DS Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7,798,757 (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation-only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: $500 - $9,200,000
• Geographic Focus: California, New York, Florida, Michigan, India

Contact Details

• Phone: (305) 347-7273
• Address: 7274 Fisher Island Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33109
• Website: No public website
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The DS Foundation, also known as the Desai Sethi Family Foundation, is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2004 with total assets of $191 million. Founded by Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi, co-founders of the IT company Syntel (sold for $3.4 billion in 2018), the foundation focuses on creating "a better world by encouraging education, entrepreneurship and wellness for citizens of the world." The founders joined the Giving Pledge in 2025, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes. The foundation operates primarily through invitation-only grants, with a strong emphasis on educational institutions, entrepreneurship programs, and organizations supporting South Asian communities and underserved youth.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have formal grant programs but makes discretionary grants ranging from $500 to $9,200,000. Funding is awarded on an invitation-only basis through trustee discretion.

Priority Areas

• Education: Major institutional support, particularly higher education
• Entrepreneurship: Programs fostering innovation and business development
• Economic Mobility: Initiatives addressing structural barriers to advancement
• Wellness: Health and medical research institutions
• Youth Development: Programs for underserved youth
• South Asian Community Support: Organizations serving Indian American communities

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation without a public application process, they do not fund unsolicited proposals. Funding appears limited to organizations identified by trustees or through established relationships.

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Directors:

• Bharat Desai - Chairman, President, Director

  • IIT Bombay alumnus (B.S. Electrical Engineering)
  • MBA from University of Michigan Ross School of Business
  • Co-founder of Syntel
  • Board member: Harvard Kennedy School, University of Michigan Ross School of Business

• Neerja Sethi - Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Director

  • B.A. Mathematics and MBA from Delhi University
  • M.S. Computer Science from Oakland University
  • Co-founder of Syntel

From their Giving Pledge letter: "We have been blessed with the opportunity to create, to learn, and to give... Our wealth represents a responsibility to give back meaningfully."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through trustee discretion to organizations identified by the foundation or through established relationships. The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals.

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations aligned with the foundation's priorities may build connections through:

• IIT Bombay alumni networks - The foundation has strong ties to IIT Bombay, having established the Desai Sethi School of Entrepreneurship there
• University of Michigan connections - Both founders have ties to the university and regularly support programs there
• Harvard Kennedy School networks - Bharat Desai serves on the board
• South Asian community organizations - The foundation actively supports groups like Indiaspora and South Asian Youth Action
• Existing grantees - Building relationships with organizations already receiving support may provide introductions

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion without a formal timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, success factors focus on alignment and relationships:

• Institutional connections: Organizations with ties to IIT Bombay, University of Michigan, Harvard, or University of Miami have received significant support
• Geographic alignment: Focus on organizations in Michigan, Florida, California, and New York
• Mission alignment: Clear connection to education, entrepreneurship, or youth development, particularly serving underserved communities
• South Asian community focus: Organizations supporting Indian American communities or India-focused initiatives align with founder interests
• Track record: The foundation favors established institutions with proven impact
• Scale of impact: Preference for initiatives creating "long-term, systemic change" rather than short-term relief

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is an invitation-only funder - do not submit unsolicited proposals
• Best prospects are organizations with existing connections to the founders' networks (IIT Bombay, University of Michigan, Harvard)
• Focus areas strongly reflect the founders' backgrounds: technology entrepreneurship, Indian heritage, and educational advancement
• The foundation makes both very large institutional gifts ($20 million to University of Miami) and smaller targeted grants
• Geographic preference for Michigan, Florida, California, and New York, plus initiatives in India
• Emphasis on creating systemic change and removing structural barriers to advancement, particularly for youth
• Given their Giving Pledge commitment, the foundation's grantmaking may increase significantly in coming years

References

• IRS Form 990-PF filings for DS Foundation (EIN: 41-2115627), 2020-2023
• Giving Pledge Letter - Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi, 2025
• University of Miami Miller School of Medicine press release, November 2021
• IIT Bombay Heritage Foundation grant records
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - DS Foundation profile
• Foundation Directory Online - DS Foundation profile
• Forbes Billionaire List profiles - Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi
• Candid Foundation Profile - DS Foundation