Desai Sethi Foundation
At a glance
This funder mainly gives to individuals. Around 85% of its grant-making in tax years 2022–2024 went to individuals rather than organisations, so it may not be a good fit for organisational applicants.
Key takeaways
- The foundation paid out $2,090,991 in its latest filing, and about 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $50,000, with a median of $50,000, so a request within that typical band fits its usual pattern.
- Its funding is concentrated on graduate leadership education, girls' education, rural education technology and economic-mobility solutions, so the work should sit clearly within one of these themes.
- The filing shows grants mainly in California, but no geographic focus is stated, so a nonprofit elsewhere should not rule itself out on location alone.
- In the filings, 98% of grant dollars to organisations went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so a new applicant should expect a relationship-led process and look for an existing connection before writing.
- The filing gives no application method or deadline, so confirm how to make contact before investing time in a proposal.
Overview
Desai Sethi Foundation is a US private foundation based in Miami, FL.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's direct programmes support graduate education for future leaders committed to positive change in society, improved academic and economic outcomes for underserved, high-achieving, college-bound young women in Detroit, and better educational outcomes through technology for students in rural India. It also supports social enterprises and early-stage founders developing technology-enabled products and services to improve economic mobility for low- and moderate-income Americans. Its approach combines leadership training and a community of problem-solvers, financial-literacy and academic and personal support, devices and teacher training, and funding with coaching and mentoring for selected entrepreneurs. The filing thus describes education-focused programmes alongside support for solutions to economic-mobility challenges.
Themes
- Graduate leadership education
- Girls' education
- Rural education technology
- Economic mobility solutions
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in California.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 19 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 91% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations Desai Sethi Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 7 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Stanford Graduate School of Business · Scholarship - samvid scholars program - cohort 4$50,0002024 tax year
- Stanford Graduate School of Business · Scholarship - samvid scholars program - cohort 3$50,0002024 tax year
- Stanford Graduate School of Business · Scholarship - samvid scholars program - cohort 4$50,0002024 tax year
- Stanford Graduate School of Business · Scholarship - samvid scholars program - cohort 4$50,0002024 tax year
- Stanford Graduate School of Business · Scholarship - samvid scholars program - cohort 3$50,0002024 tax year
- Miami Rescue Mission Clinic · Grant - general operating support for homeless shelter$5,0002024 tax year
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology · Scholarship - samvid scholars program - cohort 5$2032024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Pia Desai — Director
- Saahill Desai — Director
- Neerja Sethi — Director, VP, Secretary, Treasurer
- Bharat Desai — Director, Chairman, President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $4,616,131 | $1,850,386 | $156,238,798 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $4,464,512 | $1,644,655 | $178,239,846 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $5,065,381 | $2,090,991 | $196,633,191 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
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Applying to Desai Sethi Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required