The Akanksha Education Fund Inc.

10/30/2026

Last week, Akanksha supporters Rishi Raina and Purvi Naik opened their home in New Jersey for a wonderful, family-oriented salon event in support of Akanksha Education Fund.

It was an incredible gathering of friends, families, and community members who came together to learn more about our mission.

Guests had the privilege of hearing from Akanksha alum Anuja Sonnad, who shared her personal journey through Akanksha’s education system and the lasting impact it has had on her life, agency, and career goals. Anuja also engaged in an informative Q&A session, led by the youngest members of the audience. The children present played an integral role by asking thoughtful questions and demonstrating a natural curiosity about Akanksha’s work and mission. Nurturing that curiosity in the next generation is at the heart of building lifelong empathy and meaningful action.

A heartfelt thank you to Rishi and Purvi for hosting such a warm, inspiring evening, and to all the families who joined us. We are deeply grateful for supporters of all ages who champion empowering students through education and opportunity.

10/29/2026

Last week, Tower Research Capital hosted an inspiring salon event in NYC in support of the Akanksha Education Fund. We were thrilled to welcome a fantastic crowd of supporters, partners, and advocates who came together to champion educational access and opportunity.

A few highlights from the evening:
--Sachin Jindal, Akanksha Education Fund Board Member, kicked off the event with opening remarks, welcoming guests and framing our shared commitment to empowering students and alumni.

--Om Gaikwad, an Akanksha alum, joined Akanksha supporter Sunayna Jain for a moving conversation, where he shared personal stories and insights from his educational journey and career path.

--Jasmine Kaur, Akanksha Ambassador, closed the evening with inspiring remarks on how to get involved with Akanksha’s work.

A huge thank you to Tower Research Capital and Elizabeth Hubbard for their incredible partnership and hosting us in New York City, and to every guest whose enthusiasm helps fuel our mission. Together, we are bridging the gap from education to opportunity.

10/24/2026

Today is United Nations Day, and we are reflecting on the power of global collaboration to expand education and opportunity worldwide.

Having actively participated in United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) over the past several years, Akanksha Education Fund is proud to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through our holistic approach to learning, mental well-being, and livelihoods:

SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 5: Gender Equality

By supporting underserved children in the classroom and guiding alumni through successful school-to-work transitions, we remain dedicated to driving long-term social impact alongside the global community.



Read more here:

UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter.

10/22/2026

Tech careers. Sports internships. Social impact. Job training.

Akanksha supports diverse pathways to purpose and agency for all alumni, helping bridge the gap between classroom education and economic mobility in the real world. Alumni like Soheb.

Soheb, an Akanksha alum, discovered his interest in technology while still in school. He went onto study for a Bachelor's in Science, and through self-learning and freelance projects he built practical skills beyond the classroom.

Akanksha's LevelUp sessions helped him strengthen his confidence and professional mindset. Today, Soheb is a Technology Associate Intern at People4Good, working on social impact projects, with a bright future ahead of him.

Read the latest issue of our Alumni Support and Engagement Newsletter to read more about Soheb’s journey, and see how Akanksha alumni are thriving through targeted programs, strategic partnerships, and guided mentorship.

We are so proud of these alumni and their incredible work!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sEipokUx5EIY-73Q_S2NUDLSG9yx18NV/view?usp=sharing



The Akanksha Foundation

10/15/2026

At Akanksha, we love seeing young people take the initiative to ask big questions and share stories that matter to their community.

Recently, Texas high school student Arshia Gottipaty (co-founder of Sana's Invite) hosted our Executive Director, Sejal Desai, on her new podcast, A Minute of Inspiration -- a space to get candid with women who are building, leading, creating, and making an impact.

In this inaugural episode, Arshia and Sejal sit down for a candid conversation about giving back, community impact, and pursuing career goals alongside family life.

Check out the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OF1XSX0YFjg

Dallas Desis

10/13/2026

“Securing the first rank among all BMC schools in the SSC examinations was a proud moment for me, but I did not reach here alone.” — Swayam Goregaonkar

Swayam Goregaonkar, an incredible alumnus from the Akanksha network, secured the #1 rank across all BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation / Mumbai public) schools in last year’s SSC (Secondary School Certificate) board examinations.

The SSC is the crucial 10th-grade standardized state exam in India—a pivotal milestone that determines a student's high school stream and future academic trajectory. Ranking first among thousands of public school students is an extraordinary achievement.

Swayam credits his progress to the community around him. He highlights how his teachers at Akanksha recognized his potential early on, challenging him to look beyond standard textbooks and truly master core concepts.

Supplementary STEM classes through Akanksha’s partner organization Avanti Fellows—who work to expand high-quality educational access across India—further reinforced his foundation in math and science. This collaboration helped Swayam build the confidence and competitive test preparation needed to pursue his dream of becoming an AI engineer.

Together, Akanksha Education Fund and Avanti Fellows strengthen 9th and 10th-grade STEM programming, ensuring bright students have the guidance, mentorship, and resources to turn potential into achievement.

