At 19, most college students are primarily focused on lectures, assignments, and figuring out their next steps. Daniel Gupta, however, is juggling higher education with an ambitious mission: helping raise ₹1.5 crore to secure the permanent home of a 40-year-old school in Dharavi.
Along the way, he has found an unlikely collaborator to act as his research assistant, strategist, and sounding board—ChatGPT.
From College Assignments to a Fundraising Co-Pilot
Daniel’s relationship with AI began organically. Initially using ChatGPT as a student to untangle complex homework concepts and structure college presentations, he quickly realized its potential when launching Dharavi Rising—an initiative aimed at reshaping perceptions of Dharavi through education.
With zero prior experience in nonprofit management or large-scale fundraising, Daniel turned to ChatGPT for guidance. Some of the key ways the AI tool supported his mission include:
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Accelerating Research: Instead of navigating dozens of separate websites, Daniel used ChatGPT to aggregate background information and research data quickly.
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Campaign Branding: The very name “Dharavi Rising” was born from brainstorming sessions with ChatGPT, which combined various name suggestions into the final title.
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Structuring Copy and Strategy: From drafting brochures and website forms to outlining fundraising strategies, the AI helped refine the project’s copy and professional structure.
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Navigating Interpersonal Challenges: Beyond logistics, Daniel used the tool as an objective sounding board to help navigate complex interpersonal dynamics with volunteers and collaborators.
The Mission: Securing a Permanent Future for New Life School
Dharavi Rising works at the grassroots level with New Life School, a preschool that has served children in Dharavi for over four decades.
After successfully wrapping up a campaign that raised over ₹20 lakh to lease two new spaces, the team uncovered a sobering reality: in its 40-year history, the school had never owned its land. With the Dharavi Redevelopment Project underway, the stakes are higher than ever. Dharavi Rising’s current objective is to help the school purchase its own land, ensuring that the children’s education remains uninterrupted by redevelopment.
The Path Ahead: ₹1.5 Crore by December 2026
The ambition of Dharavi Rising requires a massive scaling of operations. With a target of ₹1.5 crore by December 31, 2026, the team needs to bring in roughly ₹25 lakh a month, demanding a far more aggressive operational strategy.
Despite relying heavily on AI for structure and planning, Daniel maintains a practical, human-first philosophy:
“AI only knows what you feed it… While ChatGPT is exceptionally capable, human judgment is essential to evaluate whether a suggestion should be executed or set aside.”
Balancing a core team of just four people, a small volunteer network, college classes, and a daily wake-up call at 4:00 AM, Daniel treats the initiative not as work, but as a passion. And while ChatGPT remains a vital part of his daily toolkit, the drive behind Dharavi Rising remains entirely human.
Daniel’s Top ChatGPT Tip for Students
For students looking to get better results from AI, Daniel recommends role-play prompts. Instead of asking general questions, give the AI a specific persona—such as “Imagine you are a mathematics professor…”—to receive clearer, more targeted, and context-driven explanations.
