No-Cost Extension with Deval Sanghavi

The Dasra Social Impact Leadership Programme began in 2006 as the DSI accelerator programme for leaders of not-for-profit organisations early in their scaling journeys. The DSI Leadership Programme was launched in 2014 in collaboration with Harvard Business School and today has an alumni base of over 600 leaders. Earlier this year, we caught up with the Dasra team and the current cohort of the Leadership Programme to learn more about this initiative. Our thanks to Amit Chandra, Kavneet Kaur, Saiprasad Sale, Kirti Chaturvedi, Disket Angmo, Nita Row, Sohan Mutha, Ahona Krishna and Nehal Parekh.   For more information about the next cohort of the Dasra Social Impact Leadership program, and details on when and how to apply, write to dsilp@dasra.org.   

Earlier this year during Dasra Philanthropy Week 2025, innovators, changemakers, and thought leaders came together in Bengaluru to explore the role of Data, Technology, and AI in driving social impact.  We caught up with three panellists to find out what was discussed at their sessions and to hear their views on the future of technology in the social sector.  Sarayu Natarajan, the founder of the Aapti Institute was on the panel “Gender inclusive Data technologies - Need for a paradigm shift”. She shares with us how her work intersects with AI and her views on the opportunities and challenges raised by it. Vijay Sai Pratap from Graamvani, was on a panel that discussed “The Power of Open Source and Collaborative Technology for Social Change”. He talks about how contextual community-based knowledge should get incorporated into large models and the importance of collaborative development in the context of tech and its applications for the social sector. Finally we have Vaibhav Chugh from the Council on Energy Environment and Water, a public policy think tank who was a panelist on “Collaborating for Impact: Tech & AI Innovations for Community Resilience in India”. Vaibhav talks through his work on climate change, “building in public” and building for interoperability. He also talks about the need to address bias. For more about No-Cost Extension Podcast and to listen to previous episodes, visit https://www.dasra.org/nce  

Bhagwan P Thacker is the founder of The Empowerment Fund,  a private, charitable foundation with an aim to support underserved communities in the Kutch District of Gujarat with a focus on education, health and technology.  Born in Anjar, a town in Kutch, a remote region of Western Gujarat, Bhagwan P Thacker had fairly humble beginnings. He was one of the first young people in Anjar to go to a college and attended Saint Xavier's in Ahmedabad. He then studied chemical engineering at Bombay University after which he left for the United States of America, where he worked at IBM before starting his own business. He started the Empowerment Foundation in 1995 with the desire to work in his home town of Anjar. Thacker speaks candidly of the reactions of his family in India, the ups and downs faced in the early years of the foundation, his journey learning how to give, and the changing landscape of philanthropy in India.  Listen to this episode of No-Cost Extension podcast to hear of the journey of a funder over time and see how their approach has evolved as they learn.  For more about No-Cost Extension Podcast and to listen to previous episodes, visit https://www.dasra.org/nce  

Meet the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.  The Chhattisgarh Mitwa Sankalp Samiti is a Community Based Organization working for the development and mobilization of the transgender community in the region of Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The organisation works to change societal attitudes towards the community, ensuring that government policies and schemes reach the transgender community and also conduct health related workshops. They have also collaborated with the government to set up a TransGender Welfare Board in districts and their advocacy with the police has helped transwomen join the local police force as constables.  Listen to Vidya Rajput speak about their work.  The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists. Radhika Piramal, Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride.  This episode is in Hindi.   

Meet the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.  Deepshikha Samiti is committed to fostering socio-economic development in Delhi/NCR through education, health initiatives, and employment opportunities, with an aim to empower women, youth, and transgender communities Since 1994, they have been building a safe, healthy and empowered environment for the transgender and MSM community and provide opportunities for them to earn a livelihood and integrate within society. Listen in to Tajuddin Khan speak about their work. To know more about their work visit https://deepshikha.org.in/ The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists: Radhika Piramal, Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride. Find us at Dasra.  This episode is in Hindi.   

Meet the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.  Vikalp is a women’s rights group that advocates for the rights of marginalised women & gender/sexual minorities, working closely with and in rural tribal areas. Formed in 1996 to combat domestic violence and discrimination against women in Gujarat, India, particularly tribal women, over time Vikalp has evolved at the intersection of class, caste, religion, gender identity and sexual orientation, intervening in the everyday lives of marginalized women and LBT people. Maya Sharma is a veteran feminist activist, researcher and writer, and part of this grassroots women's organization, Vikalp in Vadodara.  The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists. Radhika Piramal Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride. Find us at Dasra.   

Meet the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.  What is Payana? Payana means Equality.  Payana is a community owned and managed organization based in Bengaluru that aims to address the many challenges of transgender individuals from underserved backgrounds. Their goal is to remove discrimination towards non-English speaking, working class members of sexual minorities and ensure their social inclusion and a life of dignity. The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists: Radhika Piramal, Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride. You can know more about Dasra's work at https://www.dasra.org.  This episode is in Hindi.   

