CAPI is a research organisation that creates and curates knowledge to enable robust, innovative, and insights-driven social investments
Established in 2020, CAPI’s mission today is to conduct research that contributes to deeper knowledge, better policies, and a more robust public discourse on philanthropy and civil society in India.
India is a melting pot of social impact innovations, home to philanthropists, non-profits, corporates, and other entities driving change. Insights from India’s diverse social sector stakeholders can benefit underserved populations across Asia and beyond.
The Centre for Asian Philanthropy India (CAPI), established in 2020, enhances philanthropic giving and private social investment in India. We conduct research contributing to deeper knowledge, better policies, and robust public discourse on philanthropy and civil society. We also facilitate sharing best practices between India and the wider Asian region.
The mandala in CAPIs logo symbolizes our approach to research and action: centered, layered, and holistic. The mandala reflects our commitment to addressing complex social issues not in isolation, but through interconnected insights across philanthropic perspectives, policies, and practices. Rooted in India, our work is local yet globally resonant much like the mandala itself, a timeless form that has travelled across cultures while staying grounded in its origins.
CAPI envisions shaping an inclusive and responsive philanthropy in India that addresses diverse vulnerabilities and strengthens a pluralistic civil society.
CAPI aims to play a critical role in the Indian social sector through non-partisan research, sectoral engagement, and capacity-building efforts for inclusive and responsive philanthropy.
Ask critical questions and generate evidence to inform philanthropic action and influence policy in India.
Translate research insights into practical tools, learning resources, and strategies, examining different theories of change and approaches to enable effective cross-sector action.
Build critical skills for social sector professionals and strengthen the talent pipeline for the sector.
Advance region-specific research and highlight models that inform development practices worldwide.
CAPI envisions shaping an inclusive and responsive philanthropy in India that addresses diverse vulnerabilities and strengthens a pluralistic civil society.
Mr. Jamshyd N. Godrej is Chairman of Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited. He serves as former Chairman of Ananta Aspen Centre and current Chairman & Trustee of Ananta Centre. He chairs the Board of Directors of Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, India Resources Trust, and Council on Energy, Environment and Water, while serving as Director of World Resources Institute, USA.
He is a Trustee of World Wide Fund for Nature – India and Asia Society, USA. Mr. Godrej served as Past President of Confederation of Indian Industry and Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association and is a member of the Board of Governors at the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society.
As Chairman of CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, he oversees operations in India’s first green building and the world’s greenest building when rated, achieving LEED Platinum certification.
Mr. Godrej received the Padma Bhushan in April 2003. He holds a Mechanical Engineering degree from Illinois Institute of Technology and is an ardent yachting enthusiast.
Mr. Ramadorai serves as Chairman of Tata STRIVE’s Advisory Board, the Tata Group’s CSR skill development initiative, and Chairman of Tata Technologies Limited. He holds Independent Director positions at Piramal Enterprises Limited, Piramal Pharma Limited, and DSP Investment Managers.
As CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) from 1996, he was later appointed Vice Chairman before retiring in October 2014 after four decades with the company. From February 2011 to October 2016, he served in public service as Chairman of the National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
Passionate about social causes, he serves as President of the Society for Rehabilitation of Crippled Children (SRCC), which built a super specialty children’s hospital in Mumbai. In February 2020, he was appointed Chairperson of the Kalakshetra Foundation’s Governing Board.
He received the Padma Bhushan (2006), and the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2009 for his contributions to Indo-British economic relations. He holds degrees in Physics, Electronics Engineering, and Computer Science, with interests in photography and Indian classical music.
Mr. Jamshyd N. Godrej is the Chairman of the Board of Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited.
Mr. Godrej is the former Chairman of Ananta Aspen Centre (previously known as Aspen Institute India), and the Chairman & Trustee of Ananta Centre. He is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, India Resources Trust and Council on Energy, Environment and Water. He is a Director of World Resources Institute, USA.
Mr. Ramadorai is currently the Chairman of the Advisory Board at Tata STRIVE, which is a Tata Group’s CSR skill development initiative. He is also the Chairman of Tata Technologies Limited and serves as an Independent Director on the Boards of Piramal Enterprises Limited, Piramal Pharma Limited and DSP Investment Managers.
Mr. Ramadorai took over as the CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) in 1996. He was then appointed as the Vice Chairman and retired in October 2014, after 4 decades with the company.
Leadership by Design: Inside the Gandhi Fellowship Program
Leadership by Design: Inside the Gandhi Fellowship Program, a case study by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy India (CAPI), delves into the Gandhi Fellowship’s…
Mindful Investments: Philanthropy for Mental Health in India
This report, ‘Mindful Investments: Philanthropy for Mental Health in India‘ is a comprehensive and analytical exploration of philanthropy for mental health in India to date.…
Saving Lives, One Child at a Time: A Case Study on the SRCC Children’s Hospital
As its first project, CAPI has conducted a case study of the SRCC Narayana Children’s Hospital (Managed by Narayana Health) in Mumbai. Our research…
Through ongoing contributions and collaborative projects, CAPI works with a set of trusted organizations whose work and values are aligned with CAPI’s vision and mission.
