SOME EVENTS FILL YOUR CALENDAR—OTHERS FILL YOUR CUP!

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The recent Indiaspora-IPA Philanthropy Summit in Dallas did the latter for me. Surrounded by people and organizations united by a shared interest in sustainable development in India, as well as hearing about the impact of their roles in creating change, felt like a homecoming!

Indiaspora and the India Philanthropy Alliance created a space to think big, bringing together a group of generous folks who think deeply about what meaningful giving can accomplish and move from crisis-driven generosity to systematic giving. The conversations, involving an impressive lineup of speakers and panelists, challenged us to think not just about how much we give, but how we can give better.

Jay Sehgal’s reflection on S M Sehgal Foundation’s quarter century of development work in rural India cited a critical dimension: learning from the experiences on the ground while implementing community-engagement programs and projects. Such development work requires clarity of purpose plus the agility (and humility) to change course when experience points to a better way to empower community members to work together toward their own development.

Amit Banerjee and Preeti Nandanar tackled the question of how do we engage the next generation in philanthropy. Amit Bhandari offered a simple framework: Does the cause resonate? Can the impact be measured? Can it be multiplied? 

Anna (Aradhana) Asava shared how HungerMitao grew from a kitchen table conversation that began with “Someone needs to do something!,” transformed to “What can I do?,” then became a movement that as provides millions of meals. Perhaps it is fitting to reflect on Gandhi Jayanti’s reminder of what becomes possible when personal conviction inspires collective action.

I took away inspiring gems about the work we do every day and felt strengthened by the opportunity to exchange ideas, challenge my thinking, and learn from others doing this work in different ways. The intellectual currency I gained will continue to shape how I think about philanthropy, development, and the impact of our work in India. 

Yes, some events fill your cup. But the best ones also change what you do with your cup once you leave. I left with my cup full of tremendous intellectual currency and deep gratitude for the generosity of the Indian-American diaspora that gives $4 to $5 billion back to India annually. And excited to see the next generation of diaspora donors joining to amplify that impact.about those willing to help double that amount over the next decade!

Yasmin Sayed, Development representative in Tampa for Sehgal Foundation. Please reach out to Yasmin at yasmin.sayed@sehgalfoundation.org