Godrej Industries Group, Radhika Piramal and Keshav Suri Foundation come together with Dasra to start ‘The Pride Fund’, India’s first LGBTQIA+ philanthropy fund

Godrej Industries Group (GIG), Radhika Piramal (Executive Director, VIP Industries & Trustee, Dasra UK) and the Keshav Suri Foundation, in collaboration with Dasra, introduced India’s first dedicated Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) philanthropy fund, The Pride Fund, said a press release.

Dasra and Godrej DEI Lab, an experimental space committed to creating an inclusive ecosystem within and beyond the GIG, will serve as the anchor partners for this initiative.

The fund aims to bridge the funding gap with sustained, structured, and patient philanthropy, empowering meaningful on-ground change for India’s LGBTQIA+ community, which is estimated to number more than 140 million people.

Commenting on the introduction of the fund, Parmesh Shahani, Head of Godrej DEI Lab, said, ”With only 27 per cent of NGOs serving the community having a national presence, through targeted support and resources, we aim to empower communities to access safety, health, justice, and opportunities that have been denied to them for far too long.”

While global funding for LGBTQIA+ communities is growing, India barely participates or benefits from these philanthropic efforts. Despite these barriers, and in the face of considerable prejudice, queer organisers and grassroots activists have made efforts for their communities.

Radhika Piramal, Executive Director, VIP Industries & Trustee, Dasra UK, added, “Let’s all come together to support some of our most creative and innovative communities and help India thrive.”

At the unveiling of ‘The Pride Fund’, Dasra released a report titled – ‘Against All Odds – Advancing Equity for India’s LGBTQIA+ Communities,’ which studies the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ focused

organizations in India, and recommends solutions to overcome barriers, and prioritise responsive approaches co-created with the community.

Commenting on the report, Neera Nundy, Co-founder & Partner Dasra, said, “India, home to 18% of the world’s population, receives under 1% of global LGBTQIA+ funding, leaving this cause critically underfunded. The pioneering Pride Fund takes a collaborative approach to tackle this imbalance by supporting queer-led organizations driving change at the grassroots level.”

The Pride Fund aims to create transformational change for India’s LGBTQIA+ community through patient and intentional philanthropy. With a focus on impact-driven solutions and increased attention to the needs of marginalized communities, it strives to chart a new path toward equality and inclusion in India, as per the press release.