The Desai Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and children through community programs and initiatives. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to create lasting change and provide opportunities for growth and development.
We focus on empowering women by providing vocational skills training and support to help them become self-reliant. From vocational skill training to entrepreneurship programs, we aim to foster independence and create a sustainable future.
We believe in action. We believe in making a difference, one step at a time. Through our various projects, we strive to improve access to health, livelihood, and menstrual equity for those who need it most.
But we don’t stop there. Our commitment extends to children as well. We believe that every child deserves a chance to succeed. That’s why we provide educational support which includes real time exposure and foundational building blocks, alongside health support and mentoring programs to help them cultivate dignity and reach their full potential.
We are driven by a sense of purpose and guided by our core values: compassion, integrity, and collaboration. Our dedicated team works tirelessly to create a real, tangible impact in the communities we serve.
Our Impact
8.2 MILLION
People Have Been Impacted By Our Programs
3,300+
Communities Reached
61,000+
Volunteer Hours Donated At Community Impact At Columbia University
6.9 MILLION+
Sanitary Napkins Produced
21,000+
Children Have Attended Our Summer Camps
7,000+
Children Have Attended Our Health Camps
66,500+
Adults Benefited Through Health Camps
12,600+
Students Have Been Taught How to Use a Computer
29,600+
Women Have Received Vocational Training
10,700+
Total Students at Lok Vidyalaya School From 2013-2023
1
Ranking of Our Science & Math Secondary School in the Region
7,600+
Women Have Been Taught to Sew
Our Story
In 1997, the Desai Foundation’s story began – ignited by the vision of Samir A. Desai and Nilima Desai. Their mission was simple yet profound: to give back to the communities that had shaped them.
Desai, a tech entrepreneur, focused their efforts in two geographic areas – the place that was home, and the place that is now home. Their efforts focused on the Metro Boston & Harlem, NY areas, as well as the rural communities of Gujarat.
In its first decade, the Desai Foundation built strong partnerships with its partners on the ground and began to build innovative, impactful, and sustainable programming.
After they tested their programs, they converted to a public non-profit to scale and expand their work. In 2014, it became a public, programmatic organization implementing 15 programs in Gujarat. Today, the Desai Foundation operates in 8 States across India, implementing over 30 programs, impacting nearly 7 million lives.
We believe that the best solutions for impact come from within the community itself. It’s why our work focuses on cultivating the dignity of the people we serve by strengthening its leadership and building sustainable programming so that everyone can dream beyond their circumstances.
Name:
MEET GEETABEN
I’m Geetaben Patel from Pardi village, Valsad district. At 45, I’ve faced many challenges but always believed in staying strong. I used to work with a group that helped people, but COVID-19 changed everything, and I lost my job. Then, I met the Desai Foundation two years ago, and I really liked their vision. I joined them, and now I’m happy, energetic, and inspiring those around me. My story is about staying strong, finding new ways, and caring for others. It shows that one person’s determination can make life better for many.
Name: Sohani Jat
Residing in Nohata, Rajasthan
MEET SOHANI JAT
I’m Sohani Jat, 20, from Nohata village, Rajasthan. My family relies on farming, and my parents are illiterate. Due to our economic situation, I had to halt my education after the 12th grade. Until recently, I used cloth during my periods, unaware of proper menstrual hygiene practices.
But a Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) session through The Desai Foundation Trust’s Heroes for Humanity program changed everything. I learned about menstrual hygiene, the menstrual cycle, and the importance of good hygiene to prevent diseases. I wholeheartedly appreciate the organization’s efforts and urge them to continue the MHM Awareness program.
Name: Jyoti Yadav
Residing in Tonk, Rajasthan
MEET JYOTI
I’m Jyoti Yadav from Jhilai village in Rajasthan. I’m 19 years old, studying in my final year of college. My parents are farmers, and life is tough.
During the pandemic, things got even harder. I didn’t know much about menstrual hygiene, and nobody talked about it in our village. But thanks to a session by the Heroes for Humanity program, I learned why it’s so important. Now, I use sanitary pads, and I want to tell other women about it too. I’m grateful for the help and hope they continue this initiative.
