Indira Foundation
Indira Foundation is a private foundation based in La Jolla, California, that funds education and mental health programs for underserved communities. It works through selected partners, including NGOs and government departments, to support practical programs addressing unmet needs.
Indira Foundation at a glance
In short: Indira Foundation gave $2.0M across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $69K), top state Massachusetts. 34% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,001,080
- +26.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $69,003
- +26.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $41,520
- Total assets
- $19,679,760
- -2.8% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (10 of 29, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (12% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Indira Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes a brief concept note covering the proposed geography, goals and objectives, and program execution, followed by an invitation to submit a full proposal if the concept fits its strategy and receives preliminary approval.
- Contact
Mailing address: 939 Coast Blvd 20A, La Jolla, CA 92037
Phone: (858) 203-3366
Website: https://indira-foundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Indira Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Central Square Foundation ($264K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 76 grants of 120 (63%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s stated mental health programs include work in India and the United States. Its 2025 grants supported projects with purposes referencing locations in India, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Ayodhya, Jodhpur, and Madhya Pradesh, as well as grants to organizations based in Massachusetts, California, Washington, and New Jersey. The filing lists grant-dollar shares by recipient state as 61% for an unspecified entry, 12% each for Massachusetts and California, 9% for Washington, and 3% for New Jersey.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Indira Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 29 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $67K; repeat grants $70K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $61K repeat.
- 62% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 50% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 149% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $571K (2021) to $2.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $2.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central Square Foundation | Supporting fln in indian states of uttar pradesh (UP) and promoting efforts for early childhood education and high-potential students in india | $263,850 |
| Harvard Medical School Boston, MA | Empower Mental Health Program | $242,643 |
| Gramin Adiwasi Samaj Vikas Sansthan Sausar | Implementation of the district mental health program (DMHP) in collaboration with government of maharashtra. | $176,650 |
| Path Seattle, WA | Aspire: advancing stakeholder-led program for improving youths' access to mental health resources and responsiveness of ecosystem | $174,385 |
| Peoples Action for National Integration | Implementation of youth mental health program in tarun block of ayodhya district. | $131,085 |
| Room to Read India Trust | Foundational Literacy Program in Jodhpur | $119,000 |
| Parivaar Education Society | Improve grade-level learning in children in tribal pocket of mp | $118,640 |
| Maker Bhavan Foundation Palo Alto, CA | Support Invent-X 2025 and STEM Education | $117,000 |
| Basic Health Care Services Trust | Healthy mind, healthy body integrating mental health in rural primary care | $89,625 |
| Akshaya Patra USA Fremont, CA | Mid-Day Meal Program | $87,200 |
Ready to take the next step with Indira Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $19,679,760 | $1,883,613 | $2,446,653 | $2,001,080 | 29 | $2,217,140 | $1,648,513 | $1,489,538 |
| 2024 | $20,243,157 | $1,648,952 | $1,954,888 | $1,584,788 | 29 | $1,769,108 | $1,237,688 | $1,442,175 |
| 2023 | $20,548,482 | $1,313,424 | $1,479,251 | $1,288,866 | 27 | $1,437,018 | $1,029,601 | $1,505,136 |
| 2022 | $20,838,474 | $15,103,945 | $1,785,012 | $1,331,336 | 26 | $1,340,664 | $602,064 | $1,525,419 |
| 2021 | $7,768,914 | $937,295 | $679,266 | $570,728 | 9 | — | $444,065 | $638,196 |
| 2020 | $7,673,253 | $1,124,208 | $830,287 | $726,451 | 20 | — | $743,419 | $534,083 |
| 2019 | $7,657,737 | $1,710,942 | $1,521,593 | $1,373,901 | 20 | — | $1,041,723 | $533,268 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Indira Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.5M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to fund long-lasting educational and mental health programs for the underserved. Its education work includes academic and nutritional foundations for young children, skilling programs, and opportunities for promising scholars. In mental health, it describes a focus on affordable solutions for youth, communities, and older people; its stated near-term priorities include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, particularly mild or moderate conditions. It also emphasizes community- and peer-based interventions, training frontline workers, and strengthening caregiver and support systems.
