Desai Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Desai Foundation works mainly in India to support women, girls, health and education. A few projects in the U.S. have also received support.
IP TAKE: This funder aims to improve the lives of the people, especially women and children, of rural India. It runs many signature programs with organizational partners. This funder does not appear to accept applications for funding.
PROFILE: Founded in 1997, the Desai Foundation was established by technology entrepreneur Samir Desai and his wife, Nilima. The family has ties to India, the Boston area, and Morningside Heights and Harlem, two New York City communities near Columbia University. The Desai Foundation has evolved into a public charity, which now seeks to "[e]mpower women and children through health and livelihood in India and the U.S." The foundation conducts a wide-variety of grantmaking supporting women and girls, global development, education and public health.
Grants for Women and Girls
Women’s and girls’ programs in India represent a significant portion of Desai’s grantmaking. In this area, the foundation has focused on employment, vocational training and education. Its largest program, the Asani Sanitary Napkin Program, teaches rural women to make and sell sanitary napkins, providing important vocational opportunities and health resources to rural women. Another signature program trains women for jobs in the textile industry by teaching them how to sew. The foundation has also established a secondary school, Lok Vidyalaya, that prioritizes science education and aims to enroll at least as many girls as boys each year. The foundation has partnered with several organizations in India to provide vocational training to women in fields including jewelry making, cosmetology, English and technology. Past partners include IIT Gandhinagar and the Shri Yoganand Saraswati Education & Medical Relief Trust.
Grants for Global Development
With some overlap with its women’s programs, the Desai foundation supports a range of vocational and health programs in India that aim to help underserved people lead prosperous and healthy lives. One signature program offers courses and camps in basic health and hygiene to rural communities. Course topics include preventative care, vaccinations, nutrition and menstruation. The Desai Foundation has served the rural area of Valsad in the western state of Gujarat by establishing a high-quality K-12 school that is attended by students from 20 rural villages in the area. The foundation also partners with several Indian organizations to provide classes in basic computer literacy to rural communities. Past grantees in this area include the Gram Vikas Trust, the Diwaliben Trust and Untdi Vibhag Kelavani Mandal.
Other Grantmaking Opportunities
The Desai Foundation’s philanthropic work in the U.S. is mainly limited to Massachusetts and New York. In the Boston area, the foundation runs seminars that help Asian immigrants navigate the U.S. health industry and to understand the importance of preventative care. Another program helps families of Indian background find resources for last rites of various Indian cultural traditions. In New York, the foundation supports the Community Impact program at Columbia University. Through this program, Columbia students become involved with nearby underserved communities through volunteer work in health and vocational education.
Important Grant Details:
Because most of its philanthropy takes place in India, it is difficult to ascertain how much this funder gives away on a yearly basis. In the U.S., its yearly grantmaking amounts to less than $100,000 a year. For information about its funded projects, see the foundation’s program page.
This funder does not appear to accept unsolicited proposals for funding. General inquiries may be directed to foundation staff via email or by telephone at 781-270-3655.
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