In the last few decades, with exponential growth in India’s GDP, attention has shifted more from charitable giving to focused philanthropic activity, aimed at making a long term impact. The Government of India has also institutionalized corporate giving through the Companies Act of 2013, making it mandatory for companies who either have a net worth of INR 500 crore or a turnover of INR 1000 crore or net profit of INR 5 crore - to donate 2% of their net profits towards philanthropic activities. Despite this, reports suggest that while individual giving has risen, the share of corporate giving has decreased. Globally, there is a shift towards a newer and more efficient ‘strategic philanthropy’ model for individuals and companies, which emphasises sustainability and measuring impact. The inaugural Doing Good Index produced by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society or CAPS – takes a comparative look at how 15 major Asian economies are catalysing philanthropic giving. The report takes a comparative look at how these economies fare across four major parameters - tax and fiscal policy, regulatory regimes, socio-cultural ecosystem, and government procurement.
 
Join us as we speak to Ruth Shapiro, Chief Executive, CAPS, who will present findings of the Doing Good Index 2018 : Maximising Asia’s Potential, followed by a panel discussion with Jamshyd Godrej, Chairman, Godrej & Boyce and Ajay Piramal, Chairman, Piramal Group, moderated by Hari Menon, Senior Advisor, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Jamshyd Godrej is the Chairman of Godrej & Boyce and the CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre. He is also the current President of the World Wide Fund for Nature – India, and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, the India Resources Trust, and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water. He has formerly served as the President of the Confederation of Indian Industry, the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association, and as the Chairman of the Ananta Aspen Centre. He was awarded the “Padma Bhushan” by the President of India on 3rd April, 2003.

Ajay Piramal is the Chairman of Piramal Group and Shriram Group, and is among India’s leading industrialists, philanthropists and social entrepreneurs. Piramal Group is involved in an extensive list of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ventures including primary education, a portable water supply, leadership development, female empowerment in rural India and rural healthcare, among others. He also serves on the Harvard Business School’s Board of Dean’s Advisors, and is the Chairman of Pratham Education Foundation. 

Ruth Shapiro is the Founder and Chief Executive of the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS). Prior to this, Dr. Shapiro founded the Asia Business Council and served as Executive Director until 2007. The primary author of Pragmatic Philanthropy: Asian Charity Explained, she is also editor of The Real Problem Solvers, on social entrepreneurship in America. Dr. Shapiro graduated from the University of Michigan, received her Master’s degrees from Harvard and George Washington University and holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University.

Hari Menon is a Senior Advisor at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and spearheads the Philanthropic Partnerships initiatives for India and the middle-east. Prior to this, he was the India Director for Policy and Poverty Alleviation. In the past, he served as a strategic philanthropy advisor to Rohini Nilekani in areas of water & sanitation, environment conservation, education, and governance & accountability. Mr Menon holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and a MBA in Marketing and Finance from XLRI, Jamshedpur. 

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