Meet the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.   Basera is a non-profit organization that strives to promote and protect the rights of the LGBTQ community. It advocates for transgender rights, anti-discrimination laws, protection against hate crimes, documentation and reporting of gender-based violence, and HIV/AIDS awareness. Basera has been instrumental in facilitating employment for members of the transgender community across industries and organisations.   You can find out more about the work of the Basera Samajik Sansthan here: https://baserasamajiksansthan.org/about-us/ The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists: Radhika Piramal, Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride For more information go to https://www.dasra.org.  This episode is in Hindi. 

Over the next few episodes we’ll be meeting the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.  The Karna Subarna Welfare Society is a network of seven organisations headquartered in the Murshidabad district of West Bengal and addresses the needs of the transgender and queer communities in surrounding areas.  Their main verticals cover rural livelihoods, research and advocacy and awareness.   You can find out more about the work of KSWS here: https://ksws.in/ The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists. Radhika Piramal Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride  

Over the next few episodes we’ll be meeting the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.  Sadam Hanjabam is the founder and CEO of Ya_All The Youth Network, a United Nations recognized LGBTI+ youth led and focused organisation working in Manipur, India. Ya All aims to capacitate, educate, empower equip and strengthen vulnerable communities.   Listen to Sadam talk about his own personal experiences that lead to the setting up of Ya_All, how they’ve used football as tool to talk about sexuality, and the role of storytelling in effecting change.  You can find out more about the work of Ya_All here: https://www.yaall.org/ The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists. Radhika Piramal Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride  

Over the next few episodes we’ll be meeting the grassroots organizations who are part of the first cohort of The Pride Fund, India’s first dedicated LBTQIA+ fund launched in February 2025.  Sappho for Equality has been working to address the unique, intersectional challenges faced by lesbian, bisexual and transmasculine individual for over a quarter of a century. The organisation has evolved from an emotional support network to one that works in advocacy, public education and sensitising the police, medical professionals and the judicial system. Their repository of colloquial language writing on queer trans rights and experiences is something of immense importance and value.  You can find out more about the work of Sappho for Equality here: https://www.sapphokolkata.in/ The Pride Fund is led by three philanthropists. Radhika Piramal Keshav Suri, the executive director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, head of Godrej Dei Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Read more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride  

We're kicking off a new season of No-Cost Extension with a conversation with Radhika Piramal.  Radhika Piramal is one of the founding patrons of the Pride Fund India. Radhika Piramal holds several senior leadership positions in corporate India across various companies and brands and is a charity trustee holding trustee positions at Dasra UK and Give Out - an award-winning international LGBTQ Community Foundation. A leading LQBTQIA+ advocate, Radhika is one of three Indian philanthropists supporting The Pride Fund, India's first LGBTQIA+ philanthropy fund. In this episode, Deval and Radhika speak about her personal journey, the communities she sought comfort and acceptance in and the need for a Pride Fund in India today. More about The Pride Fund: Launched in February 2025, the Pride Fund is supported by three philanthropists: Radhika Piramal, Keshav Suri, the Executive Director of the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and the founder of the Keshav Suri Foundation, and Parmesh Shahani, Head of the Godrej DEI Labs from the Godrej Industries Group. Reach more about it here: https://thepridefundindia.org/about-the-pride For more about No-Cost Extension Podcast and to listen to previous episodes, visit https://www.dasra.org/nce 

To coincide with the launch of the Rebuild India Fund’s 7th cohort of grassroots NGOs, entirely women led AND assessed by women leaders from within the Rebuild portfolio, we thought we would revisit conversations with power house leaders on No-Cost Extension. Our first conversation is from earlier this year, with Deepa Pawar, founder and director of the Anubhuti Trust and a member of the Rebuild India Fund Investment Committee. This is a  conversation on the contribution of women in keeping the culture of the community alive, anti-caste feminism and more. Deepa Pawar has over 22 years of experience in facilitating community-led programs and working with state and local governments on themes of youth-leadership, advocacy, mental justice, sanitation and sexual and reproductive health. Anubhuti Trust is an organization formed and self-led by women, with the intention to work with youth on developing their leadership so that there are aware and responsible youth in society who can lead change for a more just and equitable world. About #RootedinHerPower: The 7th cohort of the Rebuild India Fund is a vibrant grassroots movement for community-led resilience, a testament to the power of women’s leadership, and a step toward a future built on inclusion, empathy, and unwavering strength. Spread across 70+ districts, these women-led NGOs are championing change where it’s needed most. Follow #RootedInHerPower across social media for updates. For more information to go www.dasra.org  This episode originally aired in February 2024. 

