CSR remains vital for India's development, but disparities persist: Give Grants report

At Rs 1.2 lakh crore, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) will be the largest stable source of private funding for India’s development needs in the coming decade, according to a report by Give Grants.

The Bengaluru-based company, which manages grantmaking lifecycle for corporates and foundations, has launched dus spoke India Inc 2025, its latest report highlighting the current state of CSR in India.

The report found that geographical disparity persists in how funds are deployed. Funds remain

concentrated in a few industrialised states such as Maharashtra (15%), Karnataka (9%), Gujarat (8%), and Delhi (5%).

Low-income states, including much of the North East, Bihar (less than 1%), and Uttar Pradesh (around 4%), are left underfunded despite high poverty and weak SDG outcomes, simply because fewer companies operate there.

Offering a roadmap for the future, the report brings together perspectives from 47 CSR leaders and 78 nonprofit heads, with a detailed analysis of CSR data from India’s top 200 companies.

The participating CSR leaders collectively manage over Rs 6,800 crore in CSR funds annually, according to a press release.

It explores how CSR has evolved from compliance-driven philanthropy to a potential catalyst for systemic change — and what will be needed for it to fully realise that potential.

Other highlights of the report include:

Government nudges have yet to deliver equitable CSR flows: Despite being national

priorities, low-income regions, including the North East and aspirational districts, remain underfunded. Just eight companies account for 60% of CSR spend in the North East, while only seven companies contribute nearly 37% of CSR funds directed to aspirational districts.

Risk appetite for innovation is low: CSR investments remain heavily concentrated in core themes education (34%), health (27%), skilling (12%), climate (10%), rural development (8%), and others (7%). Funding for emerging priorities or early-stage innovation is scarce, with 73% of nonprofits reporting little or no support for pilots or experimental initiatives.

The evolving CSR-NPO relationship: Nonprofits remain deeply dependent on CSR funding, with half receiving more than 50% of their annual budgets from corporate sources. The report highlights the need for CSR funders to move from transactional engagements to trust-based, long-term partnerships that empower NPOs to drive lasting change.

Collaboration still nascent: Despite shared goals, most companies execute corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives in silos. Among those surveyed, 68% cited poor strategic alignment as a barrier to collaboration, while 40% pointed to brand concerns and governance complexity as limiting factors.

Looking ahead, the report notes that India’s top 200 companies, which are responsible for over 50% of total CSR spend, will play a defining role in shaping CSR’s next chapter. With CSR contributing just 1-2% of what the government spends on social services, the sector’s greatest opportunity lies in supporting innovation and pilots that others can scale, positioning CSR as an impact multiplier rather than just an impact creator.

“CSR in India has evolved remarkably over the past decade. The next phase will be about bold choices, directing funds where they are needed most, taking risks to innovate, and working together across sectors to drive large-scale change. dus spoke India Inc 2025 lays out both our achievements and our unfinished agenda," Sumit Tayal, CEO of Give Grants, said.