Inspiring Social Impact Through Innovation: The Journey of Irfan Bashir Shah

In today’s edition of Humans of Bhumi, we celebrate the inspiring journey of Irfan Bashir Shah, a former Manager of Individual Giving and now, Consultant at Bhumi. Currently, Irfan serves as the Co-Founder & CEO of DaanVeda, an AI-powered fundraising intelligence and automation platform. With a career marked by innovation, resilience, and a deep-rooted commitment to social change, Irfan’s story is one of self-discovery, leadership, and service.

Irfan’s professional path began early, during his high school years, as a journalist covering social issues in Kashmir. By grade 10, he was already conducting interviews with key figures in the state. This early exposure to societal dynamics ignited a passion for understanding complex systems, eventually leading him to pursue a Bachelor's degree in Quantitative Financial Economics on a full scholarship at the University of Rochester, New York. While there, he worked as a Digital Media Specialist to support himself, gaining insights into the intersection of Finance and Technology.

Despite the potential to launch a career in investment banking, Irfan realized that traditional finance wasn’t his calling. Instead, he was drawn to the concept of "Cause and Effect" in Economics, which led him to explore social impact and systems thinking. This shift marked the beginning of Irfan’s commitment to creating meaningful change through innovative, technology-driven solutions.

Upon returning to India, Irfan's journey took him across the country with just a backpack and an idea: to understand the landscape of social good. In 2014, after a devastating flood hit Kashmir, he spearheaded grassroots fundraising efforts, knocking on doors to raise emergency funds. This experience solidified his desire to make a difference through fundraising.

Irfan’s professional journey continued at Ketto, India’s largest crowdfunding platform, where he worked for a year. Driven by a vision to transform the crowdfunding space, he published a book on crowdfunding, which was featured in leading media outlets like BBC and The Hindu. Following this, Irfan launched Project Nile, a boutique consulting firm that supported conglomerates, startups, and nonprofits. A key achievement during this period was presenting a case study at the G20 Youth Summit in Indonesia, showcasing his expertise in nonprofit consulting.

In August 2022, Irfan joined Bhumi as the Manager of Individual Giving, where he launched the Bhumi Social Impact Fundraising Program (B-SIF) and several other ground-breaking initiatives. His tenure at Bhumi was marked by remarkable contributions, from conducting workshops for over 800 NGOs to developing a donor management system that doubled the organization’s individual giving fundraising volumes. Irfan’s passion for empowering others led him to upskill thousands of volunteers, transforming the fundraising landscape at Bhumi.

While at Bhumi, Irfan also co-founded DaanVeda, along with Tushar, a fellow Bhumian. After nearly a year of development, DaanVeda officially launched in May 2024. The platform leverages AI to democratize fundraising for non-profits, providing tools for fundraising intelligence and automation. Irfan’s journey reflects an unwavering commitment to using technology as a force for social good.

Today, as the Co-Founder and CEO of DaanVeda, Irfan continues to drive social impact through technology. His journey from journalism to social entrepreneurship exemplifies the transformative power of following one's passion. Bhumi remains an integral part of his story, as he reflects fondly on the support, friendships, and shared mission that have shaped his path.?

To Irfan, every step in his journey has been a stepping stone toward a broader vision: creating a world where social impact is accessible, scalable, and sustainable. Bhumi celebrates Irfan's contributions, honoring his spirit of innovation and leadership. Thank you, Irfan, for inspiring us all.