Some Valuable Lessons I Have Learned as a Philanthropist and Social Worker
Twenty-five years ago, I transitioned from running a successful financial technology company to working on philanthropy and social work full-time. While it may be hard to believe, the many years spent at Shanti Bhavan — a world-class residential school for socially and economically disadvantaged children — have taught me more lessons than what I’ve learned from a fruitful business career.
The last two decades or so have been the most impactful and rewarding experiences of my life. Shanti Bhavan has confirmed what I believed all along: rich or poor, we all have incredible potential that can be realized with opportunity. It is very heartwarming to witness this truth among Shanti Bhavan graduates.
Here I’ll detail some of those lessons, so others might seek ways to serve their communities and those in need.
The true impact of your work may take many years to become visible
In the business world, the impact of your work is measured every quarter, but NGOs might take many years to realize their social impact. With Shanti Bhavan, nearly two decades passed before our children graduated from high school, attended good colleges, and then started their careers in top multinational companies. Some graduates are attending colleges like Stanford and Duke, working in companies like Goldman Sachs and Mercedes-Benz, and helping their parents and communities by building them new homes or addressing local problems. The multiplicative impact of success among our graduates becomes evident over time when they support others around them who also need the opportunity to succeed.
The importance of an ethical, supportive environment
The children of Shanti Bhavan come not only from poor backgrounds but also from unsafe homes and communities. Because Shanti Bhavan provides a safe and loving space, children grow up seeing that there is a kinder way to live. By creating a healthy, caring home for the children to learn and connect with others, they are molded into good individuals with the potential to become future leaders.
The professional accomplishments of our children aren’t our sole goal. We want them to be compassionate and caring individuals. Good education alone is not enough. They must also have a sense of essential values and empathy towards others. These qualities are acquired by observing positive role models and through experience. Many of our graduates have demonstrated these qualities through their professional success and by the care they show for their families.
The importance of diversifying funding sources
Leading up to the global financial crisis of 2008, I was the primary benefactor of Shanti Bhavan. Unfortunately, the market downturn made it impossible for me to support the project alone. However, with the help of family, friends, and our team’s efforts to find new donors, we were able to recover, continue the operation of Shanti Bhavan, and expand our work in recent years.
This challenging period in Shanti Bhavan’s history taught me the importance of diversifying our funding sources to ensure that there is broad support. The work we do is too important to rely only on one or a few people. Instead, our fundraising has helped us develop a vibrant donor community. The involvement of some of our supporters in their role as mentors adds another dimension to our children’s progress.
Helping those in need is more rewarding than financial success
In modern society, we focus heavily on financial accomplishments. As one who has built a successful company, I can confidently say that the joy derived from helping others in need has been far more meaningful for me than what I got from material wealth. I have derived satisfaction and contentment by taking part in a social cause. By contributing to the well-being of others, interacting with those who are helped, hearing their stories, and witnessing the changes, I found solace and happiness.
Often, it doesn’t require creating a big nonprofit organization. By making time to help others directly with your energy, heart, and skills, much can be accomplished. Over time you’ll see that these experiences are deeply satisfying in a way that money or financial success can’t offer.
My work with some of India’s socially and economically disadvantaged people has been the adventure of a lifetime. It has brought me joy and personal satisfaction that I couldn’t find elsewhere and allowed me to explore a world and life I had only read about. It has taught me countless lessons, helping me grow and appreciate life better.
As humans, our success is primarily due to our ability to work together and help one another. One might say it is in our DNA. While I knew my work at Shanti Bhavan would be impactful, I could never have imagined how personally gratifying it would be to work as a team. So whether it is a nonprofit of your own or helping at your local food pantry, homeless shelter, community garden, or something else, I strongly encourage you to join a community of well-meaning people and make time for it. Your time spent will reward you in ways you can’t imagine.
