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Sustainable philanthropy is not just about giving to a cause but making a lasting difference. Also known as impactful philanthropy, it focuses on creating enduring outcomes as compared to traditional philanthropy that offers a short-term solution for an issue, explained the panelists on "Sustainable Philanthropy” in the post-lunch session on the second day of the 18th North American Zoroastrian Congress (NAZC) in Houston last December. 

The three-member panel included Behram Irani and Cyrus Irani who were present at the Congress and Leilah Vevaina who had joined on Zoom even though it was 2 a.m. in India! A petroleum engineer who has spent his career in the energy industry, and simultaneously served on the boards of various companies, banks and nonprofit organizations (NPOs), Behram guides, trains and assists NPOs with their fundraising activities. He is the chief executive officer of The Information Store. 

Cyrus’s track record as a chief executive officer/president is based on a foundation of executive roles in Fortune 500 companies as also startups/small to medium businesses in research and development management, product management, business development, professional services and marketing including taking a company public on the NASDAQ. He is currently on the board of trustees of the California based Zarathustrian Assembly.

Vevaina is assistant professor of anthropology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She embarked on a research project doing field work in Bombay and Hong Kong that culminated in her book Trust Matters: Parsi Endowments in Mumbai and the Horoscope of a City that focuses on religious endowments and the trust as a mechanism of property management. She is keen to research the connection between gambling and charity in Hong Kong.

"Most people think that philanthropists constitute an exclusive club. A philanthropist is anybody who donates time and money. I am whispering this because then you listen more intently!” Behram spoke in a muted voice. Many are the reasons why people donate: care for a cause; to help the less fortunate; trust in the organization they support; a belief that everyone needs to help solve social problems; it makes them feel good and become better persons; realize they can make a difference and serve as an example to others; their religion encourages giving. "The reason why people do not give is because they have not identified a cause or they have not been approached,” he declared.

The key features of sustainable philanthropy are "strategic, scalable and sustainable,” he noted. Such philanthropy is "transformative with a continuous positive impact; and inspiring for seeing the incredible good it is doing, others want to emulate.” Referring to the steady growth of NPOs in America, he cited the 2023 figures for the US showing there were 1.85 million NPOs, of which 1.51 million were charitable organizations and 340,000 religious organizations. Forty-nine percent or 65 million US households annually gave $ 5,750 (Rs 4.89 lakhs) to charity. If these figures were extrapolated to North American Zoroastrians whose population is estimated at 25,000 or 9,600 households, 49% of these would mean 4,800 households have an annual giving capacity of $ 27.6 million (4,800 x $ 5,750) (Rs 234.9 crore). He further revealed that religious organizations constitute 26% or the largest component of the recipients, with education and human services coming next at 16% each. Thus 26% of $ 27.6 million would mean $ 7.2 million (Rs 61.27 crore) could be given by North American Zoroastrian households to religious organizations.

"I believe everyone in this room is a philanthropist, doing the right thing at the right time as propounded by Ahura Mazda in His infinite wisdom,” said Cyrus. He then proceeded to analyze the reasons and approach to charity. Why would you donate? The motivation is usually an emotional connect. With whom would you collaborate? The team you feel will make the greatest impact? What you donate depends on your journey and goals. How you contribute may vary based on the change you hope to create and adjustments you are willing to make. He reminded the audience that donations to the NAZC helped bring down the registration costs otherwise delegates would have been paying three times the amount. 

Just as American psychologist Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs states that only if physiological, safety and emotional needs are met does one think of esteem and actualization, Cyrus had drawn up a pyramid to explain the motivation for philanthropy. At the base of the pyramid stood Zoroastrian principles, with traditions, culture, events coming next. Building and supporting a community lay in the middle, with education above and awareness at the apex.

Vevaina referred to trusts like the five charities created by Jerbai Wadia. A trust establishes "a relationship between a settlor and beneficiaries with the original intention of the trust being sacrosanct.” Frequently successive generations of the settlor are trustees for life. "Hundreds of Zoroastrians have endowed assets to trusts, creating a culture of giving for perpetuity. But does charity create a class of dependents? Are dependents bad for a micro minority community? Shouldn’t we take care of the elderly in our community? Would we have had concentrated (residential) pockets of Zoroastrians if people like Wadia had not given? Zoroastrians in India are wealthy in property but cash poor.  Sustainable philanthropy creates a ripple effect. 

Valor and virtue

Yet another well attended session on the second day was "Valor and virtue: Zoroastrian leadership in military and civil service” to indicate that the religion’s "emphasis on ethical conduct and the pursuit of justice provides a profound framework for military and civil service. The commitment to righteousness and the defense of the innocent aligns closely with the responsibilities of soldiers and civil servants. In the face of adversity, Zoroastrian teachings offer resilience and the moral fortitude to uphold principles even in the most challenging circumstances. Moreover, military and civil service instills individuals with a unique set of skills and experiences that can enhance their leadership potential within the Zoroastrian community and beyond,” proved the panelists.

Moderator Keshvar Buhariwalla was an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers for four years where she learnt the importance of work ethic and mission accomplishment. She has subsequently served in various board positions for the Zoroastrian Association of North Texas as also other NPOs. The discipline, strategic thinking and sense of duty cultivated in the military and civil services are invaluable assets in positions of leadership, she asserted. The younger generation was recommended to join the armed forces for "you will gain experiences you cannot get anywhere else.”

