Praveen Malhotra drives transformative impact at CAF India through strategic leadership and innovative partnerships

Praveen Malhotra’s leadership at Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India exemplifies a dynamic blend of grassroots experience and strategic vision, driving the organisation’s impactful reach across 2,100 NGOs in 26 states. With over two decades of direct fieldwork and program management, Malhotra has navigated CAF India through an era marked by mounting social challenges and evolving donor expectations. His stewardship underscores a commitment to deeper engagement in philanthropy—where funding, mentorship, and operational rigour converge to create meaningful and measurable change.

Malhotra’s early career was rooted in hands-on social work in Delhi slums, where coordinating health and education initiatives shaped his ethos on purposeful charity. This foundation was further strengthened during his tenure at organisations like HelpAge India and CRY, where he honed skills in grant management, donor relations, and advocacy. Since joining CAF India in 2016, he has applied his academic grounding in social work and management to foster data-driven, outcome-based programmes. Reflecting on his approach, Malhotra insists that “the depth of leadership and orientation” rather than merely the size of contributions defines success in the social sector—a philosophy deeply integrated into CAF India’s partnerships and grant-making processes.

Under Malhotra’s guidance, CAF India has become a pivotal bridge between smaller NGOs lacking adequate financing and mentorship and the broader ecosystem of donors and corporates. He is particularly focused on capacity building, championing transparent and accountable frameworks that amplify impact in both rural and urban contexts. His entrepreneurial background, including co-founding Positive Moves—a firm advising tech and private equity clients—infuses his leadership with a pragmatic business perspective. This crossover between the corporate and social sectors is highlighted by his role as Chapter Chair at SVP India’s Delhi NCR chapter, where collaborative funding models and strategic planning are actively promoted.

CAF India’s growth and innovation, driven by Malhotra, also respond to sector-wide volatility intensified by economic instability and shifting funding landscapes. Recent sector data illustrates that nearly 78% of charities face increased demand amid decreasing public grants. In this environment, Malhotra advocates for resilience through diversified funding, rigorous impact measurement, and digital enablement. Initiatives launched under his tenure focus on supporting women’s collectives, educational reforms, and health awareness programmes, underscored by evidence-based strategies praised by sector peers. Collaboration remains a hallmark of his leadership, involving multiple partners from SVP leaders to fintech innovators, embodying a cross-sectoral approach to social change.

CAF India’s active role in hosting national conclaves alongside partners like the UPS Foundation further reinforces its commitment to building NGO capacities and enhancing credibility in CSR initiatives. Such efforts echo broader industry calls for greater financial resilience within the NGO sector, as noted in analyses urging domestic philanthropy to bolster operating reserves and endowments to buffer against funding shocks. Malhotra’s focus aligns with these imperatives, emphasising not just the mobilisation of resources but their strategic utilisation to nurture sustainable social welfare.

Moreover, CAF India’s role as a charity enabler facilitates corporate engagement in social responsibility, aiding CSR programme development and execution in critical areas such as education, skill-building, and disaster management. This intermediary function ensures that philanthropic investments translate into targeted, accountable, and scalable impact—a crucial factor in India’s complex philanthropic ecosystem. The organisation’s alignment with global frameworks like the UN Sustainable Development Goals reflects Malhotra’s vision for transparency and long-term systemic change.

Praveen Malhotra’s leadership trajectory illustrates a rare synthesis of sectoral insight, business acumen, and grassroots empathy. His ability to integrate rigorous programme design with an inclusive, mentorship-oriented philosophy sets benchmarks for contemporary philanthropy. As India’s social sector confronts increasing needs and resource challenges, Malhotra’s advocacy for adaptive, partnership-driven giving offers a blueprint for resilience and equity. The success of CAF India under his guidance invites reflection on how the wider philanthropic community—donors, NGOs, and social innovators—can collectively embrace innovative, collaborative models to sustain and scale impact for those most in need.