Why Is Nonprofit Fundraising So Broken? Rishabh Lalani on Philanthropy | Two Founders Walk Into

Why is nonprofit fundraising so difficult, even when the work matters? In this episode of Two Founders Walk Into, we sit down with Rishabh Lalani, founder of Kohmorehbee Consulting and a fundraising professional who has helped raise over ₹2,000 crore for organisations and causes, to unpack the realities of fundraising, philanthropy and the nonprofit sector in India. From growing up with financial uncertainty to finding his way into social impact, Rishabh shares how his experiences shaped his approach to fundraising. He also challenges some widely accepted practices in philanthropy, including the growing corporatisation of nonprofits, the role of AI in grant proposals, and the systems that determine which causes receive funding. In this conversation, we discuss: • Rishabh Lalani’s journey from Wipro to nonprofit fundraising• How he raised his first significant grant and discovered his role in social impact• Why nonprofits often receive funding for delivering programmes, but struggle to fund research and investigate the root causes of problems• How compliance requirements and corporatisation are changing the nonprofit sector in India• Why grant proposals may matter less than the relationships behind them• How AI is changing proposal writing, screening and fundraising• Why trust and human connection remain central to philanthropy• The different types of funders and what motivates them to give• Restricted vs. unrestricted funding, and why nonprofits need more flexible funding• Why Rishabh believes NGO reports should be replaced with more direct conversations• What the future of philanthropy and nonprofit work in India could look like Rishabh also shares a practical perspective on understanding funders, building relationships, and identifying where philanthropic capital is most likely to move. One of the central questions in this conversation is whether the systems built around philanthropy are helping nonprofits solve problems—or limiting their ability to do so. Watch the full episode for an honest conversation about nonprofit fundraising, CSR, philanthropy, trust and the future of social impact in India. Subscribe to *Two Founders Walk Into* for more conversations on leadership, building organisations and creating social impact. Subscribe to our channel and never miss the latest episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@UCPichWEo9gwkwpABT8kgk9Q  **Two Founders Walk Into** Featured in **FeedSpot's Top 25 Indian Leadership Podcasts**  About Ajit Sivaram and Satish Manchikanti - They are the co-founders of U&I Trust and Change+.  About U&I - U&I is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives through education and community engagement. Our two core programs are U&I Teach and U&I Empower. U&I Teach provides after-school tutoring and mentorship to underprivileged children across India, helping bridge the education gap. U&I Empower creates volunteering opportunities for corporate employees, enabling them to give back through meaningful, impact-driven experiences. At the heart of U&I are our core values: #bethechange #bigaudaciousimpact and #inthistogether  About Change+ - The organization helps people become the leaders they’re meant to be. The leadership training journeys blend self-awareness, real-world practice, and people-first thinking, helping teams lead with clarity, confidence, and impact. From emerging managers to senior leaders, Change+ designs learning experiences that teach leadership.  Follow them on LinkedIn:  Ajit Sivaram - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajit4949/  Satish Manchikanti - https://www.linkedin.com/in/satish-manchikanti/  Visit our Website: https://uandi.org.in/  Volunteer With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/volunteer  Partner With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/csr  Work With U&I: https://uandi.org.in/hiring  Donate to our Cause: https://ui.danamojo.org/  #NonprofitFundraising #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #CSR #Fundraising #NGOIndia #RishabhLalani #TwoFoundersWalkInto