The DS Foundation
The DS Foundation is a private foundation based in Miami, Florida. It makes grants to charitable organizations, including a public charity that administers donor-advised funds, a university, education-focused organizations, and organizations supporting medical research and children’s legal advocacy.
The DS Foundation at a glance
In short: The DS Foundation gave $8.7M across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $511K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 63% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,693,412
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +21.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $511,377
- -8.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $210,882,381
- +10.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (10 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The DS Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1100 Brickell Bay Drive 310850, Miami, FL 33231-1243
Phone: (248) 396-8944
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The DS Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was National Philanthropic Trust ($4.6M). Together the top 10 received $8.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 49 grants of 65 (75%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, grant dollars were distributed among recipients in Pennsylvania (53%), Florida (46%), and California (1%). Massachusetts and New York each accounted for less than 1% in the reported state-share figures.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The DS Foundation open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 16 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. 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
- In 2024 it paid out 89% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $7.8M (2023) to $10.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $8.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with The DS 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $210,882,381 | $12,706,267 | $8,975,161 | $8,693,412 | 17 | $8,825,657 | $12,631,763 | $9,967,433 |
| 2023 | $191,034,501 | $11,847,310 | $8,236,365 | $7,798,757 | 14 | $7,800,794 | $11,573,445 | $8,722,351 |
| 2022 | $165,858,321 | $6,705,349 | $10,779,847 | $10,409,502 | 11 | $10,422,727 | $6,435,929 | $8,660,287 |
| 2021 | $183,651,055 | $1,385,395 | $9,399,002 | $9,212,002 | 11 | $9,212,002 | $1,198,395 | $9,343,614 |
| 2020 | $190,288,686 | $1,266,230 | $10,571,315 | $10,303,502 | 12 | — | $1,266,230 | $9,983,182 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The DS Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. For example, National Philanthropic Trust describes its work as helping donors pursue philanthropic goals and administering donor-advised funds; the University of Miami’s mission description refers readers to its own filing. Achieve Miami says it works to expand learning opportunities for students, teachers, and education leaders. Oligo Nation says it supports medical research into oligodendroglioma brain cancer, while Lawyers for Children describes providing free legal and social-work advocacy for children in a range of cases.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 17 grants totaling $8,693,412. Individual grants ranged from $100 to $4,600,000, with a median of $2,500. The largest listed grants were $4,600,000 to National Philanthropic Trust for general operating support and $4,000,000 to the University of Miami for its Urology Institute Fund. Other listed awards included $25,000 to Achieve Miami for general operating support and two $25,000 grants to Indiaspora, for its Founders Circle and Indiaspora Forum for Good 2025. Marcy Lab Inc. also reported receiving $200 in 2024.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Bharat Desai as trustee and president; Neerja Sethi as trustee, vice president, secretary, and treasurer; and Saahill Desai and Pia Desai as trustees.
The DS Foundation is led by Bharat Desai, Trustee & President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bharat Desai
Trustee & President
Director → Trustee & President, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Neerja Sethi
Trustee, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Trustee, Vice President, Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pia Desai
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Saahill Desai
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.5 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 The DS Foundation
How much does The DS Foundation give each year?
The DS Foundation gave $8.7M across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.8M across 14 grants.
What is The DS Foundation's typical grant size?
The DS Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,500, and its average grant was $511,377, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The DS Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does The DS Foundation give grants?
The DS Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was 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).
Does The DS Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 82% of The DS Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 17) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The DS Foundation's largest grantees?
The DS Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include National Philanthropic Trust ($4,600,000), University of Miami ($4,000,000) and Indiaspora ($50,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
How large is The DS Foundation?
The DS Foundation reported $210.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.0M (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 The DS Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The DS Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does The DS Foundation 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 14, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The DS Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Florida
The Ford Foundation
New York, NY
The Ford Foundation funds organizations and initiatives working to reduce inequality and advance social justice, including work on civic engagement, civil rights, climate justice, disability rights, and technology and society. In 2024, its grants ranged from $45 to $15 million, with a median of $100,000, supporting work in the U.S. and internationally. It says most grants are identified by the foundation and it does not accept unsolicited proposals by mail, email, or phone; limited opportunities may be offered separately.
Assets
$17.5B
Grants
4,007
Total Given
$844.7M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
Publix Super Markets Charities Inc
Lakeland, FL
Publix Super Markets Charities supports nonprofits addressing hunger, homelessness and housing, youth, education, and community needs in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Kentucky. Its 2024 median grant was $2,500, though awards ranged widely; it accepts online requests from eligible organizations, with application periods varying by program.
Assets
$233.8M
Grants
3,269
Total Given
$52.5M
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Inc
Jacksonville, FL
The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida supports neighborhood strengthening, nonprofit capacity, education, older adults, the arts, and other community needs, primarily in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $5,000, while its Program Support grants offer up to $25,000; eligible nonprofits may apply to competitive programs, but donor-advised funds do not accept applications.
Assets
$708.7M
Grants
2,470
Total Given
$78.0M
Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Inc
Tampa, FL
The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay funds nonprofits through competitive grants and other programs focused on economic opportunity, environmental resilience, health and wellbeing, education, and vibrant communities. Its typical grant is about $25,000, and it serves Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties. It accepts applications through its competitive grants process and rolling Critical Needs List.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
698
Total Given
$54.3M
Gulf Coast Community Foundation Inc
Venice, FL
Gulf Coast Community Foundation funds arts and culture, civic and economic development, education, the environment, health and human services, and disaster response, with grants generally serving Sarasota and Charlotte counties, DeSoto County, Boca Grande, Lakewood Ranch, and Longboat Key, Florida. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,030 to $2,101,739, with a median of $16,251; Community Grants are capped at $25,000 per nonprofit per fiscal year. It accepts letters of inquiry for Community Grants; Catalytic and Initiative Grants are by invitation.
Assets
$533.7M
Grants
651
Total Given
$45.0M
More similar funders
More Funders in Florida
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The DS Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-ds-foundation-morg_fe548129411345b59ae7c12dcaa2508a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_412115627_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The DS Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-ds-foundation-morg_fe548129411345b59ae7c12dcaa2508a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The DS 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.
The DS Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?