Amit Chandra is Chairperson, Bain Capital India, & Co-founder of A.T.E. Chandra Foundation. Along with his wife Archana, he is an early LMP promisor who believes in the concept of “Giving While Living.”

My Simple Philosophy: Resource Adequately + Invest Strategically to Achieve Results

Philanthropy is, frankly, a rounding error on social spending, perhaps accounting for a low % single digit of it. This humbling realization has deepened my perspective during 25+ years of giving. Despite its modest scale, philanthropy remains critically important—it keeps us grounded, provides satisfaction that we are using our blessings meaningfully, & connects us as citizens to societal issues. It transforms us from armchair critics of elected leaders into active participants in addressing challenges. However, to truly make a dent in societal problems, philanthropy must scale materially & punch well above its weight. This is why I make two appeals to philanthropists seeking to solve problems: first, resource yourself adequately to fight the issue; second, invest very strategically in solving them.

From Immediate Impact to Sustainable Solutions

Like many, Archana & I began our journey with a desire to simply make an immediate difference – doing something useful with what we had been blessed with. We focused on tangible outcomes, funding standalone education & healthcare initiatives in relatively controlled environments. While these interventions brought visible change & our giving scaled with income, we realized over time it was simply not enough. This led us to ask a fundamental question: How can philanthropy address root causes rather than symptoms? How can we build platforms & movements that support & drive systemic change instead of operating in small, controlled environments? After dialogues with practitioners, spending significant time in the field, & conducting experiments, we concluded that the answer lay in an alternative approach. We needed to fund the capacity of NGOs to solve complex problems rather than simply provide program funding. We also needed to collaborate & make BIG BETS to build platforms & support the tackling of persistent social challenges rather than addressing their symptoms year after year.

Launch of How India Gives Report

Inspirations That Shaped My Perspective

Two figures have profoundly shaped my philosophy of giving. The first is Guru Nanak Dev Ji, whose teachings of “Kirat Kar Te Vand Chakh”—earn an honest living & share generously—have inspired millions to give time & resources selflessly for over 500 years. His actions underscore that philanthropy, when done well, is not just about addressing social evils but also about building character & fostering a sense of shared responsibility. The practice of Langar, where millions are fed daily in a spirit of equality & humility, exemplifies how a movement can sustainably address hunger while promoting inclusivity at scale.

My second inspiration is Chuck Feeney, who epitomized “Giving While Living.” The Late Feeney gave away over 99% of his $8 billion wealth during his lifetime through General Atlantic Philanthropies. His giving, which focused on areas like health & education, was deeply impactful across countries like Vietnam, Ireland, South Africa, & the U.S. His thoughtful, strategic, & long-term approach serves as a blueprint for transformative giving—a philosophy which inspired others like Bill Gates.

Both Guru Nanak Dev Ji & Chuck Feeney underscore that impactful giving goes beyond charity. It’s about empowering others, fostering resilience, & creating sustainable systems that outlast the givers lifetime.

Proper Resourcing Is Key to Solving Problems—Including Through Collaborations

Fighting big, sticky problems with inadequate resources is like taking a knife to a modern battlefield. While we might feel good about putting up a fight, the dent we make will be minimal. Solving complex social problems demands boldness, clarity, & unwavering commitment. More often than not, we cannot do this alone, which is why collaboration within the ecosystem is essential. This requires relinquishing some control & being open to sharing credit. In the early years of our 25+ year journey, we did little collaboration. But in the past decade, collaboration & BIG BETS have become central to our approach. For example:

• Our ₹23+ crore commitment in 2019, alongside three other donors, scaled Give from less than ₹30 crore per annum of giving to over ₹500 crore annually.
• Partnering with Caring Friends, we’ve invested over ₹50 crore since 2013 in rejuvenating water bodies, impacting over 10,000 villages & benefiting one crore Indians.
• With 200+ co-founders, we’ve committed over ₹25 crore to anchor fund Ashoka University, setting a benchmark for inclusive higher education in India.

Desilting in progress as part of rejuvenation of water bodies project

These examples illustrate that BIG BETS not only signal ambition & belief in change but also deliver transformative outcomes within a decade. They require us to think beyond temporary fixes, focusing on scalable, systemic solutions while properly resourcing them. Globally, the successes of the Gates Foundation & Atlantic Philanthropies reinforce the effectiveness of this approach.

Extraordinary Returns from Investing in Capacity Building

Another key learning from our journey has been that extraordinary impact comes from investing in institutional capacity. Over the past decade, we’ve shifted our focus from anecdotal evidence to metrics demonstrating sustainable impact. Archana’s practitioner lens guided us to see that achieving extraordinary outcomes requires investing in the capacity of those we work with. This is no different from corporate practices but is often overlooked in social investing. Our key insights include:

1. Invest in Leadership: Solving difficult problems requires equipping NGO leadership with the right tools. We’ve supported filling leadership gaps in a large number of NGOs & invested in over 15 leadership development programs, training 2,500+ NGO CXOs. We’ve experienced first hand how strong leadership drives high-performing organizations & systemic impact.
2. Take a Long-Term View & Provide Multi-Year Funding: Social change is difficult & requires patience. Multi-year commitments provide NGOs with the stability to plan strategically & execute effectively. Our greatest impact stories are from partnerships spanning 5-10 years or more.
3. Enhance Efficiency & Effectiveness: NGOs often lack the capacity to step back & make transformative changes. We’ve supported the development of open platforms, training materials, & M&E tools in areas like water security to help NGOs work more efficiently & effectively.
4. Aim for Scalability via Advocacy & Government Partnerships: No one has the reach of the government. Philanthropy, though modest in scale, can act as a lever to better inform government spending. Documenting processes & sharing learnings openly can amplify impact across the sector.

First Listing on the Social Stock Exchange 

A Simple Call to Action to Fellow Philanthropists

As we navigate the complexities of today’s world—climate change, inequality, public health crises—the need for strong, capable institutions has never been greater. By tackling problems BIGGER-BETTER-FASTER, we can drive immense transformation for those in need. Let’s set our minds to making bold bets, collaborating widely, & resourcing adequately to create lasting impact.