COVER STORY
Not a fundraising shortcut: What innovative finance actually asks of your organisation
Abha Thorat-Shah
Director - Global Engagements, The Convergence Foundation
Innovative finance is often seen as the next frontier in nonprofit funding. As these models gain momentum, many organisations are asking whether they are ready to access them. In this cover story, Abha Thorat-Shah argues that innovative finance is not simply a new way to raise funds, but a different way of thinking about capital. It explores how nonprofits can match the right financing model to the right challenge while building the governance, evidence, systems, and institutional capacity these approaches demand.
In This Edition
The Editorial
In this editorial, Nikita Gupta highlights the funding challenges nonprofits face while examining the evolving landscape of social sector financing and the opportunities it presents. She sets the tone for this edition that explores how emerging financing models are reshaping the sector and why institutional readiness is key to translating new forms of capital into lasting social impact.
Nikita Gupta
Lead, Centre of Excellence for Fundraising
Foreword
Anu Prasad, Founder-CEO of ILSS, reflects on how fundraising evolves from seeking resources to building enduring relationships and institutions. She explores why trust, organisational readiness, and long-term stewardship are essential to unlocking sustainable social impact.
Anu Prasad
Founder-CEO, ILSS
ILSS Conversation
Collaboration and Capital: Building Ecosystems for Social Impact
Sheena Gandhi, Assistant Vice President, Social Stock Exchange, BSE, shares her journey into the social sector and offers insights on collaboration, institutional readiness, and the opportunities the Social Stock Exchange presents for nonprofit fundraising.
Sheena Gandhi
Assistant Vice President, Social Stock Exchange, BSE
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Guest Columns
Archana and Amit Chandra
Co-founders, A.T.E. Chandra Foundation
Drawing on decades of experience, Alex Counts and Shobha Viswanathan highlight the growing role of the Indian diaspora in advancing social change in this insightful article. They share practical lessons on identifying opportunities, building credibility, and creating meaningful avenues for diaspora communities to contribute their time, networks, and resources.
Alex Counts
Executive Director, India Philanthropy Alliance
Shobha Viswanathan
Senior Managing Director, Indiaspora (USA & Global West)
ILSS TIPS
Raising True Cost Funding: How Nonprofits Can Get The True Cost Of Impact Funded
Strong programs depend on much more than direct project costs. In this practical guide, Ritu Jain and Ravi Bagaria unpack the concept of true cost funding and offer actionable strategies to help nonprofits compute, communicate, and raise the full cost of delivering impact, including the systems, leadership, compliance, technology and organisational capabilities that make it possible.
Ritu Jain
Co-founder & Partner, Aria CFO Services
Ravi Bagaria
Co-founder & Partner, Aria CFO Services
Guest Columns
As innovative financing models reshape the social sector, Archana and Amit Chandra examine why institutional readiness has become the defining factor for accessing and deploying capital effectively. They make a case for investing in leadership, governance, evidence, and organisational systems as true enablers of scale, helping nonprofits convert new funding opportunities into sustained impact.
Archana and Amit Chandra
A.T.E. Chandra Foundation
Drawing on decades of experience, Alex Counts and Shoba Viswanathan highlight the growing role of the Indian diaspora in advancing social change in this insightful article. They share practical lessons on identifying opportunities, building credibility, and creating meaningful avenues for diaspora communities to contribute their time, networks, and resources.
Shoba Viswanathan
Senior Managing Director
Alex Counts
Executive Director
ILSS TIPS
Raising True Cost Funding: How Nonprofits Can Get The True Cost Of Impact Funded
Strong programs depend on much more than direct project costs. In this practical guide, Ritu Jain and Ravi Bagaria unpack the concept of true cost funding and offer actionable strategies to help nonprofits compute, communicate, and raise the full cost of delivering impact, including the systems, leadership, compliance, technology and organisational capabilities that make it possible.
Ritu Jain
Co-founder & Partner, Aria CFO Services
Ravi Bagaria
Co-founder & Partner, Aria CFO Services
Featured Interviews
Harish and Bina Shah Founders, Harish & Bina Shah Foundation (HBSF)
May 2026 – Edition 06
Chetan Kapoor, CEO, Tech Mahindra Foundation & Ashwin Iyer, Senior Manager - Philanthropic Partnerships, Gates Foundation
January 2026 – Edition 05
Dr Dhir Jhingran, Founder & Executive Director, Language and Learning Foundation
October 2025 – Edition 04
Poonam Choksi of A.T.E. Chandra Foundation & Saransh Vaswani of Saajha, A family foundation & Zubin Sharma of Project Potential
May 2025 – Edition 03
Past Editions
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