Posted on July 23, 2012 by PM Team
Omidyar network boost for strategic philanthropy in India
Global impact investor, Omidyar Network has announced a US$2 million grant to Dasra, a strategic philanthropic foundation operating in India.
“Our clients have always been philanthropists,
but our remit is to help the social entrepreneurs they support acquire the
tools to scale,” says Deval Sanghavi, partner and co-founder, Dasra.
Omidyar Network's grant is the single largest of its kind that
Dasra has received in the 12 years since it was founded. The grant
will support 25% of its operating costs. Mallika Singh,
principal-investments, and Karthik Mahalingam, director-legal, at
Omidyar Network have been inducted as members of Dasra's board of
directors.
"In addition to expanding the size and scale of our operations,
the grant will be crucial in building a second-rung leadership team
in Dasra to drive the organisation's ambitious growth plan," said
Deval Sanghavi, partner and co-founder, Dasra. "Dasra is fortunate
to partner with an experienced, involved and hands-on investor like
Omidyar Network that has helped scale organizations across the
globe and impacted millions of lives."
Founded by former investment bankers, Deval Sanghavi and Neera
Nundy, Dasra applies a corporate approach to creating social change
and has brought together 200 philanthropists and over 500 social
organisations to channel INR 680 million (US$12.28 million)
into impactful social interventions in India. "The main goal
was to couple managerial support with philanthropy," Sanghavi told
Philanthropy Management. "Our clients have always been
philanthropists, but our remit is to help the social entrepreneurs
they support acquire the tools to scale."
"Dasra's efforts in creating an environment focused on
generating massive social change by connecting philanthropists with
social entrepreneurs is unique and aligned to Omidyar Network's
vision," said Mahalingam.