About the Desai Foundation
Since 1997, the Desai Foundation has empowered women and children through community programs that elevate health, livelihood, and menstrual equity in rural India, cultivating dignity so everyone can dream beyond their circumstances. The Lotus Festival is our signature New England gala, and every partnership directly funds our programs on the ground.
27 years of programming · 12M+ lives reached · 30 programs across 8 states in India
The Evening
A premier gala at iconic venues
Each year, the Lotus Festival takes over one of New England’s most remarkable settings. Past celebrations have filled Gillette Stadium, the Peabody Essex Museum, the Omni Hotel, and the American Heritage Museum. Guests gather for a cocktail reception and passed hors d’oeuvres, a curated South Asian dinner, a keynote address, live entertainment, and our signature live and silent auctions. Refined, philanthropic, and set somewhere you won’t forget.
Why Partner
- Reach an accomplished community of entrepreneurs, physicians, engineers, executives, and philanthropists across greater Boston
- Showcase your brand on screen, in the printed program, and across our event communications
- Align with 27 years of impact:Â national and international press coverage, 12M+ lives touched
- Build real relationships in an exclusive, high-touch gala setting alongside celebrity guests and CEOs
Who's in the Room
An established, philanthropic network
The Lotus Festival convenes some of the most accomplished and generous people in the region for an evening built around giving.
The Guests
~450 attendees: a multigenerational mix of senior executives, founders, physicians, engineers, and established philanthropists across greater Boston and the tri-state area.
The Setting
A seated, intimate gala designed for meaningful conversation and giving, where the keynote and live auction create natural, high-value moments for partners.
Partnership Levels
Packages designed to fit your goals
Bronze
$5,000
Bronze
$10,000
Platinum
$15,000
Presenting
$25,000
Limited to one partner
Each level includes a table and recognition benefits that grow with your partnership. The exclusive Presenting Partner becomes synonymous with the Lotus Festival itself. Request the full benefits overview from our team.
What your partnership funds: 100% goes to programs
- $5,000: 1 Bal Health Mela providing screenings and care for 1,000 children, or 5 women running an Asani sanitary napkin production unit for a full year
- $10,000: A full sewing training center setup empowering 30 women per batch, or 50 menstrual hygiene awareness sessions reaching 1,500 women
- $15,000: Free Asani sanitary napkin distribution to 5,000 women for a full year, or 3 Bal Health Melas reaching 3,000 children across 3 states
Tax-Deductible Giving
The Desai Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 04-3433749). Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. For partnerships that include event tickets, the deductible portion equals your contribution minus the fair market value of those benefits.
In Great Company
and many more valued partners
On our stage and in our crowd: Jon Batiste, Jay Sean, Karsh Kale, Falu, Janina Gavankar, Payal Kadakia, DJ Rekha, and more.
As seen in: Forbes · The New York Times · GMA · CNBC · Vogue India · Marie Claire · Ms. Magazine
More Ways to Get Involved
There's a place for every kind of partner
Become a Sponsor
Choose a partnership level and receive a table, brand visibility, and recognition that scales with your support.
Host a Table
Bring your team, clients, or community together for an unforgettable evening of giving at Gillette Stadium.
Donate an Auction Item
Contribute an experience or item to our live or silent auction and get your brand in front of the full room.
Gift Bag Partner
Place your product or sample in the hands of every guest through our curated gift bags.
Promotional Partner
Amplify the event to your community, and we’ll return the favor to ours.
Not Sure Yet?
Tell us your goals and we’ll build a package that fits. Every level of support moves our programs forward.