Dhanam Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- Dhanam Foundation is described as focused on supporting innovation in K–12 education, though its grants also cover scholarships and fellowships, science learning, university-based student support, conservation, wildlife rescue, arts, community services and humanitarian relief, recorded as grant purposes rather than stated priorities, so check your work sits within one of these areas.
- No geographic focus is stated, so no area rules out an approach on that basis.
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and states it does not accept unsolicited requests, so it is not one to approach cold; a small nonprofit without an existing link or invitation should not send in an unsolicited request.
- Most grants to organisations are modest: about eight in ten fall between $10,000 and $1,000,000, with a median grant of $50,000, so this range is a realistic guide for sizing any eventual request, bearing in mind one very large grant went to an organisation that itself regrants to others rather than to a typical charity.
- A large share of grant dollars goes to organisations already funded in recent filings, suggesting giving is relationship-led and repeat-driven rather than open to a wide field of new applicants.
Overview
Dhanam Foundation is a US private foundation based in Palo Alto, CA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (exploratorium.edu), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation is described as focused on supporting innovation in K–12 education. Its records include grants for student scholarships and fellowships, science learning, and university-based student support. They also show support for conservation, wildlife rescue, arts, community services and humanitarian relief; these are recorded grant purposes rather than further stated priorities. Grants include both general operating support and project-specific support to charitable organisations. The filing says contributions go only to preselected charitable organisations. No public information found here specifies further eligibility criteria or invites organisations to submit requests.
Themes
- Education
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Pennsylvania and California.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 86% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 105 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
4 other states: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 58% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 86% of grant dollars went to organisations Dhanam Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- <1% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (India).
- 60% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 38 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- National Philanthropic Trust · General charitable purpose$12,000,0002024 tax year
- African Parks Foundation of America · In support of general operations$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Barack Obama Foundation · Us leaders program$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Exploratorium · To support the stability and revitalization fund$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Global Impact · In support of general operations$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Agastya USA · In support of general operations$555,0002024 tax year
- IIT Madras Foundation · In support of general operations$500,0002024 tax year
- Monterey Bay Aquarium · To support the sea otter rescue and rehabilitation program$500,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Vidjealatchoumy Shriram — Treasurer / Secretary
- Kavitark R Shriram — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $27,004,269 | $21,102,380 | $395,287,898 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $28,048,496 | $22,373,600 | $456,439,446 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $25,398,520 | $20,234,833 | $535,199,214 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Dhanam Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palo Alto, CA
Applying to Dhanam Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Palo Alto, CA