys, and raise funds to support their work. Over the past three months, 10 diverse NGOs, shortlisted from 258 applicants across India, have undergone a rigorous training program in storytelling and fundraising. Guided by a professional storytelling trainer and dedicated SVP India partners as coaches, these NGOs are now equipped to communicate their mission with clarity and heart. Speaking on the significance of this event, Govind Iyer, Founding Board Member and All India Chairperson, SVP India stated, "Each non-profit in the Fast Pitch 2025 cohort brings a bold mission rooted in grassroots action. Fast Pitch is about giving these changemakers the tools and the platform to be heard beyond their local communities--by donors, supporters and citizens who believe in long-term change. These are the stories India needs to hear." The ten finalists will present their 5-minute pitches to a distinguished jury - Namita Thapar, Executive Director, Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Reshma Anand, Regional Director, Ford Foundation India, and Sridhar N E, Chief Sustainability Officer, TITAN Company Ltd. The jury will assess the NGO pitches on their potential for lasting social impact, innovation and resilience. Now in its fourth edition, Fast Pitch has emerged as a powerful enabler of visibility and fundraising in the social sector. Over the past three years, over 5,200 people have tuned into the virtual event, contributing over Rs15.8 crores in grants to 36 NGOs. This year's cohort includes: 1. Anahad Foundation - Working to conserve and evolve India's folk music heritage by empowering the folk musicians with production technology and building the largest repertoire of Indian folk music through extensive audio-video documentation. 2. Biome Environmental Trust - Promoting sustainable, climate resilient water & sanitation systems in association with Governments, diverse communities and corporates in Karnataka. From implementing community-driven water management projects and conducting research with institutions, to shaping water policies and building capacity through hands-on training, Biome is dedicated to promoting sustainable water practices. 3. Eastern Himalayan Foundation - Closing opportunity gaps for youth in North Bengal and the Northeast by providing access to skills, knowledge and training that would allow them to become change agents for themselves and their communities. 4. Lokmanya Public Charitable Trust - Advancing rural underdevelopment by focusing on areas like education, healthcare, skill development, agriculture, women's empowerment, and overall community growth. 5. NeevJivan Foundation - Building alternate livelihood options for tribal women & youth through skill development and vocational training, reducing dependence on agriculture and thereby preventing migration to the cities. 6. NudgED - Addressing the global learning crisis through their free mobile app designed to empower parents in low-income communities to support their young children (ages 3-8) in foundational learning at home. The app provides content in Hindi and Marathi, with audio support, and is optimized for low-end mobile devices to ensure accessibility for all. 7. Sunrise Learning Foundation - Empowering neurodiverse individuals and their families through education, employment readiness skills and parent support services including counselling sessions, training workshops, mom & child programs, certificate courses etc. 8. The One All Trust - Using the sport of Ultimate Frisbee to engage at-risk youth from underprivileged and tribal communities. The organisation focuses on empowering young girls and boys, many of whom face early child marriage, school dropouts, domestic violence and substance abuse. 9. UPAY (Underprivileged Advancement by Youth) - Addressing social issues like illiteracy and unemployment by making quality education accessible to marginalized children in street, urban slums, and rural areas of India through two impactful initiatives - Footpathshaala (Turning Footpaths into Schools) and Reach & Teach (Bringing school to doorstep). 10. Vidyoday Muktangan Parivar Foundation - Reimagining 'science education' in zilla parishad schools by strengthening learning outcomes in government secondary schools through curriculum innovation and teacher support. Fast Pitch 2025 is open to anyone interested in listening to impactful stories about social change. REGISTER at to meet the changemakers, hear their stories, and support their work.
