Wadhwani Charitable Foundation
The Wadhwani Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1997 and based in Los Altos, California. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since June 1998. It functions as a grantmaking foundation focused on philanthropic activities with a global reach.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$155.3M
+14.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.3M
+75.1% YoY
Grant Count
13
+30.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$485K
+34.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Wadhwani Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.2M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to accelerate economic development in India and other emerging economies by creating jobs and developing skills. Primary funding areas include:
- International affairs, particularly concerning India
- Education
- Social services
- Arts
- Job creation and job fulfillment initiatives
- Upskilling and entrepreneurship support
Grantmaking
The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected organizations only, meaning unsolicited proposals are not accepted through a traditional open application process.
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds organizations across multiple regions including:
- India
- Asia
- Africa
- Latin America
- United States
- Global operations spanning 20 countries
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $155,250,222
- Total Revenues: $9,191,849–$12,100,000
- Total Expenses: $8,215,087
- Total Giving: $6,307,719
- Number of Employees: 1 (full-time equivalent)
Historical Growth: Total assets have grown from $8 million in 2010 to $155.3 million in 2024.
2023 Financial Summary:
- Revenue: $3.89 million
- Expenses: $3.79 million
- Total Assets: $136 million
- Total Liabilities: $1.72 million
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $155,250,222 | $136,031,626 | $137,425,055 |
| Revenue | $9,191,849 | $3,890,644 | $-12,839,518 |
| Expenses | $8,215,087 | $3,786,234 | $7,381,239 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $6,819,024 | $4,109,571 | $6,834,490 |
| Net Investment Income | $11,159,844 | $4,342,823 | $2,111,394 |
| Distributable Amount | $7,178,778 | $6,806,966 | $7,033,653 |
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
66 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include San Francisco Foundation ($3,700,000), Center for Strategic & International Studies ($1,000,000), Iit Bombay ($600,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN INDIA FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CENTER FOR CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PLATFORM | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $150,001 |
| CENTER FOR STRATEGIC & INTERNATIONAL STUDIES WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE SUNNYVALE, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $132,713 |
| IISC FOUNDATION ALLEN, TX | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $150,001 |
| IIT BOMBAY CUPERTINO, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| IIT DELHI FREMONT, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $150,001 |
| IIT HYDERABAD FOUNDATION FREMONT, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $150,001 |
| INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRA CUPERTINO, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $150,001 |
| INDIASPORA SAN FRANCISCO, CA | GENERAL PUBLIC SUPPORT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Romesh T Wadhwani – Director/CEO (0.5 hours per week, no compensation)
- Kathleen E Wadhwani – Secretary and Chief Financial Officer (0.5 hours per week, no compensation)
- Sunita Singh – Executive Vice President (40 hours per week, $75,000 annual compensation)
Background: Dr. Romesh Wadhwani founded Symphony Technology Group, a private equity firm. Both Dr. Romesh and Kathleen Wadhwani have committed to The Giving Pledge, pledging to give away at least half of their wealth to philanthropy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROMESH T WADHWANI | CEO | 0.5 | — |
| KATHLEEN E WADHWANI | SECRETARY/CFO | 0.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced expanded funding initiatives focused on emerging economies:
Wadhwani Foundation Announces Up to $1M Annual Funding to Boost Job CreationAnnounced up to $1 million in annual funding to boost job creation in emerging economies through the Wadhwani Charitable Foundation Grand Fund
Wadhwani Foundation Announces Up to $1M Annual Funding to Boost Job CreationLaunched initiatives to enhance school-to-work pathways in the Philippines, incorporating artificial intelligence and providing $1 million annual funding per organization
Wadhwani Foundation Announces Up to $1M Annual Funding to Boost Job CreationContinues active grantmaking with recent distributions to major institutions including The San Francisco Foundation and the Center for Strategic and International Studies
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Wadhwani Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission is to accelerate economic development in India and other emerging economies by creating jobs and developing skills. Primary funding areas include: • International affairs, particularly concerning India • Education • Social services • Arts • Job creation and job fulfillment initiatives • Upskilling and entrepreneurship support
How do I apply for a grant from Wadhwani Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 16 grants in the most recent reporting year • Typical award range: $10,001–$6,100,000 • Median grant amount: $150,000 • Recent notable grants include: • The San Francisco Foundation: $3,700,000 • Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS): $1,000,000 • IISc Foundation: $150,001 **Application Process:** The foundation indicates it makes contributions to preselected organizations only, meaning unsolicited proposals are not accepted through a traditional open …
Where does Wadhwani Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds organizations across multiple regions including: • India • Asia • Africa • Latin America • United States • Global operations spanning 20 countries
What size grants does Wadhwani Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Wadhwani Charitable Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $6.3M — an average of about $485K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Wadhwani Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Wadhwani Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.2M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Wadhwani Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Wadhwani Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 77-0450893. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Wadhwani Charitable 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.
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