Name: Payal Pareekh
Residing in Jhilai, Rajasthan
MEET PAYAL
I’m Payal Pareekh, a 20-year-old from Jhilai village in Rajasthan. I completed my 12th standard, but I didn’t know much about managing money or even the importance of having a bank account. Then, someone from the Desai Foundation Trust came to our village and talked to us about financial literacy. They explained how to save money, the different types of bank accounts, and how to avoid scams.
I was so happy to learn about this. It made me feel more confident and in control of my finances. Now, I know how to make better decisions with my money. Thanks to the Desai Foundation Trust for teaching me these important things.
Name: Sowmiya
Residing in Yercaud, Tamil Nadu
MEET SOWMIYA
I’m Sowmiya, 18, from Yercaud, Tamil Nadu, studying B.Sc. Maths. My parents can’t read or write, and I have siblings with limited education. I faced a scholarship application issue due to the lack of a PAN card, and the deadline was looming. The Desai Foundation Trust’s Heroes came to my rescue, explaining its importance and helping me apply.
Their support was incredible. I got my PAN card in time, securing the scholarship that aids my education. I’m grateful for their help and even guided my college friends. My family and I extend a big thanks to the Desai Foundation Trust.
Name: Bihar Goyal
Residing in Madhya Pradesh
MEET BIHAR
Bihar Goyal, a 30-year-old from Lonsara Khurd village in Madhya Pradesh, is supporting his family through daily-wage farm labor. The Desai Foundation’s help desk camp in his village provided valuable assistance: PAN cards, Ayushman cards, and e-Shramik cards.
Bihar registered for a labor card, but an accident with a tractor left him with a severe leg injury. His labor card provided instant relief of Rs. 2 Lakhs and enrollment in the Economic Benefit Scheme, offering Rs. 1,000 per month. He’s grateful for the Desai Foundation’s Heroes for Humanity program, benefiting from the housing scheme associated with the labor card. Bihar is thankful for the Desai Foundation’s unwavering support.
Name: Preet
studying in Joravasan school
MEET PREET
I am Preet, I am studying in 6th STD in Joravasan school. All the children from my school attended Bal Health Mela at Shantaben Vidhyabhavan. I got my dental check-up, bad habit, good habits workshop, use of a first aid kit, good food-bad food and most important information on primary health care.
Name: Padma
Residing in Marathikoppa
MEET PADMA
Padma, a resilient 61-year-old from Marathikoppa, Sirsi. Her vision challenges didn’t deter her dedication to work. But daily tasks and commuting became difficult due to her blurring vision. Padma attended an eye checkup camp by the Desai Foundation and partners. Thorough examinations revealed cataracts in her right eye.
On May 1, 2023, she had a successful cataract surgery, transforming her life. Now, she confidently navigates even at night, free from vision challenges. With your support, the Desai Foundation empowers individuals like Padma, ensuring equal opportunities for all to thrive.
Name: Renu Naruka
Residing in Bhanwata village, Rajasthan
MEET RENU
I’m Renu Naruka, a 21-year-old from Bhanwata village, Rajasthan. After facing challenges, I had to discontinue my education after the 8th grade. But I didn’t give up on my dreams. Later, I resumed my studies and started a BA degree at a Niwai college. Here’s where the HFH program became a game-changer. I became a Community Facilitator and realized the importance of computer literacy.
I joined the Computer Skill Training program, which meant a daily 10-kilometer journey. Before this, I didn’t even know how to start a computer. But after three months of dedication, I gained essential computer skills. Thanks to this opportunity, I’ve opened up new horizons and feel more confident about my future.
Name: Shital
Residing in Selu block, Parbhani
MEET SHITAL
I’m Shital, a 25-year-old housewife from Selu block, Parbhani district. After facing family responsibilities following my marriage, I couldn’t pursue my dreams. However, with my husband’s support, I joined beautician classes at SKF office in Selu.
I fulfilled my dream of becoming a makeup artist two years after our daughter was born by completing a 3-month beautician training course. My husband encouraged me to start a home-based beauty parlor. For the past 3-4 months, I’ve been earning 2000 to 3000 Rupees monthly while taking care of my child and managing household chores.