This holistic approach is at the heart of Akanksha’s School to Work focus. By creating connected pathways—from strong school foundations to targeted academic support and post-SSC transitions—we equip students to build lives of agency and purpose.

Swayam’s journey is a powerful reminder of what structured support and quality guidance can unlock for a young person’s future.

10/08/2026

Today is ! If you’ve already established a Donor-Advised Fund (DAF), making a contribution to a nonprofit you care about is simple and impactful.

By recommending a grant to the Akanksha Education Fund, you can help expand educational opportunities for underserved children in India. Through The School Project, Project Setu, and our School to Work Initiative, Akanksha supports over 15,000 Akanksha students, 150,000 municipal partnership students, and 7,000 alumni to lead lives of agency and purpose.

With your continued support, we can continue to provide skills and opportunity to so many more students!

Using your DAF is a tax-smart, efficient way to give—and every grant helps us continue our mission. With your DAF grant, Akanksha can offer more opportunities for:

--Continued growth for high-quality schools

--Programs for career readiness for students

--School to work transitions for alumni, equipping them with necessary skills and resources

Your DAF gift can create life-changing opportunities and brighter futures.

To learn more about our work, visit us at www.akankshafund.org . Thank you for your support and commitment to meaningful change.

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Akanksha Education Fund is dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to achieve economic mobility and lead purposeful, empowered lives.

10/07/2026

The Indian American diaspora is on the verge of a major intergenerational wealth transfer, opening up unprecedented possibilities for global giving.

A recent article by Bridgespan Group explores how Indian American philanthropy is shaping the future of giving both in the US and in India. Here are 3 key takeaways:

–Passing Down Values: Philanthropy is becoming a powerful bridge for families to connect across generations, instilling cultural values, traditions, and purpose in younger generations.

–Catalyzing Systemic Change: Private diaspora funding acts as R&D for social impact in India, paving the way for large-scale government and institutional support.

– Strengthening Community: Giving is a two-way street—collaborative networks allow donors to learn together, lower risk, and deepen their impact.

Read the full article here: https://www.bridgespan.org/insights/indian-american-philanthropy-strengthening-values-and-community-across-generations

At Akanksha Education Fund, we are proud to be part of this movement—bringing quality education to children in India and empowering the next generation to thrive. Learn more about our mission and support our work: www.akankshafund.org.

​​Indian American giving is on the rise, and the potential for even greater impact is unmistakable.

10/05/2026

What an inspiring event!

Akanksha Education Fund staff, Sejal Desai and Keerti Kharod, and board members Ramesh Srinivasan, and Srividya Prakash attended the annual India Philanthropy Summit in Dallas last week.

Organized by the India Philanthropy Alliance and Indiaspora, this year's summit theme was, "From Closing the Gap to Setting the Standard: A New Generation of Indian Diaspora Philanthropy," and drew a diverse and knowledgeable crowd for this two-day event.

We heard many inspirational stories from nonprofit leads, experts in donor relations, philanthropists, volunteers, and business and individual partners. All attendees came together to share ideas and best practices to increase the impact and awareness of the work that helps underserved communities all over India.

Topics included:

--From Aspiration to Action: A New Generation of Indian Diaspora Philanthropy
--Breakthrough Approaches to Using AI for Good in Public Health, Environmental Resilience, and Education
--How to Chart a Career Path in Doing Good
--Weapons of Mass Measurement—Philanthropy’s Data Obsession Is Killing Social Change
--Global Perspectives, Local Action: Bold Bets on Community Impact
--Preparing for the Future: Needed and Likely Innovations in Philanthropy and Social Change
--Not Your Parents' Philanthropy: Innovations Meeting a New Generation of Givers

Akanksha Education Fund was proud to participate in this impactful summit, and we look forward to more meaningful conversations and collaborations with our fellow changemakers!

09/30/2026

This summer, Akanksha was honored to host participants from Dasra’s Young Philanthropist Program (YPP)—a initiative for youth aged 14 to 19 that encourages viewing philanthropy as showing up with empathy, curiosity, time, and ideas for a more equitable society.

Twelve young changemakers from across the world visited The Akanksha Foundation's Abhyudaya Mumbai Public School (ABMPS), joining our Grade 7 students for a meaningful art session. Together, they painted real-world community challenges and brainstormed creative solutions, engaging in thoughtful dialogue and sharing perspectives along the way.

Following the art activity, Akanksha students led the group on a guided tour of the school. Highlights included a showcase of student-built robotics projects, offering our visitors a direct glimpse into the curiosity and problem-solving that thrive when young people are given space to explore.

The visit helped the YPP cohort connect classroom discussions to lived realities—encouraging them to listen closely, question assumptions, and understand challenges deeply before proposing solutions.

Akanksha is proud to serve as an impactful space for observation, interaction, and learning, and we enjoyed hosting the Dasra team for an inspiring visit.