Panel Discussion I Implications of the shifts in the philanthropy ecosystem on social justice

This article in BW Businessworld reports on the DMA State of the Sector report findings, which reveal that 70 per cent of Indian Social Purpose Organisations remain trapped in mid-level data maturity. Despite 80 per cent of nonprofits recognising data as vital, a significant “awareness-action gap” exists, with only 28 per cent integrating data across all core functions. The piece highlights critical infrastructure deficits, noting that nearly 35 per cent still rely on hard copies for storage. It concludes that moving beyond donor-driven compliance requires leadership commitment and smarter funding to bridge the prevailing talent and technology gaps.

This article highlights the DMA State of the Sector report. Findings show that while only 5.3% are “Beginners”, 70% remain in “Emerging” or “Progressing” stages. Despite 66% of organisations valuing data as “extremely important”, a stark capacity gap exists—only 10% possess in-house data science expertise. Further, data use is primarily restricted to program design rather than holistic management. The authors argue for a cultural shift from viewing data as a compliance burden to seeing it as a shared responsibility for scaling social impact.

This is a press release about the foundational findings of the State of the Sector report by CDSSI. The article details that only 5.3% of India’s Social Purpose Organisations (SPOs) fall into the ‘Beginner’ category, suggesting a widespread, baseline adoption of data across the sector. However, the report also identifies a clear “capability gap,” noting that while 66% of SPOs view data as vital, only 10% possess in-house data science expertise. By highlighting that approximately 70% of organisations are in the “Emerging” or “Progressing” stages, the authors emphasise the need for a cultural shift from using data for donor compliance to using it for collaborative learning and strategic programmatic impact.

Trisha Varma and Swetha Prakash write in Hindustan Times about the increasing adoption of data as a strategic lever for social change in India. Drawing on findings from the ISDM CDSSI Data Maturity Assessment (DMA), the authors highlight that while 66% of Social Purpose Organisations (SPOs) recognise the extreme importance of data, the majority remain at “emerging” or “progressing” levels of maturity. The article identifies significant barriers to progress, including low levels of digitalisation and legal uncertainty surrounding the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA). The authors argue that for India to reach its “Viksit Bharat” goals, the social sector must move beyond using data merely for donor compliance and instead embed a holistic data culture into core functions to drive sustainable, large-scale impact.