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 2004 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 organisations 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 organisations in education, the arts, wellness, and community building. The foundation has a particular focus on higher education institutions, Hindu religious organisations, arts and music programmes, and organisations serving the Indian-American community. Since its founding, the foundation has supported over 30 institutions including prestigious universities, cultural institutions, and social service organisations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

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 organisations)
Mid-Level Grants: $20,000 - $50,000 (median range for established organisations)
Small Grants: $251 - $10,000 (for community organisations)

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

Priority Areas

Based on historical giving patterns, the foundation actively funds:

Higher Education

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

Arts and Culture

Music education and performance organisations
Cultural institutions and performing arts centres
Organisations using music for empowerment and community building

Indian-American Community

Organisations serving South Asian communities
Hindu religious and spiritual organisations
Organisations working in India on education and humanitarian issues

Community Building and Wellness

Organisations focused on emotional and spiritual well-being
Programmes promoting community development
Humanitarian and social service organisations

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 organisation)
Children's Hope India - $25,000 (general support)

Historical Major Recipients

Since 2004, 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 Centre for Hindu Studies

What They Don't Fund

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

Organisations outside their core focus areas
Organisations without established track records
Purely local initiatives without broader impact
Organisations 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 Award-winning musician, and dedicated humanitarian. She founded the Krishnamurthy Tandon Foundation in 2004 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 Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (elected 2020) 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 organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds or proposals.

Grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees to organisations 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 organisations.

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, organisations cannot apply or reapply. Continued funding depends on the foundation's ongoing relationship with the organisation 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

Organisations 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 Centre
The foundation supports organisations with proven track records and significant impact potential
Organisations must demonstrate excellence in their field

Geographic and Community Connections

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

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
Organisations affiliated with institutions where the Tandons serve on boards (NYU, American Academy of Arts and Sciences) appear in the grant portfolio

Mission-Driven Organisations

Organisations focused on "elevating human happiness through economic and emotional empowerment" align with the foundation's stated mission
Programmes that combine education with arts, wellness, or community building are particularly favoured
Teacher development programmes (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 organisations 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 organisations, and programmes 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 organisations aligned with their mission.
Prestige Matters: The foundation gravitates toward well-established, prestigious institutions and organisations with proven impact.
New York and India Connections: Geographic focus on New York-based organisations and programmes in India, reflecting the founders' personal connections.
Long-Term Partnerships: Several organisations appear as repeat recipients, suggesting the foundation values ongoing relationships over one-time grants.

References

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