The Ds Foundation
The DS Foundation, also known as the Desai Sethi Family Foundation, is a private grantmaking foundation based in Miami, Florida. Established in 2004, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a focus on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors.
Key facts about The Ds Foundation
- EIN
- 41-2115627
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,693,412
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- Average grant
- $511,377
- Median grant
- $2,500
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (10 of 16, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Ds Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Ds Foundation's 17 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (53%) and Florida (46%). The most frequent recipient cities were Coral Gables, FL (2 grants), San Francisco, CA (2 grants), Allston, MA (2 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). 82% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is The Ds Foundation open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 16 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $1.4M. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $27K repeat.
- 38% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−6%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$8.7M
+11.5% YoY
Grant Count
17
+21.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$511K
-8.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement on record. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports:
- Education
- Science and STEM education
- Human services
- Philanthropy and grantmaking
Grantmaking
The DS Foundation maintains significant grantmaking capacity with typical award amounts ranging from $100 to $9,200,000.
Ready to take the next step with The Ds Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in:
- Florida
- New York
- California
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 17 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $191 million
- Total Expenses: $8.24 million
- Total Revenue: $11.8 million
- Total Liabilities: $0
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $210.88 million
- Total Giving: $8.69 million
The foundation maintains a strong financial position with no liabilities and consistent annual giving capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include National Philanthropic Trust ($4,600,000), University of Miami ($4,000,000), Indiaspora ($50,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NATIONAL PHILANTHROPIC TRUST JENKINTOWN, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $4,600,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI CORAL GABLES, FL | UROLOGY INSTITUTE FUND | $4,000,000 |
| ACHIEVE MIAMI CORAL GABLES, FL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| INDIASPORA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | FOUNDERS CIRCLE | $25,000 |
| INDIASPORA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | INDIASPORA FORUM FOR GOOD 2025 | $25,000 |
| PRESIDENT & FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE ALLSTON, MA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $4,501 |
| LAWYERS FOR CHILDREN NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,505 |
| TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRINCETON, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,501 |
| FASPE NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
| OLIGO NATION SEBASTAPOL, CA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,500 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bharat Desai | Trustee, President | 2 | — |
| Neerja Sethi | Trustee, VP, Secretary, Treasurer | 3 | — |
| Saahill Desai | Trustee | 0.5 | — |
| Pia Desai | Trustee | 5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting research and educational initiatives, with recent grant announcements and scholarship program offerings through the Samvid Scholars initiative.
Announcing DSF\u2019s 2025 Grant Awards - Dravet Syndrome FoundationSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Ds Foundation fund?
The foundation does not have a publicly stated mission statement on record. However, based on its grantmaking activity, the foundation supports: • Education • Science and STEM education • Human services • Philanthropy and grantmaking
How do I apply for a grant from The Ds Foundation?
The DS Foundation maintains significant grantmaking capacity with typical award amounts ranging from $100 to $9,200,000. Recent grantmaking activity includes the **Samvid Scholars** program, a merit-based scholarship and leadership initiative for mission-driven graduate students committed to positive social change. This program provides financial support for tuition and fees along with two years of leadership development, mentorship, and access to a community of changemakers. The program offers…
Where does The Ds Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking is concentrated primarily in: • Florida • New York • California • Massachusetts
What size grants does The Ds Foundation award?
In 2024, The Ds Foundation awarded 17 grants totaling $8.7M — an average of about $511K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Ds Foundation's EIN?
The Ds Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-2115627. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Ds Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.