Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $775,572 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation-only)
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $251 - $200,000
Geographic Focus: National (US) and International (primarily India)
Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals
Total Assets: $159.6 million

Contact Details

Address: New York, NY

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly listed website, phone number, or email address for grant inquiries. They do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

Established in 2009 by Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon and her husband Ranjan Tandon, the Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation is a New York-based private foundation with approximately $159.6 million in assets. The foundation awarded $775,572 in grants across 21 organizations in 2023, with a median grant size of $20,000. The foundation's mission is to elevate human happiness through economic and emotional empowerment by partnering with organizations in education, the arts, wellness, and community building. The foundation has a particular focus on higher education institutions, Hindu religious organizations, arts and music programs, and organizations serving the Indian-American community. Since its founding, the foundation has supported over 30 institutions including prestigious universities, cultural institutions, and social service organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee-selected grants with the following typical ranges based on 2023 data:

Major Institutional Grants: $100,000 - $200,000 (for universities and major organizations)
Mid-Level Grants: $20,000 - $50,000 (median range for established organizations)
Small Grants: $251 - $10,000 (for community organizations)

Application Method: Invitation only - the foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations

Priority Areas

Based on historical giving patterns, the foundation actively funds:

Higher Education

Universities and colleges, particularly those with strong STEM programs
Institutions focused on engineering, music, and the arts
Teacher development and educational access programs

Arts and Culture

Music education and performance organizations
Cultural institutions and performing arts centers
Organizations using music for empowerment and community building

Indian-American Community

Organizations serving South Asian communities
Hindu religious and spiritual organizations
Organizations working in India on education and humanitarian issues

Community Building and Wellness

Organizations focused on emotional and spiritual well-being
Programs promoting community development
Humanitarian and social service organizations

Recent Grant Recipients (2023)

New York University - $200,000 (higher education)
The Horatio Alger Association (Virginia) - $200,000 (general support)
The American India Foundation (New York) - $100,000 (general support)
South Asian Council for Social Services (Flushing, NY) - $26,000 (general support)
Art of Living Foundation - $25,000 (educational and humanitarian organization)
Children's Hope India - $25,000 (general support)

Historical Major Recipients

Since 2009, the foundation has supported:

New York University (including major unrestricted gifts)
American India Foundation
Art of Living Foundation
World Music Institute
Lincoln Center
Teach for America
Yale University
Berklee College of Music
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Oxford Center for Hindu Studies

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions, but historical patterns suggest limited funding for:

Organizations outside their core focus areas
Organizations without established track records
Purely local initiatives without broader impact
Organizations without connection to the foundation's mission areas

Governance and Leadership

Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon - Founder and Chair Chandrika Tandon is a global business leader, Grammy-nominated musician, and dedicated humanitarian. She founded the Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation in 2004 (incorporated 2009) with the mission to elevate human happiness through economic and emotional empowerment. She is also a Trustee of New York University, Chair of the Board of NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Chair of NYU's President's Global Council, and a Trustee of NYU Langone Health. She serves as a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and as a Governor of the New York Academy of Sciences.

Ranjan Tandon - Co-founder Ranjan Tandon works alongside Chandrika in the foundation's philanthropic activities. Together with Chandrika, he made a historic $100 million gift to NYU's School of Engineering in 2015, which was renamed the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. The Tandons stated they are "great believers in STEM education, in the applied sciences, and in the analytic and creative disciplines that such an education develops."

On Their Philanthropic Philosophy: The Tandons have stated their desire to "give back to the city that has given us so much" and hope their gifts will "bring many more of us together to reinvent engineering, advance New York's efforts to become a science and tech capital, and foster the talents of young innovators, applied scientists, and entrepreneurs." Their education philanthropy has been directed mainly toward higher education in the U.S. and India, with support for both Chandrika's alma maters (Madras Christian College and the Indian Institute of Management in Ahmedabad) and institutions advancing STEM education, music, and the arts.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds or proposals.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organizations they have identified and selected based on alignment with their mission and strategic priorities. There is no application portal, deadline schedule, or public submission process available.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grant decisions are made by the foundation's board of trustees on their own timeline for preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications, so traditional success rates cannot be calculated.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - since there is no public application process, organizations cannot apply or reapply. Continued funding depends on the foundation's ongoing relationship with the organization and alignment with strategic priorities.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, examining their funding patterns reveals what attracts the foundation's support:

Alignment with Founder's Values and Interests

Organizations must align with the Tandons' stated priorities: STEM education, applied sciences, music and the arts, Indian-American community support, and spiritual wellness
The Tandons have expressed strong belief in "STEM education, in the applied sciences, and in the analytic and creative disciplines"
Connection to music, spirituality, and the transformative power of the arts is a clear pattern in their giving

Institutional Prestige and Impact

Major gifts have gone to prestigious institutions like NYU, Yale, Berklee College of Music, and Lincoln Center
The foundation supports organizations with proven track records and significant impact potential
Organizations must demonstrate excellence in their field

Geographic and Community Connections

Strong preference for New York-based organizations or those with New York presence
Support for organizations serving the Indian-American community
International grants primarily directed to India-based programs

Personal Connection and Existing Relationships

As an invitation-only funder, the foundation clearly values pre-existing relationships
Many recipients have direct connections to the founders' networks, interests, or alma maters
Organizations affiliated with institutions where the Tandons serve on boards (NYU, American Academy of Arts and Sciences) appear in the grant portfolio

Mission-Driven Organizations

Organizations focused on "elevating human happiness through economic and emotional empowerment" align with the foundation's stated mission
Programs that combine education with arts, wellness, or community building are particularly favored
Teacher development programs (Teach for America, Teach for All) reflect the foundation's commitment to educational access

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Direct application is not possible.
Focus on Relationships: Grants are awarded to preselected organizations with existing connections to the foundation's leadership. Networking within the foundation's sphere of influence is essential.
Clear Thematic Focus: The foundation consistently supports higher education (especially STEM, music, and arts), the Indian-American community, Hindu organizations, and programs combining education with wellness or spirituality.
Range of Grant Sizes: While the foundation can make transformational gifts of $100,000-$200,000 to major institutions, they also provide smaller grants ($20,000-$50,000) to community organizations aligned with their mission.
Prestige Matters: The foundation gravitates toward well-established, prestigious institutions and organizations with proven impact.
New York and India Connections: Geographic focus on New York-based organizations and programs in India, reflecting the founders' personal connections.
Long-Term Partnerships: Several organizations appear as repeat recipients, suggesting the foundation values ongoing relationships over one-time grants.

References

Information accessed December 2025