Desai Sethi Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,500,000 - $1,650,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Program-specific (varies)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000 (typical), up to $20 million for major institutional commitments
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Florida (Miami) and Michigan (Detroit), with international work in India

Contact Details

• Phone: (305) 347-7273
• Address: 1100 Brickell Bay Drive Suite 310850, Miami, FL 33231
• Samvid Scholars Program: samvidscholars.org

Overview

The Desai Sethi Foundation Inc (EIN: 90-0820145) is a private operating foundation established by billionaire philanthropists Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi, who have signed the Giving Pledge committing the majority of their $1.3 billion wealth to philanthropy. With total assets of $178 million, the foundation distributes approximately $1.5-1.6 million annually through 52-88 grants, with a median grant size of $25,000. The foundation operates with a dual approach: delivering direct programs like the Samvid Scholars graduate fellowship and making strategic grants to educational institutions, community organizations, and social enterprises, primarily focusing on underserved youth in Florida and Michigan.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Samvid Scholars Program: Up to $50,000/year for two years (graduate students committed to social change) - Public application at samvidscholars.org
• DSF Social Impact Fellowship: Two-year fellowships in Detroit area through Venture for America partnership
• Community Resilience Prize: Up to $5,000 (COVID-19 response, expanded from Detroit to New York and Miami) - Application-based with community voting
• Techstars Economic Mobility Accelerator: Support for companies working on economic mobility - Through partnership application
• DEEP-Shaala Partnership: $3.9 million commitment over four years for education in Gujarat, India

Priority Areas

• Education for underserved youth (K-12 through graduate)
• Economic mobility and entrepreneurship
• Healthcare and wellness initiatives
• Social enterprise development
• Community development in Detroit and Miami
• Youth development programs

What They Don't Fund

• General operating support outside focus areas
• Individual requests outside established programs
• Organizations outside geographic focus areas (unless through strategic partnerships)

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Bharat Desai - Chairman and President (Founder, uncompensated)
• Neerja Sethi - Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer (Co-founder, uncompensated)
• Saahill Desai - Board Member
• Pia Desai - Board Member

The founders have committed to the Giving Pledge, dedicating the majority of their wealth to philanthropy with a focus on education and economic mobility for underserved populations.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation operates through a mixed approach:

Public Application Programs:

• Samvid Scholars: Apply at samvidscholars.org (U.S. citizens or DACA recipients with 3.50+ GPA)
• Community Resilience Prize: Application-based with specific deadlines and community voting component
• DSF Social Impact Fellowship: Apply through Venture for America partnership

Note: The foundation does NOT have a general unsolicited grant application process. Most grants outside specific programs are made through strategic partnerships or trustee discretion.

Getting on Their Radar

• Partner with established organizations in Florida (Miami area) or Michigan (Detroit, Hamtramck, Highland Park)
• Focus on programs serving underserved youth or promoting economic mobility
• Consider partnerships with their existing grantees like Urban Neighborhood Initiative or educational institutions
• Align with their interest in cross-sector collaboration and social enterprise

Decision Timeline

Program-specific; no general timeline available for discretionary grants

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed

Reapplication Policy

Not specified; program-dependent

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects and the foundation's strategic approach:

• Geographic alignment is critical: Focus on Florida (especially Miami) or Michigan (especially Detroit area)
• Youth focus wins: Programs serving underserved, high-achieving young people align with their mission
• Cross-disciplinary approaches valued: The Samvid Scholars program specifically seeks cross-disciplinary future leaders
• Economic mobility emphasis: Projects that create pathways to economic advancement receive priority
• Partnership approach preferred: Foundation works through strategic partnerships rather than one-off grants
• Scalability matters: Programs like DEEP-Shaala that can impact thousands of students receive major commitments
• Local community connection: Detroit-area projects that emerged from COVID-19 community needs received support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is primarily an operating foundation that runs its own programs - general unsolicited applications are not accepted
• Apply to specific programs (Samvid Scholars) if eligible, or seek partnership opportunities for aligned initiatives
• Geographic focus on Miami and Detroit is non-negotiable for most grants
• Education and economic mobility for underserved youth is the core mission
• The foundation prefers multi-year, transformative commitments over small one-time grants
• Building relationships with existing partners (Venture for America, American India Foundation) may provide pathways to support
• Major institutional gifts ($20M to University of Miami) suggest openness to transformative educational investments

References

• Charity Navigator Foundation Profile (EIN: 900820145) - Accessed March 2024
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990-PF filings 2021-2023
• Cause IQ - Desai Sethi Foundation Inc organizational data
• Inside Philanthropy - "Bharat Desai & Neerja Sethi: Grantmaking" profile
• University of Miami News - "$20 Million Commitment Creates Desai Sethi Urology Institute" (February 2022)
• American India Foundation - DEEP-Shaala Partnership Announcement (2024)
• Michigan Chronicle - "DSF Social Impact Fellowship Launch" (June 2020)
• Samvid Scholars Program Website (samvidscholars.org)
• The Giving Pledge - Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi Pledge Letter
• Grantmakers.io - Foundation profile and grant data
• Instrumentl - 990 Report Analysis (November 2025)