Religion is the prime motivator for most Indian Americans who give back to their native land, according to a study by R Gopakumar, who was an International Philanthropy fellow at the Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore.

The study -- Diaspora Philanthropy and Giving Patterns of Indian Americans in USA -- also establishes the economic resourcefulness of the Indians living in the US, saying that it is yet untapped for developmental purposes in India.

Released last month, the study, sponsored by the Charities Aid Foundation India, was conducted during the author's stay at the university from August to December 2002.

The study -- for which 150 Indian Americans in Washington, DC were surveyed -- found that Christians contribute more frequently and in higher amounts than Hindus. Also, there is an inverse relationship between the duration of stay and giving pattern. Those who do not donate have been staying in the US for several years and feel 'uprooted from their country of origin'. But the new arrivals attempt to maintain ties with their native country by donating generously. Within that group, IT and medical professionals give more.

The study reported that the average Indian American gives up to $300 a year for social causes in India.

At a ceremony in Delhi, where the survey was released, Gopakumar said, "Philanthropy is in the blood of every Indian American, but there are no credible modes of organising these donations and channelling them."

Gopakumar also said that Indian Americans earn significantly higher than the average American -- $49,309 against $37,152.

The study highlighted that if there is a credible organisation, preferably non-profit with online giving facility, most of the respondents are willing to give $3000-$5000 every year. Gopakumar also helped generate a database of 800 Indian associations in US and a database of prominent Indian Americans for fundraising purposes.