India's last-mile change agents deserve philanthropy built on trust

The article argues that India's most effective social change often happens through grassroots organisations that work closely with communities over long periods, yet philanthropy rarely supports them in ways that enable lasting impact. Instead of short-term, project-based grants and heavy reporting requirements, the authors call for trust-based philanthropy that provides flexible, long-term funding and invests in organisational capacity. Sustainable social transformation depends on strong partnerships between funders and nonprofits, where trust, learning, and adaptation are valued as much as accountability. Empowering last-mile organisations in this way can create deeper, more resilient, and systemic change across communities.

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