Desai Sethi Foundation Inc
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Miami, Florida. Its 2024 filing describes programs supporting graduate education and leadership development, economic mobility, and academic and personal support for high-achieving, college-bound female students in Detroit.
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Desai Sethi Foundation Inc gave $2.1M across 69 grants in 2024 (avg $30K), top state Connecticut. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,090,991
- +27.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 69
- -65.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $30,304
- +268.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $196,633,191
- +10.3% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Connecticut (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Desai Sethi Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The filing directs applicants to the Samvid Ventures social enterprise page for the application process, submission deadlines, and award restrictions and limitations.
- Contact
Application contact: Gemma Lenowitz
Mailing address: 866 United Nations Plaza Unit 555, New York, NY 10017-1855
Phone: (646) 480-9321
Email: gemma@samvid.ventures
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Desai Sethi Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Harvard Medical School Katelyn Li ($50K). Together the top 10 received $468K.
Organizations only. It also paid 53 grants to individuals ($1,570,798), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
380 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 296 grants of 380 (78%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars went to recipients in Connecticut (34%), California (27%), Massachusetts (27%), Michigan (9%), and Florida (3%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 69 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Desai Sethi Foundation Inc gives
- Giving grew 40% from 2021 to 2024. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.5M (2021) to $2.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 69 grants totaling $2.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 38 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,461,903 |
| Harvard Medical School Katelyn Li Boston, MA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 3 | $50,000 |
| Harvard Medical School AVI Jonah CO Boston, MA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 3 | $50,000 |
| Harvard Medical School Brady Hansha Boston, MA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 3 | $50,000 |
| Harvard Medical School Henrike SCHM Boston, MA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 3 | $50,000 |
| Harvard Medical School Siona Prasad Boston, MA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 3 | $50,000 |
| Harvard Medical School Faraan Rahim Boston, MA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 4 | $50,000 |
| Stanford University George Saba Stanford, CA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 4 | $50,000 |
| Yale School of Medicine Devaughn El New Haven, CT | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 4 | $50,000 |
| Harvard Medical School Arnav LAL Boston, MA | Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 4 | $34,897 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $196,633,191 | $8,847,213 | $5,065,381 | $2,090,991 | 69 | $7,805,091 | $8,811,331 |
| 2023 | $178,239,846 | $8,196,530 | $4,464,512 | $1,644,655 | 200 | $5,466,403 | $8,205,418 |
| 2022 | $156,238,798 | $5,314,422 | $4,616,131 | $1,850,386 | 59 | $5,322,524 | $5,057,152 |
| 2021 | $167,397,052 | $1,318,684 | $6,464,491 | $1,498,159 | 52 | $6,366,568 | $1,111,566 |
| 2020 | $171,305,655 | $1,026,148 | $1,200,125 | — | — | — | $979,906 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s filing describes Samvid Scholars as investing in graduate education for future leaders committed to positive social change. The program combines tuition and fee support for up to two years of graduate school with leadership training, a community of problem-solvers, and programming focused on service.
The filing also describes the Techstars LMI Economic Mobility Accelerator powered by Samvid Ventures, which aims to accelerate technical and business expertise for products and services intended to improve economic mobility for low-to-moderate-income Americans. Samvid Young Leaders, formerly DSF Scholars, works with underserved, high-achieving, college-bound female students in Detroit through a four-year program involving financial literacy training, funding, and academic and personal support.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 69 grants totaling $2,090,991. Grants ranged from $203 to $100,000, with a median of $25,000. The largest listed awards were Samvid Scholars Program (Cohort 3) scholarships paid through graduate schools, including one $100,000 and three $75,000 awards through Yale Law School and a $62,500 award through Stanford Medicine. Other listed scholarships included awards of $50,000 each to students at Harvard Law School and Harvard Medical School.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bharat Desai as director, chairman, and president; Neerja Sethi as director, vice president, secretary, and treasurer; and Saahill Desai and Pia Desai as directors.
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc is led by Bharat Desai, Director, Chairman & President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bharat Desai
Director, Chairman & President
Director → Director, Chairman & President, 2022
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neerja Sethi
Director, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Director, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
12 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pia Desai
Director
On filings since 2020
36 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Saahill Desai
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Desai Sethi Foundation Inc
How much does Desai Sethi Foundation Inc give each year?
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc gave $2.1M across 69 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.6M across 200 grants.
What is Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $30,304, across 69 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Desai Sethi Foundation Inc give grants?
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's top state is Connecticut, with 34% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (27%) and Massachusetts (27%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (8 grants), Stanford, CA (2 grants) and New Haven, CT (2 grants).
Does Desai Sethi Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 1% of Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 69) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Award for Financial Support - Samvid Young Leaders Program" (21 grants), "Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 4" (20 grants) and "Scholarship - Samvid Scholars Program - Cohort 3" (19 grants).
Who are Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Harvard Medical School Katelyn Li ($50,000), Harvard Medical School AVI Jonah CO ($50,000) and Harvard Medical School Brady Hansha ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 53 grants to individuals ($1,570,798), which are not listed by name. Together they received 7% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Desai Sethi Foundation Inc?
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc reported $196.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $8.8M.
What does Desai Sethi Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing describes Samvid Scholars as investing in graduate education for future leaders committed to positive social change. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Desai Sethi Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's EIN?
Desai Sethi Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 90-0820145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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