________________
VENTURE PHILANTHROPY
Setting a focussed approach to fund raising; • Assistance with managing the charity's finances (both its own and those of the projects it is running); • Developing a cost-conscious culture; • Keeping a focus on maximising 'return on investment' i.e. teaching the staff to try to ensure that each pound donated gives the greatest possible benefit to the recipient); • Involving one's own business by mentoring students, running internship programmes to teach basic job skills, sending staff to guide and educate the charity or the final recipients, offering job placements to disadvantaged people. VP requires much more of the donor, but should be much more beneficial to the recipients and also inherently more satisfying to the donor. Since many Jains are involved in running their own businesses and have unique skills that could be shared to a great effect, venture philanthropy is a particularly suitable approach for us.
in life. This would help both the children and their families in the long term.
Ajay with two other trustees Dr. Chetan and Shobhna Shah, has built a charitable organisation in London, Bhagvatinandji Education and Health Trust (BEHT), which is running projects in Gujarat. It works through five charitable foundations set up in India, each with a different focus, including education, health, environment and assisting the elderly. In the last three years some £250,000 have been raised mainly from the UK, sometimes through sponsored events like a swimathon.
Ajay takes a very active role in the distribution of this money to achieve the specific purposes determined for it. He always finds valuable time every day to spend on his charitable work, and also uses his holidays to go to Gujarat to work on the projects that are very important to
him.
Seeing the results of one's actions first hand,
encourages givers to do more
Projects
There are many excellent examples in the Jain community of people who have proven the value of venture philanthropy. They have increased many-fold the benefits derived from financial donations by donating also their business skills and experience. To give an example of just how well this can work, we would like to profile here one such modern-day philanthropist, Ajay Gudka, a businessman from London, Director of Caprin Printers.
Case Study: Ajay Gudka - BEHT
Examples of the main projects undertaken: • Building an education centre in Visavadar Taluka, Junagadh District which includes a dining hall, two boarding houses, primary and secondary schools and a library - this can educate over 600 students per annum; • Building another education centre, in Adhoi Kutchh, including a school, boarding school and dining hall. This will educate 600 students per annum;
Buying an ambulance unit serving about 50 villages in Visavadar Taluka. Different donors have given funds for different parts of these projects.
Ajay's charitable work is mainly in the fields of healthcare and education, principally in Gujarat, India. Education has been given a particular priority since it provides a foundation of skills and tools for children to develop themselves and progress
December 2002 - February 2003. Jain Spirit
49
Jain Education International 2010_03
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
