The Asha And Sajjan Agarwal Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3.8 million
Success Rate: Not publicly available (private foundation)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies significantly - from small grants to $1.25 million
Grant Median: $63,000
Total Assets: $134 million
Geographic Focus: Primarily US (North Carolina and national), with some international grants to India and UK
Application Method: Invitation only / Trustee discretion

Contact Details

The foundation does not appear to have a public website or published contact information for grant inquiries. As a private family foundation, grants are typically made at the discretion of the trustees.

Foundation Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
EIN: 42-1747195

Overview

The Asha And Sajjan Agarwal Foundation was established in February 2008 as a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation. Founded by Sajjan and Asha Agarwal, the foundation has grown substantially over the past decade to hold total assets of $134 million as of 2024, with annual charitable disbursements of $3.82 million. The foundation's mission centers on two primary areas: education and Hindu cultural preservation.

Sajjan Agarwal came to the United States in 1976 and founded Sigma Electric Corporation in 1981, which he sold to Goldman Sachs in 2007. He currently serves as Chairman and CEO of GreenHawk Corporation, a real estate company based in Raleigh. The foundation reflects the family's commitment to educational opportunity—particularly for at-risk youth—and support for Hindu religious and cultural institutions. In 2021, the foundation launched the Agarwal Scholars Program, a signature initiative supporting grades 6-12 at-risk students to ensure access to quality education, serving 28 students as of 2023.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Agarwal Scholars Program (2021-present)

Direct support to at-risk students in grades 6-12
Focus on ensuring access to quality education
Served 28 students as of 2023
Administered by Delon Fletcher (Scholars Program Administrator)

General Grantmaking

Made 24 grants in 2024
Grant median: $63,000
Range: Small grants to $1.25 million
No fixed application deadlines or public portal

Priority Areas

Education

Scholarships and direct student support for at-risk youth (grades 6-12)
Educational institutions in the United States
Higher education institutions in India
Universities focused on Hindu studies and philosophy

Hindu Cultural and Religious Organizations

Hindu temples and cultural centers
Religious education institutions
Cultural heritage preservation
Organizations promoting Hindu philosophy and yoga

Recent Major Grants (2024)

Hindu Society of North Carolina: $1.25 million
Rishihood Foundation (India): $625,000
Hindu University of America: $300,000

Geographic Reach

The foundation makes grants across multiple locations including:

North Carolina: Raleigh, Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, Morrisville
National: Atlanta, Houston, San Francisco, Orlando, Washington
International: India (Delhi), London (UK)

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation, specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, based on their grantmaking pattern, the foundation focuses exclusively on education and Hindu cultural/religious organizations, suggesting limited interest in other cause areas.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by the Agarwal family, with leadership positions held by:

Asha Rani Agarwal - President/Director

Co-founder of the foundation
Married to Sajjan Agarwal
Resident of Cary, North Carolina

Ankit Agarwal - Vice President/Director

Son of Sajjan and Asha Agarwal
Second-generation family member in foundation leadership

Rohit Agarwal - Vice President/Director

Son of Sajjan and Asha Agarwal
Second-generation family member in foundation leadership

Delon Fletcher - Scholars Program Administrator

Highest compensated staff member ($81,952 in 2024)
Administers the Agarwal Scholars Program

About the Founders:

Sajjan Agarwal arrived in the United States in 1976 and has lived in Cary, North Carolina for over 30 years. He holds an Engineering Degree from Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India, and an MBA in Finance from Michigan State University. A pioneer in offshore manufacturing and supply chain management, he founded Sigma Electric Corporation in 1981, which supplied electrical components to major corporations worldwide with over 5,000 employees in India and the US. After selling the business to Goldman Sachs in 2007, he became Chairman and CEO of GreenHawk Corporation, a real estate company with operations across the Carolinas.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The Asha And Sajjan Agarwal Foundation operates as a private family foundation where grants are made at the discretion of the trustees. Based on IRS filings showing 24 grants made in 2024, the foundation is actively engaged in grantmaking, but grants appear to be initiated through:

Direct trustee identification of beneficiary organizations
Pre-existing relationships with educational and cultural institutions
Board member connections to the Hindu cultural community
Strategic partnerships with institutions aligned with the family's values

The foundation does not appear to maintain a public website, published grant guidelines, or an application portal.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation, grant decisions are made at board meetings according to the trustees' discretion.

