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The Todi Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.0M
Grant Range
$10K - $1.0M

The Todi Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,995,564 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $35,130,530 (2024)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $1,000,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Montgomery County, PA; India; South Africa
  • Foundation Type: Private Family Foundation
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 348, Gwynedd Valley, PA 19437-0348
Phone: 215-362-1217
EIN: 23-2744913
Tax-Exempt Status: 501(c)(3) since June 1996

Note: The foundation does not have a public website. No email address is publicly available.

Overview

The Todi Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1993 by Nand and Shashi Todi. Based in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania, the foundation has grown significantly over the past decade, with total assets reaching $35.1 million as of 2024. The foundation consistently directs over 99% of its expenses toward charitable disbursements, demonstrating a strong commitment to active grantmaking.

Nand Todi emigrated from India in 1970 and founded Penn Manufacturing Industries in 1978. His personal journey informs the foundation's giving philosophy. As he stated regarding homelessness: "This problem is very close to my heart. I have seen with my eyes how bad it can be and it saddened me to see that this problem exists in America." The foundation's funding priorities reflect both the Todi family's Indian heritage and their commitment to addressing critical social issues in their local Pennsylvania community, with particular emphasis on supporting underserved populations, educational opportunities, homelessness, and organizations serving South Asian communities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Todi Foundation operates as a private family foundation without formal grant programs or fixed application cycles. Recent grants demonstrate the following funding ranges:

  • Major Institutional Support: $250,000 - $1,000,000+ (e.g., Apna Ghar Ashram, Montgomery County homeless shelter)
  • Mid-Range Grants: $50,000 - $100,000 (e.g., India Development and Relief Fund: $52,500)
  • Smaller Grants: $10,000 - $25,000 (e.g., Love to Langa: $10,000)

The foundation made six grants in one recent year, indicating selective, focused grantmaking rather than broad distribution.

Priority Areas

Based on documented grants and the Todi family's philanthropic activities, priority areas include:

Homelessness and Housing

  • Supportive housing facilities for vulnerable populations
  • Programs addressing homelessness in Montgomery County, PA
  • Services integrating mental health, employment training, and benefits access

Education

  • Support for first-generation college students (Presidential Scholarships at Montgomery County Community College)
  • Educational programs for underserved children and AIDS-affected orphans
  • Schools and educational institutions

Indian/South Asian Community Support

  • Religious and cultural institutions (Bharatiya Temple - founded the organization and donated 6.2 acres of land)
  • Development projects in India through organizations like India Development and Relief Fund
  • Organizations serving South Asian communities (Apna Ghar Ashram in India)

International Development

  • Programs supporting impoverished communities in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
  • Health infrastructure and access to medical facilities in rural India
  • Programs for orphans and vulnerable children in South Africa

Cultural Organizations

  • Support for arts and cultural preservation
  • Community centers and places of worship

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's giving pattern suggests:

  • They do not appear to make numerous small grants to many organizations
  • As a private family foundation, they likely do not fund individuals directly (except through established scholarship programs)
  • No evidence of funding for political organizations or lobbying activities

Governance and Leadership

President: Nand Todi

Background on Nand Todi:

  • Emigrated from India in 1970 with "nothing" in his hands
  • Used his mechanical engineering background to establish Penn Manufacturing Industries in 1978
  • Built a leading global precision manufacturing company serving aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and medical device sectors
  • Company operates facilities in USA, India, and Singapore

Shashi Todi (spouse) is also actively involved in the foundation's philanthropic activities and grant decisions.

The foundation operates with no reported compensation for officers, suggesting a volunteer-led governance structure typical of family foundations. As a private family foundation, governance decisions are made by the Todi family trustees.

Nand Todi's Philosophy: "I wanted to return the favor" - reflecting gratitude for opportunities in America and commitment to giving back.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Todi Foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, grants are awarded at the discretion of the trustees without accepting unsolicited applications through a formal process.

The foundation identifies grantees through:

  • Personal connections and knowledge of organizations
  • Trustee initiative and research
  • Long-term relationships with institutions (e.g., Bharatiya Temple, which Nand Todi founded)
  • Direct outreach from the foundation to organizations aligned with their mission

Organizations cannot submit formal grant applications through an online portal or application form.

