Press Room

Established in 2016 and led by Ingrid Srinath, the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy (CSIP) at Ashoka University is India’s first academic centre focused on enabling strategic and robust philanthropy for greater social impact. Through its research and knowledge products, convening and facilitation opportunities, and leadership development programmes, CSIP strengthens civil society for a vibrant and equitable India.

CSIP nurtures emerging social impact leaders through its 18-month Mother Teresa Fellowship (MTF), which welcomed eight Ashoka graduates to its 2019 cohort, and through the centre’s mentoring services and speaker series, which created student engagement opportunities with Harsh Mander, Osama Manzar, Jyotsna Sitling, and more. For established professionals, CSIP’s Strategic Nonprofit Management—India (SNMI) programme, in partnership with Harvard Business School, has brought 216 NGO leaders to campus since 2017; its Social Innovation Summit convened more than 200 civil society stakeholders in Mumbai last October.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the field, CSIP canceled its SNMI 2020 programme and instead offered Resilience Strategies for Nonprofits (RSN), a three-day interactive workshop in partnership with Dasra and Harvard Business School, building on CSIP’s research on The Impact of COVID-19 on India’s Nonprofit Organisations; A Snapshot Report. This call to action for stronger philanthropic support was preceded by two studies published in February, in partnership with NITI Aayog, on how India’s legal and regulatory frameworks could be reimagined for a healthier civil society poised to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

Key Milestones

2016:

CSIP is established, led by Director Ingrid Srinath and guided by Advisory Council of social impact leaders
Mother Teresa Fellowship (MTF), established 2013, moves to CSIP; welcomes 12 fellows to 2016-2017 cohort

2017:

Strategic Nonprofit Management—India (SNMI) launched with Harvard Business School, brings 65 NGO leaders to campus for certificate programme
MTF expanded to include mentoring support, welcomes 9 fellows to 2017-2018 cohort
India Development Review (IDR) incubated and launched as social sector’s media platform

2018:

SNMI 2018 convenes 73 NGO leaders on campus
MTF welcomes 12 fellows to 2018-2019 cohort

2019:

SNMI 2019 convenes 78 NGO leaders on campus
MTF welcomes 8 fellows to 2019-2020 cohort
Jagriti year-long community service programme launched for Ashoka students
Social Innovation Summit (SIS) convenes 200+ social impact leaders in Mumbai
Four research studies released:
- Giving Tuesday India Report (in partnership with GuideStar India and Sattva Research)
- Advocacy, Rights & Civil Society
- Estimating Philanthropic Capital in India
- State of the Support Ecosystem (in partnership with WINGS)

2020:

Three research studies released:
- Regulatory Frameworks for India’s Voluntary Sector: Global and Cross-sectoral Review of Initiatives and Practices (in partnership with NITI Aayog)
- A Study on the Legal, Regulatory, and Grants-in-Aid Systems for India’s Voluntary Sector (in partnership with NITI Aayog)
- The Impact of COVID-19 on India’s Nonprofit Organisations: A Snapshot Report
1,000+ people log in to Social Stock Exchange webinar (in partnership with Omidyar Network India)
Resilience Strategies for Nonprofits (RSN) interactive workshop convenes 271 NGO leaders (in partnership with Harvard Business School and Dasra)

Logos & Images

Coming Soon!

Media Contact

Jincy Chacko

Assistant Manager — Communication & Convening

jincy.chacko@ashoka.edu.in

+91 8556815546