Engaging HNWI Indians

Preliminary analysis suggests the philanthropy of high net worth individual (HNWI) 1 1 The term HNWI is generally used to describe an individual with investable assets in excess of US$1 million (excluding primary residence, collectibles and consumer durables). The wealth of participants in this study has not been investigated. Indeed, such data would be difficult to obtain or corroborate. Instead the project is examining the philanthropy of the elite of India. However, prima facie those interviewed would either fit into that category or be a member of a family whose collective wealth would ensure membership of that category. Indians has significant commonalities with that described by researchers in Western countries. It is proposed that the most important fact is that Indian philanthropists, as are their counterparts in the West, are ‘producers’ of philanthropy and ‘hyperagents’. This has great significance for fundraisers and NGOs because fundraisers and NGOs are not in a position to demand support for their causes. They must make considerable effort to understand the personal philanthropic practices and behaviours of HNWIs. In addition, fundraisers must determine whether they have the possibility of entering into the ‘communities of participation’ to which potential philanthropic supporters belong. The article compares existing studies on the philanthropy of the wealthy in the USA, UK and Australia to preliminary data from the author’s ongoing investigation into the characteristics of HNWI philanthropy in India.