Success Rates

Not applicable for public applications. The foundation made 24 grants in 2024 from annual charitable disbursements of $3.82 million, suggesting selective but substantial grantmaking focused on the foundation's core priorities.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, organizations that have received grants share the following characteristics:

Mission Alignment

Organizations must align strongly with either educational opportunity (especially for at-risk students) or Hindu cultural/religious preservation
The foundation shows particular interest in organizations that serve the Hindu American community
Educational institutions that promote Hindu philosophy, yoga, or Indian cultural heritage appear to be priority recipients

Geographic Connection

Many grants go to organizations in North Carolina, particularly the Research Triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary)
The foundation also supports national institutions with significant programs or presence
International grants focus primarily on India, particularly educational institutions

Institutional Credibility

Grant recipients tend to be established institutions with clear educational or cultural missions
Large grants ($300,000+) go to substantial institutions like Hindu University of America, Rishihood Foundation, and Hindu Society of North Carolina
Organizations benefit from having professional operations and governance structures

Evidence from Grant Portfolio The foundation's 2024 grants show a clear pattern: approximately half of grantmaking dollars went to major Hindu cultural institutions, with the remainder supporting educational initiatives. The $1.25 million grant to Hindu Society of North Carolina represents the single largest commitment, suggesting the foundation makes multi-year or capital grants to organizations with which the trustees have deep connections.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation does not accept unsolicited applications - it operates on trustee discretion and invitation only
Focus areas are narrow: Education (especially at-risk youth K-12) and Hindu cultural/religious institutions are the only evident funding priorities
Geographic sweet spot: North Carolina-based organizations, particularly in the Research Triangle, appear to have an advantage, though the foundation also funds national and international institutions
Relationship-driven grantmaking: Grants appear to stem from personal connections, board member involvement, or longstanding institutional relationships rather than competitive application processes
Significant capacity for major gifts: With $134 million in assets and $3.8 million in annual giving, the foundation can make transformational gifts ($300,000 to $1.25 million) to aligned organizations
Family foundation structure: Second-generation family members (Ankit and Rohit Agarwal) serve as VPs, suggesting long-term family commitment to the foundation's mission
Signature program: The Agarwal Scholars Program represents a direct-service approach to supporting at-risk students, showing the foundation's willingness to operate programs in addition to traditional grantmaking

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Asha And Sajjan Agarwal Foundation (EIN: 42-1747195)
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/421747195
Accessed: January 6, 2026
Grantmakers.io - The Asha and Sajjan Agarwal Foundation Profile
https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/421747195-the-asha-and-sajjan-agarwal-foundation/
Accessed: January 6, 2026
Hindu University of America - Shri Sajjan Agarwal and Shrimati Asha Agarwal
https://www.hua.edu/donor/shri-sajjan-agarwal-and-shrimati-asha-agarwal/
Accessed: January 6, 2026
Elon University - "Lessons from Leaders event features CEO of GreenHawk Corporation"
https://www.elon.edu/u/news/2024/10/10/lessons-from-leaders-event-feature-ceo-of-greenhawk-corporation/
Accessed: January 6, 2026
New India Abroad - "Raleigh-based entrepreneur Sajjan Agarwal joins Rishihood University in India as founder"
https://www.newindiaabroad.com/english/people/raleigh-based-entrepreneur-sajjan-agarwal-joins-rishihood-university-in-india-as-founder
Accessed: January 6, 2026
Grantable.co - The Asha and Sajjan Agarwal Foundation Profile
https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/the-asha-and-sajjan-agarwal-foundation-us-foundation-421747195
Accessed: January 6, 2026