The Vattikuti Foundation
The Vattikuti Foundation is a private foundation based in Southfield, Michigan. Founded by Raj and Padma Vattikuti in 1997, it supports medical and surgical advancements, education, humanitarian relief, and social empowerment initiatives. Its website describes a focus on healthcare, education, and technology, with work that includes advancing robotic surgery worldwide.
The Vattikuti Foundation at a glance
In short: The Vattikuti Foundation gave $2.4M across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $184K), mostly in Michigan. 85% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,396,753
- +94.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $184,366
- +64.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $9,000
- Total assets
- $32,991,900
- -6.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 85% first-time grantees (11 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Michigan (91% 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 Vattikuti Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: 1000 Town Center 700, Southfield, MI 48075-1220
Phone: (248) 281-2513
Website: https://vattikutifoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Vattikuti Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Henry Ford Health System ($2.2M). Together the top 10 received $2.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
48 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 48 (48%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in Michigan, 5% to Florida, 3% to Ohio, and a reported less than 1% to North Carolina. The Foundation describes its work as global and its fellowship program as placing fellows at institutions in India.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Vattikuti Foundation open to new grantees?
85%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 13 grantees (85%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $1.1M. How we count
Medians: $9K first-time, $1.1M repeat.
- 8% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 166% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $1.2M (2023) to $2.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $2.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Henry Ford Health System Detroit, MI | Vattikuti Urology Department Support | $2,160,000 |
| Ohio State University Columbus, OH | Dept. of Urology Postdoctoral Resarch Fellowships Support | $82,753 |
| Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation North Palm Beach, FL | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Kristi House Miami, FL | General Operating Support | $16,000 |
| Detroit Institute of Arts Detroit, MI | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Flint Institute of Art Flint, MI | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Overton Youth Center Miami, FL | General Operating Support | $9,000 |
| Women's Emergency Network Miami, FL | General Operating Support | $9,000 |
| Miami Foundation for Mental Health Miami, FL | General Operating Support | $8,000 |
| Lotus Endowment Fund Miami Beach, FL | General Operating Support | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Vattikuti 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 | $32,991,900 | $1,675,029 | $3,933,906 | $2,396,753 | 13 | $3,542,246 | $1,363,429 | $2,136,537 |
| 2023 | $35,144,487 | $334,095 | $2,589,711 | $1,230,556 | 11 | $2,316,161 | $648,823 | $2,254,085 |
| 2022 | $37,397,634 | $571,211 | $2,691,941 | $1,582,091 | 6 | $2,356,329 | $864,709 | $2,053,373 |
| 2021 | $39,673,747 | $1,684,021 | $2,816,423 | $2,031,142 | 11 | $2,423,131 | $1,352,284 | $2,376,861 |
| 2020 | $41,456,642 | $3,349,529 | $2,467,586 | $1,906,893 | 7 | — | $3,006,738 | $2,048,903 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Vattikuti Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission for its fellowship program is to train highly scientific and versatile robotic surgeons by placing them at high-volume academic robotic centers in India under the mentorship of leading surgeons. Its website also describes the program as offering hands-on robotic surgery training, research opportunities, and professional mentorship.
The 2024 grants included substantial support for urology and robotic surgery, as well as smaller grants for general operating support and other projects. Grantees describe a range of activities: Henry Ford Health System says its mission is to improve people’s lives through healthcare and healing; Kristi House says it works to treat and prevent child sexual abuse, trafficking, and childhood trauma; and the Detroit Institute of Arts says it creates experiences that help visitors find personal meaning in art and with one another. Other 2024 grantees include organizations whose stated work involves reproductive healthcare access, mental health and substance-use services, support for women and children, student learning, and vision services.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 13 grants totaling $2,396,753. Grant amounts ranged from $3,000 to $2,160,000, with a median of $9,000.
The largest grant was $2,160,000 to Henry Ford Health System in Detroit for “Vattikuti Urology Department Support.” Other notable grants were $82,753 to Ohio State University for urology postdoctoral research fellowships; $75,000 to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation for general operating support; and $16,000 to Kristi House for general operating support. Additional grants included $10,000 each to the Detroit Institute of Arts and Flint Institute of Art, and $9,000 each to Overton Youth Center and Women’s Emergency Network.
The Foundation’s fellowship program is a training program for surgeons, rather than a grant program for outside applicants. The application dates shown for the 2026 fellowship cycle were June 15 through July 31, 2026, a past cycle as of October 2, 2026.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Raj Vattikuti as president, Padma Vattikuti as vice president, Nicholas Stasevich as secretary, Timothy Manney as treasurer, and Mahendra Bhandari as CEO.
The Vattikuti Foundation is led by Mahendra Bhandari, CEO on every filing since 2023; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mahendra Bhandari
CEO
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$150K (2023) → $271K (2024)
Raj Vattikuti
President
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nicholas Stasevich
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Padma Vattikuti
Vice President
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Timothy Manney
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $271K, to Mahendra Bhandari (CEO).
Frequently asked questions about The Vattikuti Foundation
How much does The Vattikuti Foundation give each year?
The Vattikuti Foundation gave $2.4M across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 11 grants.
What is The Vattikuti Foundation's typical grant size?
The Vattikuti Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $9,000, and its average grant was $184,366, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Vattikuti Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does The Vattikuti Foundation give grants?
The Vattikuti Foundation gives mostly in Michigan: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Miami, FL (5 grants) and Detroit, MI (2 grants).
Does The Vattikuti Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of The Vattikuti Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (10 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Vattikuti Foundation's largest grantees?
The Vattikuti Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Henry Ford Health System ($2,160,000), Ohio State University ($82,753) and Nicklaus Children's Hospital Foundation ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 97% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Vattikuti Foundation?
The Vattikuti Foundation reported $33.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Vattikuti Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission for its fellowship program is to train highly scientific and versatile robotic surgeons by placing them at high-volume academic robotic centers in India under the mentorship of leading surgeons. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Vattikuti 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 The Vattikuti Foundation's EIN?
The Vattikuti Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-3380162. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Vattikuti 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 October 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 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Vattikuti Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-vattikuti-foundation-morg_6312152efc0e4b0dbefaba33a50357b3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_383380162_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Vattikuti Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-vattikuti-foundation-morg_6312152efc0e4b0dbefaba33a50357b3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Vattikuti 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.
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