Being a community leader in India is hard. It’s lonely: friends and family often discourage it. It’s demanding: success requires a rare mix of skills. But perhaps most importantly, it’s often financially unviable. Few leaders are able to secure a steady income. And fundraising is an unnavigable maze of complex requirements.

So, despite thousands of Indians with the drive and ability to lead, few step forward. And those who do step up face an uphill battle to sustain and grow their work. Many make enormous personal sacrifices just to keep going. Some burn out entirely.

The result: Communities aren’t able to prosper. And India misses out on leadership talent that can propel us forward.

This needs to change.