

Philanthropy
Philanthropy
A New Chapter in Indian Philanthropy
From Bengaluru’s green roads of Koramangala and beyond, a quiet revolution is changing the concept of philanthropy. As pointed out in a recent article in The Print, India’s first-generation entrepreneurs—particularly from the science and technology stream—are creating a new, audacious idea of philanthropy.
Their philanthropy is purposeful, strategic, and vision-oriented—giving to domain as varied as neuroscience, digital infrastructure, arts, and climate action.
This transition from traditional CSR and legacy giving to transformational, institution-building philanthropy is a symptom of a broader shift in thinking—where wealth is used as a means to drive knowledge, opportunity, and systems change.
Wise Wealth: Our Philosophy, Our Practice
At Entrust, we see this evolution as an affirmation of our core belief: that true wealth is not just accumulated, but applied with wisdom. Since our inception, we have partnered with families who seek to turn wealth into meaningful action—quietly enabling them through our values-aligned, end-to-end philanthropic solutions.
For us, philanthropy is an organic extension of Wise Wealth—driven by intentionality, thoughtfulness, and sustainability. Whether it’s creating a virtual family foundation, designing a major grant, or advising on impact measurement, our work has always been that of a catalyst—encouraging our clients to stay laser-focused on what they care about most: the difference they wish to make in the world.
The words of Gautam John, CEO of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, capture our ethos: “Entrust’s diligence and methodical processes ensure that every approved grant is executed seamlessly.” It’s this reliability and care that has made us a trusted partner for over a decade.
What We Offer
Our Strategic Philanthropy Services incorporate:
Philanthropy Advisory: Developing tailored roadmaps and arranging field visits for situational awareness
Portfolio Management: Managing back-office operations and setting up virtual family foundations
Grant Assessment & Monitoring: Tracking implementation, outcomes, and enabling partner capacity building
Research & Due Diligence: Mapping landscapes, vetting organisations, and assessing alignment with family values
Over the years, we’ve supported initiatives across education, health, livelihoods, environment, urban reform, arts, and community development—guided by a deep respect for the values that drive each family.
Entrust: A Credible Facilitator in the Philanthropy System
Though Bengaluru might now be regarded as India’s new philanthropic capital, at Entrust, we consider our purpose more profoundly—it’s one that keeps care, strategy, and alignment at its core when it comes to giving. From the very beginning, our commitment to Wise Wealth has informed how we assist families and define legacies.
We are thankful to have been a part of changemakers’ stories who are creating not just more wealth but a better world.
India’s philanthropy landscape is experiencing a once-in-a-generation transformation. While previous generations wrote checks, today’s smartest givers are building systems- funding innovations that prevent problems rather than just treating symptoms. From women leading 55% of family giving efforts to initiatives like Saamuhika Shakti—which transformed lives for 20,000+ waste pickers in Bengaluru through […]
Background In 2016, a prominent entrepreneur based in Bangalore engaged with Entrust Family Office to streamline their wealth management journey. Initially, interactions were limited to one of the Entrust founders, but over time, the client’s son and daughter-in-law began actively overseeing financial matters, marking a shift toward multigenerational engagement. Challenge As the next gen became […]
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