Getting on Their Radar

IMPORTANT: This section contains specific, documented information about the Todi Foundation's approach to philanthropy:

Direct Community Engagement: The Todi family maintains active involvement in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. They participate in community events and ribbon-cutting ceremonies for projects they support. For example, the county granted Nand and Shashi Todi a walkthrough of the Lansdale homeless shelter on December 5, 2025, alongside officials from Resources for Human Development.

Established Organizational Relationships: The foundation has demonstrated long-term commitment to specific organizations. Notably, Nand Todi founded Bharatiya Temple Inc. in April 1998 as a non-profit organization, and the Todi family donated a 6.2-acre parcel of land to the temple in November 1999. This suggests the foundation values organizations where they can have foundational involvement and lasting impact.

Intermediary Organizations: The foundation works through established intermediary organizations such as India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), which has documented that "Nand and Shashi Todi of Pennsylvania have helped thousands of underserved people through IDRF, and since 2004, they have supported various development projects for impoverished all across India irrespective of caste, creed or religion."

Addressing Critical Community Needs: The $1 million donation to Montgomery County for the Lansdale homeless shelter demonstrates the foundation's responsiveness to urgent local needs, particularly when county officials and established nonprofits are involved in project development.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, as the foundation does not operate on a formal application cycle. Major grants appear to result from extended relationship-building and project development conversations.

Success Rates

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since the Todi Foundation does not accept applications, organizations seeking to understand the foundation's priorities should note the following patterns from documented grants:

Alignment with Founder's Journey: Projects that address challenges Nand Todi witnessed personally resonate strongly. His quote about homelessness - "I have seen with my eyes how bad it can be" - indicates that firsthand awareness of need influences funding decisions.

Comprehensive Service Integration: The Lansdale shelter project funded by the Todi Foundation includes mental health, behavioral health, employment training, benefits access, and veterans services. The foundation values projects that address multiple, interconnected needs rather than single-issue programs.

Cultural and Heritage Connections: Significant funding flows to organizations supporting Indian and South Asian communities, both domestically and internationally. The founding of Bharatiya Temple and partnership with India Development and Relief Fund demonstrate sustained commitment to these communities.

Leveraging Foundation Support: The $1 million grant to Montgomery County was described as "almost the equivalent of a year's worth of expected operational expenses," suggesting the foundation makes gifts sized to have transformative operational impact.

Focus on Vulnerable Populations: Documented grants consistently support organizations serving:

  • AIDS-affected orphans
  • Homeless individuals
  • First-generation college students
  • Impoverished communities in rural India
  • Underserved populations "irrespective of caste, creed or religion" (per IDRF report)

Partnership with Established Operators: The Lansdale shelter is operated by Resources for Human Development, an established nonprofit. The foundation appears to prefer working with experienced organizations with proven operational capacity.

Multi-Year Thinking: The foundation's relationship with organizations like IDRF spans decades (documented support since 2004), indicating preference for sustained partnerships over one-time grants.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: This is a private family foundation that does not accept unsolicited applications. Organizations cannot apply through a formal process.

  • Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: All documented grants stem from personal connections, trustee initiative, or long-term organizational relationships. The foundation founded Bharatiya Temple and has supported IDRF since 2004.

  • Dual Geographic Focus: The foundation supports both Montgomery County, PA (where the Todi family lives) and India/South Asia (reflecting their heritage and personal connections).

  • Significant Gifts with Transformative Impact: Recent documented grants include $1 million (homeless shelter), $250,000 (Apna Ghar Ashram), and $52,500 (IDRF), suggesting preference for substantial gifts that enable meaningful change.

  • Values-Aligned Giving: Nand Todi's personal philosophy - coming to America with "nothing" and wanting to "return the favor" - shapes funding priorities toward organizations that create opportunity and dignity for underserved populations.

  • Multi-Service Integration Preferred: The foundation's support for the Lansdale shelter, which combines housing, mental health, employment training, and benefits access, demonstrates appreciation for holistic approaches.

  • High Ratio of Charitable Giving: With 99.1% of expenses directed to charitable disbursements, the foundation operates with minimal administrative overhead and maximum grantmaking efficiency.

References

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