Divya Varma represented the  Ajeevika Bureau and Work Fair and Free Foundation at Dasra Philanthropy Week 2024. She spoke passionately about India’s internal migrant population who are often forced to move from rural India to its cities due to climate variabilities which have rapidly degenerated agricultural livelihoods.Mired in indignity and invisibility, India’s migrant labour workforce works and lives at the very bottom of the societal pyramid at the mercy of a regulation free environment.  Listen to her plans for fostering solidarity through unions and collectives and working towards generating more knowledge and research in this space. Find out more about Ajeevika Bureau here https://aajeevika.org/ and the Work Fair and Free Foundation here https://workfairandfree.org/. For more information on Dasra's work, go to www.dasra.org.

Jackie Jones is the Director, Gender Norms Portfolios and Office of the President at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where amongst many other things she thinks of gender dimensions and how they intersect with solving programs across the many verticals the foundation works across.  At the Dasra Philanthropy Forum 2024, Jackie shared a story from one of the foundation’s immunization clinics in the Congo where there was low immunization uptake across genders. Find out how one health care worker’s insight changed this. For more information on any of Dasra's work, or on any of the guests on the show, go to www.dasra.org 

Join Maya Patel from the Tarsadia Foundation, Hechin Haokip from the Centre for Women and Girls, Manohari Doss from the Institute for Self Management and Farida Kathawalla from Circle of Hope in a conversation around women grassroots leaders.  A small percentage of philanthropic capital globally is earmarked for gender equality, and the funding gap for feminist or women led organizations is quite glaring. Maya Patel, Hechin Haokip, Manohari Doss and Farida Kathawalla share from their lived experiences in running organizations and from championing women leaders at the grassroots. How can we invest in more women led proximate leaders to see large scale meaningful change and break gender norms that exist in the philanthropic ecosystem?   For more information on Dasra Philanthropy Week 2024, or on any of the guests on the show, go to www.dasra.org. 

Binoy Acharya is the Founder-Director of Unnati - Organisation for Development Education. Unnati works in the spaces of  Civic Leadership and Governance and Social Accountability, Disaster Risk Reduction and Social Inclusion and Empowerment.  At Dasra Philanthropy Forum 2024, Binoy spoke of how governments are failing at last mile delivery across the world, and philanthropic support is needed to bridge this gap.  For more information on any of Dasra's work, or on any of the guests on the show, go to www.dasra.org  

Kuldeep Dantewadia is the founder of Reap Benefit, a non-profit based in Bengaluru, India that is igniting a movement of young changemakers  to redefine civic and climate leadership, one action at a time. At Dasra Philanthropy Forum 2024, Kuldeep shared two stories of young changemakers whose individual actions lead to larger systemic changes in their community and how giving young people the agency and skills they need to effect change can move the needle on apathy. India, he says needs an army of young changemakers and unlocking their potential and change making one abilities one street at a time in not cute, it’s the need of the hour. We'll be back with new episodes next time! If you want to listen to more of No Cost Extension, go to https://www.dasra.org/podcast.php where we have show notes, links and more.   

In today's episode, we're bringing to you Dr Arunabha Ghosh's Keynote Address from Dasra Philanthropy Week 2024 held in New York. Dr Arunabha Ghosh is a public policy expert, author and columnist and founder-CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, or CEEW, one of Asia's leading policy research institutions and climate think-tanks.  At DPW, Dr Ghosh spoke about how we must internalise two important paradigmatic shifts: away from centralised to decentralised systems that embrace local solutions and are embedded in communities, and move our ideation away from linear thinking to non-linear approaches if we are to truly accelerate India's energy transition and climate action.  We'll be back next time with new episodes! For more information on the show, or any of the guests, go to www.dasra.org. 

We’re taking a break from regular programming with a series of conversations and microtalks from the recently concluded Dasra Philanthropy Forum 2024. 2024 was a milestone year with Dasra celebrating twenty five years as an organisation. At DPF 2024,  Deval Sanghavi, co-founder of Dasra and host of No-Cost Extension Podcast, Boris Siperstein, Global Council Member Dasra, Akruti Desai from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation discussed the organisation’s journey, and the intentional way in which equity has been centred at the heart of Dasra’s work. Akruti Desai looked back at her own philanthropic journey which began as a Dasra Fellow in 2009 and speaks of the shift from a technocratic approach to the current trust based model that is more rooted in equity. Boris Siperstein speaks of being more congnizant of ground realities, working closely with grassroot leaders, and the Rebuild India Fund model which is built on a foundation of trust and equity. Deval speaks candidly about the early years of Dasra, the vision he and Neera had for the organisation at the outset and what he hopes the next twenty five years will bring. Anannya Chakrabarty, Associate Director, Dasra moderated this conversation.  If you want to listen to more of No Cost Extension, go to https://www.dasra.org/podcast.php where we have show notes, links and more.