Alex Counts Takes India Book Tour to Delhi NCR with Masterclass on Nonprofit Leadership

Gurugram, Nov 05: Author, social entrepreneur and philanthropy expert Alex Counts brought his India book tour to Delhi NCR with a Masterclass on Nonprofit Leadership and Fundraising at the S M Sehgal Foundation in Gurugram on Wednesday. The session brought together 65 participants, including nonprofit leaders, development practitioners, representatives from philanthropic institutions, researchers and social entrepreneurs, for conversations on strengthening organisations and building sustainable approaches to social impact.

Hosted by S M Sehgal Foundation, with Rang De as the Giving Partner, the Masterclass explored some of the key challenges facing the nonprofit sector, including resource mobilisation, organisational leadership, fundraising strategies and long-term institutional sustainability.

The event also placed emphasis on accessibility and inclusive participation, with Indian Sign Language interpreters providing sign language interpretation for deaf participants. The initiative helped make the discussions accessible to members of the deaf community, enabling them to follow the proceedings and participate in the session.

“Considering how close we are to the Diwali festival, it was extraordinary how many nonprofit professionals, donors, and volunteers turned out today to learn about how to achieve impact while not sacrificing your own wellbeing,” said Counts.

Drawing on more than three decades of experience across philanthropy, microfinance and social entrepreneurship, Counts shared lessons from his work with grassroots organisations and institutions around the world. The interactive session provided participants with an opportunity to reflect on the practical realities of leading mission-driven organisations, mobilising resources and building institutions that can sustain their work overtime.

The Delhi NCR engagement is part of Counts' India tour centred around his three books: Changing the World Without Losing Your Mind: Leadership Lessons from Three Decades of Social Entrepreneurship; When in Doubt, Ask for More; and Small Loans, Big Dreams

The tour features masterclasses, discussions and networking engagements with members of India's nonprofit and philanthropic ecosystem, creating opportunities to exchange perspectives on leadership, fundraising and the future of social impact.

Counts is the Founder and Executive Director of the India Philanthropy Alliance and the founder and former CEO of Grameen Foundation USA. He is also the former CEO of the American India Foundation and has raised more than $300 million for social impact initiatives throughout his career.

Through these engagements, Counts aims to share practical lessons from his experience and encourage nonprofit organisations to strengthen their leadership, build resilient institutions and develop sustainable approaches to creating lasting social change.