A Giving Pledge Signer Explains Why Trust Is at the Heart of Effective Philanthropy

While big donor decisions these days are increasingly driven by performance measures and other forms of hard evidence, Giving Pledge signatory Rohini Nilekani makes the case for keeping trust and emotion in the mix of considerations.

She acknowledges that such an approach may increase risk, but impact blossoms when the head and the heart work together, she says.

“What is the biggest risk?” says Nilekani. “OK, you might lose a bit of money. But you are a philanthropist because you seem to have a little extra anyway.”

Nilekani is the guest in the seventh episode of Giving Done Right, Season 2, hosted by the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s Phil Buchanan and Grace Nicolette.

Nilekani, a backer of collaborative philanthropy and social change, also discusses the effects of the pandemic in India and what it means to create a family legacy through philanthropy. She is based in Bangalore, India.

We appreciate the opportunity to share this interview, which was conducted by Buchanan and Nicolette with no involvement from the Chronicle’s newsroom.