Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute
Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute is a private foundation based in Orlando, Florida. It supports activities and programs focused on preserving, transmitting, and teaching Persian culture, including through partnerships with nonprofit organizations and institutions.
Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute at a glance
In short: Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute gave $21K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), top state California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $20,500
- -97.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,250
- -96.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,250
- Total assets
- $4,289,252
- +9.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (24% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The Institute states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and currently is not accepting inquiries. Its guidelines describe letters of inquiry for consideration, with full proposals accepted only by invitation. The guidelines say inquiries should summarize the applicant’s nonprofit or academic affiliation, proposed activity and anticipated results, amount requested, other contributors and participants, intended acknowledgment, and background information for principal individuals. Applicants are also asked to include proof of 501(c)(3) public charity status. The Institute does not provide grants directly to individuals. Its policies call for accountability measures and success parameters to be established at the outset, a formal agreement before funding, and written approval before using the Institute’s or its representatives’ names in public materials.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 919798, Orlando, FL 32891-9798
Phone: (404) 813-9304
Website: https://roshan-institute.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was University of Toronto ($16K). Together the top 2 received $21K.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 16 grants of 26 (62%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Institute describes partnerships with universities in the United States and abroad. Its listed 2025 grants went to recipients in Canada and California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
How Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute gives
- Giving fell 99% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 32% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $21K (2025) to $2.8M (2023). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $21K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | General Operating | $15,500 |
| Iranian Culture and Art Club Fresno, CA | General Operating | $5,000 |
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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 | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,289,252 | $472,476 | $124,627 | $20,500 | 2 | $89,559 | $444,179 | $279,794 |
| 2024 | $3,927,942 | $174,486 | $856,638 | $760,000 | 3 | $828,379 | $141,737 | $274,491 |
| 2023 | $4,620,859 | $151,650 | $2,944,878 | $2,830,000 | 6 | $2,903,243 | $118,215 | $338,676 |
| 2022 | $7,412,650 | $1,307,879 | $2,011,298 | $1,847,500 | 8 | $1,918,605 | $1,261,862 | $453,558 |
| 2021 | $8,118,910 | $2,379,053 | $3,050,160 | $2,676,500 | 7 | — | $2,339,602 | $537,317 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute reported a distributable amount of $280K 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 Institute’s mission is to support cultural and educational activities that highlight the richness and diversity of Persian culture, foster community among Persian people and others interested in Persian heritage, and encourage intercultural communication. Its stated priorities include establishing Persian studies programs at universities, awarding fellowships and scholarships for excellence in Persian studies, and working with nonprofits that share its mission.
The Institute describes support for developing Persian studies programs, faculty positions, fellowships and scholarships, research projects, and cultural programs. Its website lists universities, museums, and nonprofit organizations among its partners.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Institute reported 2 grants totaling $20,500. The grants ranged from $5,000 to $15,500, with a median of $10,250. The University of Toronto received $15,500 for general operating support, and the Iranian Culture and Art Club in Fresno, California, received $5,000 for general operating support. In 2024, reported grantmaking totaled $760,000 across 3 grants. Its 2025 filing, the latest on this page, reports 2 grants totaling $20,500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalali as president and treasurer; Pierre Omidyar as vice president; Jan Schneider as secretary; Virginia Hinshaw as assistant treasurer; James Bickerton as director; Kaveh Abhari as board vice chair; and Arya Mirdjalali as director.
Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute is led by Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalali, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2021; none of the 7 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elahe Omidyar Mir-Djalali
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Bickerton
Director
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Arya Mirdjalali
Director
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jan Schneider
Secretary
Secretary → Director, 2023
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kaveh Abhari
Board Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pierre Omidyar
Vice President
Vice President → Director, 2023
Director → Vice President, 2024
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Virginia Hinshaw
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Marie-Pascale Peterson (2021) — Assistant Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute
How much does Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute give each year?
Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute gave $21K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $760K across 3 grants.
How large is Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute?
Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute reported $4.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $90K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $280K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute fund?
The Institute’s mission is to support cultural and educational activities that highlight the richness and diversity of Persian culture, foster community among Persian people and others interested in Persian heritage, and encourage intercultural communication. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute?
The Institute states that it does not accept unsolicited requests and currently is not accepting inquiries. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute make grants?
The Institute describes partnerships with universities in the United States and abroad. Its listed 2025 grants went to recipients in Canada and California.
What is Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute's EIN?
Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0560800. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Does Roshan Cultural Heritage Institute accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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 2021–2025
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