The Niraj Bhatia Foundation
Who we are...
At the heart of The Niraj Bhatia Foundation is a simple belief: when we’re given access to the resources every person needs and deserves, they can change their own story.
We partner with organizations that provide water, food, and health to those who need it most, and we invest in education, financial literacy, technology, equality, and the arts to help humanity build something lasting.
Our Mission...
Our mission is to help people live better lives by meeting their most basic needs and to inspire those we empower to lift others in return. We’re committed to creating lasting impact that uplifts communities for generations.
Our Vision...
We envision a future where everyone has access to water, food, health, and the chance to learn, create, and thrive. We want to live in a world where the impact of giving endures for generations and where those who are empowered go on to empower others.
Our Focus Areas
We focus on the intersections where access becomes empowerment. Each of our eight pillars represents a path toward sustainable change and a better, more equitable future.
Water
We support projects that bring sustainable, safe water solutions to the people and places that need them most.
Food
We partner with organizations that provide meals, reduce food insecurity, and build sustainable food systems, ensuring that families not only survive but have the strength to build brighter futures.
Health
We support programs that expand access to quality care, strengthen community health systems, and promote long-term wellness so people can live healthier, more secure lives.
Education
We support programs that expand access to education, financial literacy, mentorship, and skill development, giving people the tools to create lasting change in their own lives and communities.
Conservation
The choices we make today shape the world we leave behind. We support initiatives that preserve ecosystems, advance sustainability, and promote responsible stewardship of the earth.
Impact Through Technology
We support innovative technologies that expand access and inclusion, helping communities build more sustainable and connected futures.
Gender Equality
When everyone is free to contribute their full potential, we all move forward together. We invest in initiatives that uplift women and girls, promote equal opportunity, and break down systemic barriers
Business Through the Arts
We support programs that bridge creativity and commerce, from arts education and mentorship to initiatives that help artists, filmmakers, and storytellers turn their craft into sustainable careers.
Impact with Intention
We measure impact honestly. We fund collaboratively. And we focus on what lasts. Here's what that looked like from 2024 - 2025.
6.2M+ Grants Deployed
Directed toward mission-driven work across 2024-2025
34 grants, 22 Partners
Selective funding across trusted, values-aligned organizations from 2024 - 2025
$3.7M+ Towards WASH-Focused Funding
Directed toward clean water, sanitation infrastructure, and long-term WASH systems
Meet our Founder:
Niraj Bhatia
Entrepreneur, filmmaker & Philanthropist
Niraj Bhatia believes that opportunity changes everything. When people have access to the basics — clean water, health, education, and security — they gain the freedom to focus on their purpose, their families, and their future.
As an entrepreneur and filmmaker, Niraj has spent his career at the intersection of creativity, innovation, and impact. Whether producing socially conscious films, building technology rooted in ethics and privacy, or supporting clean water initiatives around the world, his work is guided by a simple idea: compassion and progress are most powerful when they work together.
That belief is what led Niraj to found The Niraj Bhatia Foundation. Through TNBF, he partners with organizations that don’t just address immediate needs, but create lasting change — empowering individuals and communities to build something that endures. For Niraj, true impact isn’t about giving more; it’s about giving in ways that allow people to rise, and then help others rise with them.
Our Team
We’re a small team with big hearts and a shared commitment to making the world a little better. We work side by side, learn from one another, and believe that meaningful change starts with genuine connection.
André Kelly
Chief Operations Officer
Nate Schaps
Director of Partnerships & Operations
Jacob Pena
Director of Finance
Laura McGregor
Chief Strategy Officer
Partner with us to create lasting change.
The Niraj Bhatia Foundation is a private, grantmaking foundation dedicated to creating lasting impact through access, opportunity, and empowerment. While our primary role is to fund organizations on the ground, we welcome contributions from individuals and partners who share our mission and long-term vision.
Supporting the work...
Contributions to The Niraj Bhatia Foundation support our focus areas through trusted partners, creating sustainable, long-term impact.
100% of every donation is deployed to mission-aligned work. The Foundation’s operating costs—including staff, healthcare, and administrative expenses—are fully underwritten by its founder, ensuring donor contributions are used exclusively to advance our focus areas.
Contributions are stewarded with care and may be pooled with our grantmaking efforts or directed toward specific initiatives in collaboration with donors.
TNBF Welcomes Contributions
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Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
Grantmaking...
How our grantmaking works...
We focus on collaborative partnerships—not one-off transactions.
Our grantmaking is relationship-driven, built around creative problem-solving, long-term thinking, and shared responsibility.
We work closely with partners to think through the full picture—what’s needed now, what will be needed later, and how to make the work hold up over time.
What we look for...
We’re drawn to partners who think big and think differently.
We value organizations that push beyond surface-level solutions and are willing to ask harder questions: What breaks next? Who owns this long after we leave? How do we stretch every dollar to do more than one thing?
Shared vision, creativity, and the courage to try something better, matter deeply to us.
What we typically do not fund...
We’re selective by design.
We generally don’t support projects that are short-term, transactional, or built without a plan for what comes next. If the work doesn’t have a clear path to durability, local ownership, or meaningful scale, it’s unlikely to be the right fit.
Ready to share your work?
If you’re building something thoughtful, ambitious, and built to last, we’d love to hear from you.
We review inquiries with care, but we’re a small team and may not be able to respond to every submission. When there’s strong alignment, we’ll reach out to continue the conversation.