Name: Divya
Residing in Korlakatta
MEET DIVYA
I’m Divya, a resident of Korlakatta village in Sirsi. My family faced tough times due to my father’s paralysis and financial struggles. I always had a passion for sewing, but family circumstances prevented me from pursuing it as a job. Fortunately, the foundation organized a sewing training program in Halagadde Panchayat, which I eagerly attended from February 23 to April 23, 2023.
During the training, I gained valuable sewing skills, allowing me to create various garments like blouses, kurtas, and baby frocks. What’s even better is that I can do this work from the comfort of my home. In just one month, I managed to earn ₹15,000 by taking sewing orders from others.
We were beyond honored to have former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, visit the programing of the Desai Foundation! During the visit in Gandhinagar, Secretary Clinton met 40 Heroes from Heroes for Humanity, many of whom shared their stories. We were also thrilled to share our…
As one of the longest running Diwali parties in NYC, Desai Foundations Diwali on the Hudson is having its tenth anniversary in 2023 – a landmark celebration! Desai Foundation also expanded to Karnataka and achieved impacting nearly 7 million people…
Desai Foundation brought its programming to Odisha and was proud to reach 25 years of programmatic success, having impacted over 5 million people since going public in 2014 with 31 programs, produced 3.7 million Asani sanitary napkins, served 2,500 communities,…
In the midst of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Desai Foundation pivoted to address the devastating effects it was having in India by developing the Heroes for Humanity (HFH) Program with support from S.P. Hinduja Banque Privee. In its first year, the…
Various campaigns were implemented in 2020 to encourage international attention and action on various COVID-19 and menstrual disparities in India and beyond. These include Masks of Hope, The Bloody Truth Campaign, and more. The Desai Foundation was finding other ways…
The Asani Sanitary Napkin Program, Summer Camps, Hygiene Training Program, Health Camps, Vision and Gynecological services, and Bal Health Mala were all expanded to Rajasthan and Maharashtra in 2019….
Pledge Your Period is an awareness campaign designed to strip away the shame around periods, helping to end the cycle of period stigma and poverty; With this campaign, which takes place across social media platforms, more than 37 million people…
Perhaps the most notable program to date, the Asani Sanitary Napkin Program was brought to reality in 2017, giving women in rural India the opportunity to fulfill their menstrual product needs in an accessible way while also providing them training…
To better impact people on the ground in India, and to comply with the new regulations, the Desai Foundation Trust was born in 2016 with its headquarters in Navsari, Gujarat. Also notable in this year, Desai Foundation started its…
By 2014, Desai Foundation, which at the time was in one state and 250 villages, made the unusual decision to pivot from a family foundation to a public one in order to grow and expand its programs. We converted to…
In 2011, Desai Foundation made new commitments to its programs in India with a focus on education and health, while also expanding in Gujarat from Vapi to Gandhinagar. Desai Foundation also inaugurated Shantaben Vidyabhavan, a school that offered STEM classes…
By 2003, Desai Foundation entered Gujarat, India with a partnership with Hansa Community Development Center. Programs launched in rural India on health, education, and livelihood and over 9,000 people were impacted by them….
In 1997, Desai Foundation (then The Desai Family Foundation) was born to support health, livelihood and preserve Indian culture. It was designed to support programs both in the United States (specifically Massachusetts & New York), and India (specially Gujarat).The organizations…
This comprehensive document outlines our work, impact, objectives, approach, and goals in the current year and moving forward. We hope you take a few moments to learn about our programs in India.
Our Programs
Explore Our Programs
At the Desai Foundation, our commitment to fostering meaningful impact drives us to design and implement a diverse range of programs that touch the lives of individuals and communities.
Our programming focused on health, livelihood, menstrual equity, and community engagement. We do this by ensuring that our programs cultivate dignity and create an impact for the people we serve. Through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, we create lasting change that resonates far beyond our projects’ boundaries.
