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The Katherine M Agarwal And Kamal Agarwal Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$1.3M
Grant Range
$100K - $0.6M
Success Rate
12%

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,300,000 (2024)
  • Success Rate: 12% for new applicants
  • Grant Range: $100,000 - $600,000
  • Number of Grants: 6 grants awarded in 2024
  • Geographic Focus: Education programs in India (supporting US-based nonprofits with India operations)
  • Total Assets: $18.7 million

Contact Details

Address: 11800 Sunset Hills Rd Unit 417, Reston, VA 20190-4780

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website or publicized contact email. Contact information is available through foundation databases such as Candid's Foundation Directory.

Overview

The Katherine M Agarwal And Kamal Agarwal Family Foundation was established in 2010 as a private family foundation based in Reston, Virginia. With total assets of $18.7 million and annual giving of $1.3 million in 2024, the foundation focuses exclusively on supporting education initiatives in India through US-based nonprofit partners. The foundation has significantly expanded its grantmaking in recent years, growing from making just 1 award in 2020 and 2021 to awarding 6 grants in 2024. Led by President and Chairman Margaret Jones, with Chandan Agarwal serving as Vice President for India Operations, the foundation demonstrates a strategic commitment to improving educational access and quality for underserved children in India through established, effective nonprofit organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates on a discretionary grantmaking basis with funding decisions made by trustees. All 2024 grants were awarded to organizations working on education in India:

  • Large Grants: $600,000 (1 award in 2024)
  • Mid-Tier Grants: $150,000 - $200,000 (3 awards in 2024)
  • Smaller Grants: $100,000 (2 awards in 2024)

Priority Areas

The foundation's giving is tightly focused on:

Education Access and Quality: Supporting organizations that improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children in India, including:

  • Rural education programs
  • Girls' education initiatives
  • Teacher training and development
  • Alternative schooling models
  • Child safety and protection education

Established US-Based Nonprofits: The foundation exclusively funds US-registered 501(c)(3) organizations that operate education programs in India, including organizations with headquarters in California, New York, and Texas.

Recent Grant Recipients (2024)

  • Arpan Foundation Inc (Diamond Bar, CA) - $600,000
  • Pratham USA (Houston, TX) - $200,000
  • Foundation of Teach for India Inc (Sunnyvale, CA) - $150,000
  • Friends of Teach for India Inc (New York, NY) - $150,000
  • Akanksha Education Fund Inc (New York, NY) - $100,000
  • Educate Girls (Forest Hills, NY) - $100,000

What They Don't Fund

Based on giving patterns, the foundation does not fund:

  • Organizations without operations in India
  • Direct-to-India entities (prefers US-based fiscal sponsors)
  • Programs outside of education
  • Capital campaigns or endowments (focus on programmatic work)
  • Organizations without established track records

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by a small leadership team with strong ties to India:

Margaret Jones - President and Chairman (compensated $88,000 annually for 30 hours/week)

Chandan Agarwal - Vice President for India Operations (compensated $22,000 annually for 10 hours/week). This role suggests direct oversight and evaluation of India-based programs and deep knowledge of the Indian education landscape.

John Jones - Secretary and Treasurer (compensated $16,500 annually for 7.50 hours/week)

The presence of a dedicated Vice President for India Operations indicates the foundation takes a hands-on approach to understanding the impact of their grants and maintaining relationships with partners working on the ground in India.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited applications from qualified organizations. While the foundation does not maintain a public website or published application guidelines, they are open to new applicants according to foundation databases.

Application Method: Organizations should submit a formal grant proposal by mail to the foundation's address in Reston, VA. Given the lack of online application portal, a traditional letter of inquiry or full proposal sent via postal mail is the recommended approach.

Eligibility: Organizations must be US-registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits with education programs operating in India.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Based on the foundation's small staff and discretionary grantmaking approach, applicants should expect decisions to be made on a rolling basis, likely aligned with trustee meeting schedules (quarterly or semi-annually is typical for foundations of this size).

Success Rates

According to foundation databases, approximately 12% of new applicants receive funding, making this a competitive but accessible funding opportunity for organizations aligned with the foundation's mission.

The foundation awarded 6 grants in 2024, up from 3 in 2022 and 1 in both 2020 and 2021, indicating expanding grantmaking capacity and openness to new partnerships.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. Organizations that have received previous funding appear to be eligible for renewal grants, as evidenced by repeat grantees.

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of 2024 grant recipients, successful applications share these characteristics:

Focus on Proven Models: All six 2024 grantees are well-established organizations with strong track records. Pratham, Teach for India, Akanksha, Educate Girls, and Arpan are all recognized leaders in Indian education. The foundation appears to favor organizations with:

  • Multi-year operating history in India
  • Demonstrated impact and evaluation data
  • Scalable program models
  • Strong governance and financial management

Education Innovation and Access: Successful grantees work on systemic educational challenges including alternative schooling (Akanksha, Teach for India), girls' education in rural areas (Educate Girls), literacy and numeracy at scale (Pratham), and child safety education (Arpan).

US-India Bridge Organizations: All funded organizations serve as bridges between US donors and India-based programs, providing US tax benefits while implementing work directly in Indian communities. Organizations should clearly articulate their organizational structure and how US donations translate to India impact.

Geographic Spread in India: While not explicitly stated, the diversity of grantee work (from rural Rajasthan to urban Mumbai) suggests the foundation is interested in supporting education improvements across different regions and contexts in India.

Strategic Grant Sizing: The wide range of grant amounts ($100,000 to $600,000) suggests the foundation calibrates funding to organizational capacity and specific project needs rather than applying uniform grant sizes. Organizations should request amounts appropriate to their scale and the specific initiative proposed.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Stay Tightly Focused: This foundation has a narrow mission focus on education in India. Do not apply if your work falls outside this scope, regardless of how worthy the cause.

  • Emphasize Track Record: With a 12% success rate for new applicants, demonstrating organizational credibility, program effectiveness, and impact measurement will be critical to standing out.

  • US Structure Required: Ensure your organization is a US-registered 501(c)(3) with clear operational ties to education work in India. If you're India-based, you'll need to partner with a US fiscal sponsor.

  • Match the Funding Level: Given the range of $100,000 to $600,000, carefully consider what funding level is appropriate for your organization's size and the specific project scope. The largest grant went to an established organization working on child protection education.

  • Leverage Trustee Expertise: With a dedicated VP for India Operations (Chandan Agarwal), proposals should include sufficient detail about India operations, local partnerships, and on-the-ground implementation to satisfy a knowledgeable reviewer.

  • Traditional Approach: In the absence of an online portal, prepare a compelling written proposal that follows foundation proposal best practices. Consider sending a brief letter of inquiry before submitting a full proposal.

  • Patient Persistence: The foundation's growth trajectory (from 1 grant in 2020-2021 to 6 grants in 2024) suggests expanding grantmaking. Even if unsuccessful initially, the foundation appears to be building its portfolio and may be increasingly open to new partnerships.

References

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