The foundation says it partners with NGOs, government departments, and other donors, selecting partners for domain expertise and a proven track record. Its 2025 grants included support for foundational literacy, STEM education, student opportunities, nutrition, and mental health programs. Among the grantees, Maker Bhavan Foundation describes its work as enabling STEM education in India and helping engineering colleges provide relevant tools and resources. PATH describes its mission as making health care more accessible in more than 70 countries. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not additional statements of Indira Foundation’s own mission.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $2,001,080. Individual grants ranged from $200 to $263,850, with a median grant of $41,520. Notable awards included $263,850 to Central Square Foundation for education efforts in India; $242,643 to Harvard Medical School for its Empower mental health program; $176,650 to Gramin Adivasi Samaj Vikas Sansthan Sausar for a district mental health program in collaboration with Maharashtra’s government; and $174,385 to PATH for a youth mental health initiative. Other large awards included $119,000 to Room to Read India Trust for foundational literacy in Jodhpur and $117,000 to Maker Bhavan Foundation for STEM education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Avi Nash as managing trustee and Dipak Kothari and Prashant Ranade as trustees.
Indira Foundation is led by Avi Nash, Managing Trustee since 2024 (on filings since 2019); none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Avi Nash
Managing Trustee
Trustee → Managing Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dipak Kothari
Trustee
On filings since 2023
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Prashant Ranade
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Ami Nash Shah (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sandra Nash (2019–2021) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Indira Foundation
How much does Indira Foundation give each year?
Indira Foundation gave $2.0M across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 29 grants.
What is Indira Foundation's typical grant size?
Indira Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $41,520, and its average grant was $69,003, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Indira Foundation that year got $67K on average.
Where does Indira Foundation give grants?
Indira Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 12% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (12%) and Washington (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Fremont, CA (2 grants) and San Diego, CA (2 grants).
Does Indira Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of Indira Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (4 of 29) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Indira Foundation's largest grantees?
Indira Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Central Square Foundation ($263,850), Harvard Medical School ($242,643) and Gramin Adiwasi Samaj Vikas Sansthan Sausar ($176,650), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Indira Foundation?
Indira Foundation reported $19.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Indira Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to fund long-lasting educational and mental health programs for the underserved. Its education work includes academic and nutritional foundations for young children, skilling programs, and opportunities for promising scholars. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Indira Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Indira Foundation's EIN?
Indira Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4051213. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does Indira Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS May 18, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS July 12, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 27, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Indira Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
United Way Worldwide
Alexandria, VA
United Way Worldwide funds community programs focused on youth opportunity, health, financial security, education, and disaster relief, with 2024 grants made across multiple U.S. states and internationally. Its 209 reported grants ranged from $5,100 to $736,333, with a median of $22,675. It does not state whether it accepts unsolicited grant requests.
Assets
$68.0M
Grants
209
Total Given
$11.4M
Synchrony Foundation
Stamford, CT
In 2024, Synchrony Foundation supported charitable organizations across workforce development, education, financial assistance, and giving, with grants ranging from $150 to $2.6 million and a median of $10,000. Its largest shares of grant funding went to Connecticut, New York, and South Carolina, followed by the District of Columbia and New Jersey; it does not accept unsolicited requests and funds preselected organizations only.
Assets
$72.3M
Grants
394
Total Given
$20.5M
The Yelp Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$6.2M
Grants
644
Total Given
$886K
The San Diego Foundation
San Diego, CA
The San Diego Foundation funds nonprofit work in family well-being, education, the environment, and housing, including projects, capacity building, and general support that advance equity and resilient communities. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; applicants generally must be located in San Diego County and primarily serve county residents. It offers competitive grant opportunities through its online portal, but the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.7B
Grants
1,158
Total Given
$94.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Indira Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/indira-foundation-morg_517335324c4449d786e44bb1d6fea4d2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_134051213_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Indira Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/indira-foundation-morg_517335324c4449d786e44bb1d6fea4d2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
} The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Indira Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Indira Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?