  Cainaz Vakharia, Rayomand Bam; above: officers on duty

Her twin Cainaz Vakharia recently retired from the US Army after 30 years of active duty. Starting in the Military Intelligence branch her assignments had taken her to Germany, Turkey, South Korea, Oklahoma and South Asia (at the US Embassies in Islamabad, Dhaka and New Delhi) while Washington DC has served as a home base. Knowing that people’s lives are in your hands, when confronted with difficult choices she learnt "to apply the same parameters to all, to do what is right, to put yourself out there without being scared, to go forward and pursue what is hard because nothing worthwhile is easy. Our religion gives us a safety net. You are not going to do anything unethical.”

As principal associate director for global security at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Huban Gowadia is responsible for programs that support international and domestic security including intelligence analysis, energy and homeland security, countering nuclear, chemical, biological and explosive threats. Her 25 years as a civil servant have included prestigious assignments like acting administrator at the Transportation Security Administration and director of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office at the Department of Homeland Security. She reminds herself that what she does today, should not cloud her image when she looks into the mirror tomorrow. The pride and dignity in serving the national cause is highly rewarding. The motivation to join civil service is "to serve and not to get rich.” While her religious upbringing may reinforce the need to be peaceful and her role in the security department may advocate advancement of nuclear weapons, she tries to advocate policies where nuclear weapons would not be used for destruction. "At a time when the world is on fire, we need Zoroastrian thinking to build a better future,” she urged.

After graduating from the US Air Force Academy, Rayomand Bam earned his Masters in systems engineering, focusing primarily on nuclear systems within the Air Force and the systems employed to defend the lower 48 (US states barring Alaska and Hawaii which are separated from the US mainland) from a potential ballistic missile attack. He is currently an undergraduate pilot training student at the Vance Air Force Base in Okhlahoma. Valuing truthfulness to one’s self and to those around, he remarked, "There is a fulfilment in being a part of something greater than yourself.” He referred to the advantages of joining military service: for those who find college education expensive, you get funds for higher studies. Additionally, you get to meet people and travel a lot. "Corporate America loves those who come from a military service background.”

Relevance and re-formationAmong the other breakout sessions on the second day of the Congress that Parsiana could not attend was "The Celebration of Life through Zoroastrian Ceremonies.” Color and gaiety were prominent in the room where the symbolism of auspicious ceremonies like navjotes, lagans, agharni, besna, pag ladoo, Navroz Haft Seen table, gahanbars as also solemn occasions like muktad and funeral were demonstrated and explained to the attendees. "It was a journey beyond mere observation of our ancestral rituals to uncover their timeless relevance. By deepening our understanding of these ancient practices, breathing new life into their timeless wisdom, let us honor the legacy of our forebears and forge a path forward that preserves the sanctity of our rituals while embracing the ever-evolving landscape of Zoroastrian identity,” noted the Congress brochure.

"Gateway to Zoroastrian Renaissance” brought together two Houston residents, both originally from Bombay, highlighting what they believed was Zarathushtra’s core message. Not sure whether this session would result in a heated debate, Katayun Kapadia, erstwhile president of the Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America was requested to serve as moderator.

Ervad Barjor Dastur who prefers to follow the traditional practices and rituals while serving the Zoroastrian community elaborated on the 21 Nasks (based on the 21 Avestan words of the Ahunavar or Yatha Ahu Vairyo prayer) presented by Zarathushtra to King Vistaspa of the Kayanian dynasty. He further referred to Dastur Adarbad Marespand’s 36 Setayashes in Pazand, plus other important prayers like Patet Pashemani and Patet Ravanni, and passages from the scriptures which stress on the benefits of regular prayers.

Meheryar Rivetna who holds a master’s degree in biochemistry has, after his retirement from Merck and Company, been making an extensive study of Zoroastrianism. Through his webinars and authored articles he has been endeavoring to dispel myths, heresies and alien beliefs that engulfed the Zoroastrian religion. "The Zoroastrian religion has morphed into something Zarathushtra would not recognize,” believes Rivetna to whom an understanding of Asha — truth or order in nature — is critical to understand the prophet’s message that is based on science. He recommended that there is need to re-form (revert to the original) the Gathic message of Zarathushtra rather than reform (which implies change, alteration or revision of) the belief system.

Stress and storytelling

An ordained priest and professor in the Departments of Psychiatry, Immunology and the Sylvester Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Dr Firdaus Dhabhar spoke on "Harnessing good stress and minimizing bad stress: wisdom from Ancient Zoroastrianism to Modern Science.” He has conceptualized the Stress Spectrum as a guide for maximizing the beneficial effects of good stress with the help of science and Zoroastrian teachings, and ameliorating/eliminating the harmful effects of bad stress. While short-term stress can enhance health, healing and mental/physical performance, chronic stress harms mind and body by accelerating conditions like aging, obesity, inflammation, anxiety and depression.

  2nd row: Dr Firdaus Dhabhar, Niloufer Mavalvala, Nawaz Merchant, Lila Sidhwa 

"Storytelling to feed our souls” brought together an award-winning cookbook author, along with a celebrated mystery writer and a captivating communicator to explore how personal experience and narratives can contribute to fulfilling lives.

Through her research and writing Niloufer Mavalvala showed how food can be a powerful medium for sustenance and preserving our heritage. Nawaz Merchant (aka Nev March)’s thrilling novels with depiction of enigmatic Zoroastrian characters and culture have contributed to layers of intrigue in her gripping tales. Communications, public relations and events professional, Lila Sidhwa demonstrated the profound impact of visual storytelling through brand campaigns, daily experiences or epic adventures to see the world through an imaginative, empathetic and purposeful lens.

The next report on the 18NAZC will be carried in a forthcoming issue of Parsiana.