Pay-What-It-Takes India Initiative
About Pay What It Takes
Pay-What-It-Takes (PWIT) India is a multiyear, collaborative initiative aimed at building a stronger and resilient social sector in India.
Funders and their nonprofit partners share a commitment to making progress on some of society’s most pressing problems. Yet, chronic underfunding of nonprofits’ true costs – core costs, organisational development (OD) costs, financial resilience, and programmatic costs – blunts the impact for which funders and nonprofits strive.
PWIT’s goal is to inform and influence the mindsets and practices of funders, NGOs, and intermediaries to advance five principles that can unlock the impact potential of NGOs, and hence advance social outcomes in India.
Reports
Toolkits and Other Resources
Articles
Four Steps Funders Can Take to Invest in Organisational Well-being
Naghma Mulla of EdelGive Foundation explains in India Development Review why it’s time for the funding community to look inward and redesign their approach to grantmaking.
How to Overhaul Grantmaking in India
In Stanford Social Innovation Review, we describe how strengthening relationships between funders and nonprofits, and investing in capacity, will create more resilient organisations and drive more impact.
Grantmaking Must Become More Inclusive
Traditional funding structures often overlook the unique needs and challenges of smaller nonprofits serving historically marginalised communities. As we argue in India Development Review, this needs to change.
Four Practices to Build Stronger and More Resilient NGOs in India
Through our research, we have identified four path-changing practices for funders and NGOs that can help them deliver greater social impact. Learn more in our article for AVPN.
The Evolving Role of CSR in Funding NGOs
Beyond signing cheques, corporates are recognizing that what’s good for society is good for business, as we explain in The Hindu. (Subscription required)
Pitching True Cost Needs to Funders
Nonprofits and funders don’t always align on the importance of funding organisational development. Understanding funder motivations can help bridge this gap, as we write in India Development Review.
It’s Time for Funders to Pay-What-It-Takes
In this article for India Development Review, we explain why the chronic underfunding of administrative costs undermines the impact both funders and nonprofits strive for.
How to Create Enduring Social Impact
India’s NGOs would benefit enormously from reserves and endowments that could translate to financial resilience. We make the case in Forbes India.
Enabling Philanthropy to Achieve Its Potential, Effect Social Change
Is Indian philanthropy ready to turn a critical lens on itself? Bridgespan’s Pritha Venkatachalam and Ingrid Srinath of the Center for Social Impact & Philanthropy make the case for philanthropy to act now in The Hindustan Times.
Philanthropy in India During COVID-19
Vidya Shah, executive chairperson of EdelGive Foundation, describes in India Development Review what funders did and didn’t get right during COVID-19, and what the way forward should be.
How Leading Funders Build Strong, Resilient Nonprofits in India
Chronic underfunding of nonprofits' “true costs” hinders the impact that both funders and nonprofits aim to achieve. However, many funders in India are adopting principles to support strong, resilient nonprofit partners, and we highlight their practices in Alliance Magazine.
It’s Time for Funders to Pay-What-It-Takes
In this article for India Development Review, we discuss how the chronic underfunding of administrative costs diminishes the impact that both funders and nonprofits aim to achieve (available in Hindi).
Pitching True Cost Needs to Funders
While nonprofits often prioritise organisational development for long-term sustainability, funders may have different perspectives. By understanding funder motivations, we can better align these priorities, as discussed in India Development Review (available in Hindi).
Case Studies
The Importance of Nonprofit M&E Systems
Why are monitoring and evaluation frameworks important for grassroots nonprofits? This case study presents Tapasya's journey and the critical role these frameworks can play in driving impact and growth.
Organisational Development at the Grassroots
This case study examines the impact of formalising structures, policies, and processes in a grassroots nonprofit.
To Scale or Not to Scale?
Identifying the right moment to scale and building the necessary capacity are critical challenges for grassroots nonprofits. QUEST's growth journey offers valuable insights.
Getting Nonprofit Talent Management Right
Resource constraints often hinder strong team culture development in nonprofits. Arpan's talent management practices demonstrate how to overcome this challenge.
Funded Today, Funders Tomorrow?
Nonprofits often struggle to secure long-term funding. This case study examines how FFE successfully mobilised programme beneficiaries to become active contributors to the organisation's financial sustainability.
Scaling Impact with an External Consultant
This case study explores how external consultants can accelerate nonprofit impact, providing insights for both nonprofits and funders.
Getting Your Nonprofit Communications Right
Your essential guide to effective communication: best practices, pitfalls, and key considerations.
Everything You Need to Know to Fundraise Successfully
A detailed examination of the strategies employed by two organisations to strengthen their fundraising capabilities and the significant, multi-level impact achieved within a year.
Multimedia (Video, Infographics, and More)
Contact Us
If you are interested in collaborating with Bridgespan’s PWIT India team or would like to learn more about the initiative, please fill out the form below.