India Giving Day 2026 Raises $5.6 Million Through the #PowerOfUs, Mobilizes Indian Diaspora Through Global Campaign

by SAH Staff Reporter March 19, 2026

By SAH Staff Reporter March 19, 2026 0 comments 3 minutes read

Courtesy: IPA

The fourth annual India Giving Day, observed on March 13, 2026, highlighted the work of 51 nonprofit organizations operating across diverse social and environmental sectors in India. The campaign raised $5.6 million.

According to a statement from the Indian Philanthropy Alliance (IPA), the campaign featured a three-hour global livestream accessible via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and the official India Giving Day website. The program provided viewers with a closer look at initiatives supported through the campaign and offered an interactive platform to engage with “nonprofit leaders, celebrities, and other stakeholders.”

“For the diaspora, the opportunity to move as one community often comes in the form of a festival or historic commemoration,” says Kalpana Kanthan, a member of the India Giving Day Steering Committee and Chief Development Officer of American India Foundation. “We see India Giving Day as a Festival of Giving to India, a unique opportunity to be joined solely by our commitment to empowering lives and connecting to India through a movement for good.”

Organizers adopted the theme #PowerOfUs to underscore the transformative potential of the Indian diaspora in supporting India’s development goals.

“There are more than 6 million Indian Americans in the United States, many of whom have been immensely successful in their careers,” says Alex Counts, Executive Director of IPA, which leads the India Giving Day initiative. “Every day, more of them are realizing that philanthropy is a learned skill that improves with practice and study. India Giving Day facilitated both learning and action to advance high-impact donations.”

The statement noted that key highlights of this year’s campaign included INDIA GIVING DAY LIVE!, which remains available on IPA’s social media platforms and YouTube, as well as more than 65 events held across the United States to raise awareness and funds for initiatives in India. Additional events are scheduled through the end of the month in New York City, Palo Alto, West Newton, and San Francisco. Further details are available on the India Giving Day website.

“One of the innovative aspects of India Giving Day is giving recognition to innovation and hard work demonstrated by participating charities. This year, top prizes were awarded to Pallium India Inc., Arogya World, and Vibha for securing the most donations from unique donors,” the statement added. It also noted that the American India Foundation, Sehgal Foundation, and Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) USA raised the highest total funds. The largest event to date was hosted by Ek Kadam Aur in Germantown, Maryland, drawing approximately 600 attendees.

“India Giving Day, which began as an experiment four years ago, has now grown into a powerful movement. We are thrilled with its continued success this year,” said Jay Sehgal, Chair of IPA and Executive Vice President of Sehgal Foundation, USA. “The future looks bright, especially as we see the commitment and leadership of so many young people hosting events and fundraisers for causes they care about.”

India Giving Day is led by a Steering Committee comprising IPA board members, staff, and campaign sponsors. The initiative is further supported by National Co-Chairs, celebrity ambassadors, and a Youth Leadership Council.

The campaign received support from several philanthropic and corporate partners, including the Ford Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Avestar Capital, Parichute Donate, AATMIC, and Think Capital, LLC, whose contributions helped ensure its success.