Praveen Malhotra, a development sector leader with more than 20 years of hands-on experience, currently heads programs at Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India as the country’s social sector faces unprecedented demand for effective giving and innovation.
His journey ranging from grassroots project execution to strategic alliance-building and sector advocacy reflects a commitment to contribute purposefully by blending funding, mentorship, and business acumen.
Malhotra’s approach has steered CAF India through volatile times for NGOs, where leadership and guided giving have become essential for meaningful impact.
As operational challenges grow in 2025, Malhotra’s dual focus on capacity-building and transparent partnerships remains the foundation on which stakeholders and collaborators build optimism for the sector’s future.
A Journey Forged in Grassroots Challenges and Entrepreneurial Vision
Praveen Malhotra’s career began with Deepalaya in early 2000, grounding him in hands-on work with Delhi’s urban poor coordinating education and health initiatives in slums.
These experiences shaped his ethos: “To make charity meaningful, you must engage at each link from ideation to implementation, from urban corners to rural stretches.”
With HelpAge India, he advanced grant management and donor engagement, developing skills in monitoring and partnership-building vital for running sustainable projects. Later, his role in CRY (Child Rights & You) gave him responsibility over key interventions in Rajasthan, where he focused on program execution and advocacy for child rights.
His transition to leadership at CAF India in 2016 marked a strategic turn in his journey. Armed with a master’s in social work and a management diploma, Malhotra embraced complexity using data analysis, rigorous planning, and collaborative thinking to steer the organisation’s programmes through turbulent sector changes.
He reflects, “It’s not the quantum of contribution, but the depth of leadership and orientation that determines success in social impact.” This perspective has influenced every grant, partnership, and mentorship initiative at CAF India, making a mark on thousands of small and large NGOs.
Building Networks and Innovating Programme Models Across India
CAF India today is a partner of choice for 2,100 NGOs, reaching into 26 states with verified programme designs and impact measurement. Malhotra’s work is defined by strategic collaborations be it with government departments, corporates, or fellow civil society organisations.
He is known for championing the idea that “Smaller NGOs rarely receive the right mix of financing and mentorship,” leading to his efforts at SVP India and with Srujna Charitable Trust to bring technical support as well as fundraising know-how into their operations.
His entrepreneurial streak began long before his social sector prominence Malhotra co-founded Positive Moves in 1992, an executive search firm that grew to advise top technology and private equity companies.
These lessons in operational expansion, revenue management, and client-centric strategy inform how he manages partnerships at CAF India. “Business growth and social impact are both rooted in adaptability and transparent processes,” he states.
In 2025, CAF India’s expanded services and robust monitoring frameworks mirror these learnings, relying on digital platforms and measurable outputs. Malhotra’s recent appointment as Chapter Chair at SVP India (Delhi) highlights his status as a sector connector, celebrated for blending business acumen and nonprofit wisdom to guide collaborative funding and strategic planning.
“Contributing the correct combination of funds, guidance, and process orientation is the most rewarding and keeps me charged,” he shares in a recent roundtable with chapter partners.
Navigating Sector Volatility and Accelerating Social Change in 2025
As India’s social sector grapples with new pressures, CAF India is at the forefront of responding to rising needs. Sector reports show that 78% of charities now face increased demand due to economic instability and reduced support from public grants.
Malhotra’s leadership targets such pain points by advocating for outcome-based giving, capacity-building, and trusted partnerships. He stays committed to aligning CAF India’s work with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring transparency and accountability even as competitive funding environments test the resilience of charitable programmes.
“We must evolve faster than the challenges,” Malhotra often says, highlighting his willingness to leverage digital tools and data-led solutions in both urban and rural contexts.
This year, CAF India has launched multiple projects supporting women’s collectives, educational reform, and health awareness, with sector feedback praising their evidence-driven models.
Malhotra collaborates directly with chapter leaders at SVP, board members of Positive Integers, and fintech innovators to cross-pollinate business and nonprofit solutions.
Alongside these professional milestones, Malhotra’s penchant for travel and passion for cross-cultural dialogue have kept his approach fresh and globally relevant. He credits periods spent observing business models in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe for shaping his inclusive leadership philosophy.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Praveen Malhotra’s journey offers a blueprint for contemporary philanthropy that combines rigorous planning, business insight, and grassroots empathy. CAF India’s sustained growth under his watch validates the need for robust partnerships, transparency, and adaptability.
The Logical Indian recognises his efforts in bridging the gap between donors and beneficiaries, embedding mentorship and capacity-building at the core of every grant. In an increasingly volatile giving climate, it’s leaders like Malhotra who set industry benchmarks for innovation and kindness.
But effective giving is a shared endeavour. Readers and stakeholders must ask: Can India’s changemakers and donors truly unite around innovative, collaborative models to build resilience and equity for those in greatest need?