Heroes for Humanity
Heroes for Humanity is a transformative COVID relief and recovery initiative launched in seven states in rural India by the Desai Foundation in partnership with S.P. Hinduja Banque launched in June of 2021. Each of our nearly 500 Heroes have been hired,…
Asani Sanitary Napkin Program
The Asani Sanitary Napkin Program trains women in rural India to manufacture and distribute sanitary products. Due to the inaccessibility of sanitary napkins and health facilities in many rural communities, there remains a lack of information regarding menstrual hygiene-in fact…
Kids Health Camps
Bal Health Mela is a fun-filled health fair for children. We serve 2,000 children at a time through these fairs. Medical services and facilities are inadequate in rural India which increases the rate of health risks amongst children…
Meet our dynamic team, spanning across the United States and India. United by a shared passion to make a genuine impact on communities in rural India, our team is a testament to our commitment and dedication. Get to know the individuals driving our mission and witness our team’s continuous growth.
Our Team
Board of Directors
Leadership Council
Advisors
Our Team
Samir Desai
Founder/CFO
Megha Desai
President
Mittal Gohil
Executive Director
Yati Desai
Regional Director
Manoj Panda
Director of Development
Divyesh Markana
Development Manager
Mehrin Ahmed
Marketing Manager
Rachel Wheeler
Asst. Marketing Coordinator
Colby Siegel
Partnerships & Special Projects
Pratik Parekh
Sr. Program Manager
Pranav Pratap Singh
Program Manager
Atul Singh
Program Manager
Ravi Patel
Program Manager
Neelam Chauhan
Program Manager
Pratik Patel
Asani Technician
Rameshvari Mahla
Asani Area Coordinator
Suman
Executive Administrator
Priyanka Dhimmar
Admin Officer
Shital Patel
Field Officer
Jinal Patel
Area Coordinator
Payal Prajapati
Program Coordinator
Megha Chouhan
Area Coordinator
Hemantkumar Sharma
Area Coordinator
Shanti Pal
Area Coordinator
Vinaya Naik
Area Coordinator
Rakesh Chauhan
Program Executive
Monika Singh
Program Executive
Mercy
Project Coordinator
Pragya Gupta
Special Program Manager
Yogendra Sisodiya
Manager of Accounts
Pratik Idodara
Account Officer
Hina Patel
Data Manager
Asha Bhatt
MIS & Data Analyst Executive
Dona T.
Research and Innovation Associate
Tushar Patel
Driver
Vikas Patel
Driver
Itishree Nanda
Program Executive
Vishal Pethani
Program Executive
Vandana Nishad
Sales and Data Operator
Priya Gupta
Development Exucutive
Prateeti Rajjak
Program Executive
Kiruthiga Anand
Program Executive
Shital Kamble
Program Executive
Awantika Singh
Area Coordinator
Board of Directors
Ari Afsar
Board of Directors, USA
Singer & Activist
Moha Desai
Board of Directors, USA
Healthcare Strategist
Santhana Krishnan
Board of Directors, USA
CEO of Dwellin
Sindhya Valloppillil
Board of Directors, USA
CEO of Skin Dossier
Yash Shah
Board of Directors, USA
CEO of Jeavio
Shivani Desai
Board of Directors, India
Risk & Compliance at
TCS
Vikram Parekh
Board of Directors, India
Kiran Desai
Board of Directors, India
Leadership Council
Pooja Devendran
Co-Founder and CEO
at Novolux
Ilana Finley
VP, Global
Communications at
Converse
Jenny Patel
Principal, Nikasa
Design, Inc.
Petra Dizdar
President of
Handshake
Neha Sodhi
VP, Diversity & Inclusion
at Morgan Stanley
Joshua Patel
Healthcare Activist
Ishita Agrawal
Creative Experiential
Technologist
Nitasha Mehta
Sr. Director of Brand
Partnerships at Boxed
Jess Nistala
Advisors
Nishith Acharya
CEO of Equal Innovation
Kim Shah
CEO of Creda Health Inc and KnowYourMeds
Deepika Sawhney
Leader in Education
Kara Gustafson
Economic Impact Specialist
Eshani Shah
Co-Owner S4, Inc
Rakesh Kamdar
Founder of DB Healthcare, Inc.
Vikas Desai
Medical Intervention Specialist
career opportunities
Admin
Marketing
Events
Explore the current career opportunities the Desai Foundation has to offer: