Projected Growth of Private Philanthropy in India: 9-11% by FY30
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
New Delhi, Feb 26 (NationPress) India's private philanthropy is projected to have reached Rs 1.43 lakh crore in FY25, with an anticipated growth of 9–11 percent compound annual growth rate through FY30, as reported on Thursday. The study by Bain & Company and Dasra indicates that this growth is primarily fueled by family contributions from ultra-high-net-worth, high-net-worth, and affluent families, propelled by increasing wealth, greater formalization, and significant single donations.
According to the report, funding for India's social sector has surged to approximately Rs 27 lakh crore in FY25 and is on track to reach Rs 50 lakh crore by FY30. However, a projected funding gap of about Rs 16 lakh crore in FY25 is expected to widen to around Rs 18 lakh crore by FY30, highlighting the ongoing disparity between India's development goals and available financial resources.
Currently, public expenditure constitutes around 95 percent of total funding, particularly in healthcare, as there is a policy push towards achieving the target of 2.5 percent of GDP.
To address this gap, it is essential for private philanthropy to expand at an annual rate exceeding 25 percent, provided that public spending trends remain stable. This would require enhanced contributions from family philanthropy, retail donations, and corporate social responsibility (CSR), according to the firms involved.
“The crucial issue is not the availability of capital, but whether it is organized effectively to address large-scale challenges. The impressive growth in funding for India’s social sector, as highlighted by the report, also reveals a deeper structural issue,” stated Bhavini Malhotra, Partner at Bain & Company.
The report further noted that philanthropy from Indian families constitutes about 42 percent of private donations. CSR funding is anticipated to grow at 8–10 percent, supported by GDP growth, increasing compliance, and a broader corporate base exceeding statutory contribution thresholds.
However, it is important to note that CSR funding remains predominantly concentrated in wealthier states, emphasizing the need to reallocate resources to regions that are underfunded.
“The trend of institutionalizing family wealth is gaining momentum, with the number of family offices escalating from around 45 in 2018 to over 300 by 2024,” the report concluded.
aar/pk