Explore varied perspectives around family giving to help you discover new paths of progress and ways to navigate the landscape of philanthropy in India
Creative Director
Arundhati Misra is a dynamic communications leader with deep expertise in storytelling, strategic outreach, and creative direction in the development sector. As Manager at Dasra, she plays a pivotal role in shaping and amplifying the narrative of GivingPi, the world’s largest family philanthropy network. She also serves as the Creative Director of The Philanthropist, overseeing all aspects of the magazine’s creative vision. Beyond this, she leads the creative and multimedia strategy for both The Philanthropist and GivingPi, working closely with a network of designers and agency partners to craft compelling narratives that drive impact.
Arundhati holds a Master’s degree in Economic History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, bringing a unique analytical perspective to her work in communications. With a passion for elevating powerful stories and shaping influential narratives, she is committed to leveraging creativity and strategic communications to inspire action and drive meaningful change.
Executive Director
Shibani Gosain leads narrative building, thought leadership, and communications at Dasra and GivingPi, working at the intersection of philanthropy, equity, and storytelling. She is passionate about using strategic communication as a tool to drive social change and shift mindsets. Shibani also serves as Executive Director of The Philanthropist—a first-of-its-kind digital magazine that captures insights, voices, and stories from India’s evolving family giving ecosystem. In her role, she works closely with philanthropists, and sector leaders to craft compelling narratives that inspire generosity, foster trust, and shape the discourse around giving in India.
Whether it’s building sector campaigns, curating thought leadership, or anchoring convenings, Shibani brings creativity, empathy, and strategic clarity to her work.
With a background in communications, media and the development sector, she brings a unique blend of storytelling, systems thinking, and community-centered practice to everything she does. Her work reflects a deep commitment to elevating voices, building trust, and catalyzing long-term social change.
Curator & Editor-in-Chief
Prachi Pal anchors research and thought leadership on philanthropy at Dasra, shaping knowledge at the intersection of giving and social change in India. Her work weaves together research, storytelling, and strategic content to build narratives that surface emerging trends, elevate practitioner voices, and inspire more intentional philanthropy. Through reports, articles, podcasts, and convenings, she curates knowledge that is both analytically rigorous and relevant to practitioners and funders alike.
As the Curator and Editor-in-Chief of The Philanthropist, Prachi conceptualizes each edition through a distinct thematic lens. She mentors writers, combines primary and secondary insights, and unpacks funder journeys to shape a magazine that is reflective, bold, and brings to life the stories that must be told about philanthropy.
Prachi holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, where she trained in participatory action research. She is committed to curating and creating knowledge that informs giving practices and strengthens philanthropy in India.
Editorial Team
Isha Maniar works at the intersection of narrative building, editorial strategy, and philanthropy. As a Manager, she currently anchors narrative building and thought leadership at GivingPi and serves as a member of the editorial team of The Philanthropist. In this role, she works closely with philanthropists, practitioners, and sector leaders to shape stories that deepen understanding of giving, and the decision-making and long-term commitment required to do it right.
Her professional background spans dispute resolution law, book publishing, and media - all of which, taken together, have been instrumental in shaping her ability to build deeply researched, compelling narratives. Across formats and sectors, her work is driven by a belief in storytelling that respects both context and consequence.
Editorial Team
Yash Thakoor (he/him) is an experienced researcher and storyteller in the development sector. With Master’s degrees in Public Policy, Political Science, and Defence & Strategic Studies, Yash brings a multidisciplinary perspective to his work. Before joining Dasra, he transitioned from a career in entertainment media to focus on development research, collaborating with organizations such as Aangan Trust, Sambodhi Research and Communications, UNICEF, and the Asian Development Bank, to build impact-driven stories and narratives. At Dasra, as part of the Research and Insights team, Yash develops advisory research on pressing development challenges, and shaping philanthropic engagement towards India’s evolving social impact landscape.
Design Lead
Nandita is a visual communication designer with extensive experience working at the intersection of art, design, and social communication. Her practice centres on graphic design and strategic creative direction, partnering with organizations in the development sector to drive transformative change through cohesive visual systems.
Her work ranges from designing for cultural events to translating complex healthcare, and philanthropic data into clear, accessible communication through illustration, publication design, and data visualisation. She strongly believes that art and design should be inclusive, culturally resonant, and capable of shaping understanding and influencing behaviour. Her work supports public-facing communication and knowledge dissemination for funders, philanthropists, policymakers, public health professionals, and practitioners across the social sector.
