CSR: Philanthropy driven by professionalism
After the Companies Act, 2013, many family-owned businesses have set up foundations that are at times also used to deploy personal wealth for philanthropy. More evolved Next Generation Philanthropists (NGPs) have established tight governance structures, and are adopting successful business practices to create a dynamic culture of giving and a positive work environment.
Chetan Mehrotra is looking to improve the quality of education and healthcare in India through the projects of two family trusts, Sar-La Education Trust and Radha Mohan Mehrotra Medical Relief Trust. The third generation of a philanthropic family, Chetan embodies the spirit seen in next-gen givers to move beyond mere cheque-writing.
“Earlier, our philanthropy was more of a proprietorship where one person took decisions on how much to give and whom to give to. Today, we are putting systems in place and looking to hire professionals to ensure transparency and need-based allocation. We seek guidance from intermediary organizations and collaborate with professionals,” he told Dasra in a report on NGPs, A Generation Ahead.
Early in his giving journey, Chetan realized he needed the help of experts to maximize impact. Apart from speaking to seasoned professionals, he also visited several non-profits to understand their ground realities. After conducting a needs-based analysis, he concluded that ensuring quality education and healthcare for young people creates a ripple effect within communities and decided to focus on these areas.
This NGP initiated projects to address issues holistically, including those in pediatric care and adolescent education. When choosing an implementation site for his project, Chetan went out of his comfort zone to choose locations where impact could be high. He draws on his management experience of 30 years to ensure effective monitoring and has instituted quarterly third-party assessments for all projects. He says, “For philanthropy to create meaningful change, it needs to be driven by passion, professionalism, a hunger for impact, and an appetite for learning.”
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The CSR Journal Team
