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When Megha Desai and her family started the Desai Foundation in Gujarat, India, in 1997, they aimed to help marginalized communities.
Today, the foundation is a "philanthropist giant" with programs in nine states, helping more than 500 women and girls per year, Desai tells Fast Company.
But it wasn't always that way. "During those first 15 years, we really wanted to focus on the programs and get them right," she says.
"So we kept our heads down, kept experimenting, and working with the communities we serve to get the program to a place where they would really show results.
Once we realized we had 15 solid programs (we now actually have 30 programs), we sorted out which ones were designed to scale, and which ones were not."
The transition from a family foundation to a public one was "the smartest thing we could have done," she says. "We also knew that we didn't have all the answers. As a public organization, we can work with fantastic NGOs, corporates, and people that bring their experience and knowledge to the table. I think we were a bit naive on this transition being easy."
Selected Grant News Headlines
A customized collection of grant news from foundations and the federal government from around the Web.
It's that time of year again: time for parents to start thinking about summer camps for their kids. And if you live in New Jersey, you may be in luck: The Code Ninjas are now offering summer...more
The latest trend in kids' smartwatches is one that encourages healthy habits from an early age.NehBaby, a device from Kickstarter, aims to help kids ages 2 to 8 learn how to drink water, take a...more
"If your child is surfing the web in Manchester, they can be targeted by a bad actor halfway around the world," writes John Pizzuro in an op-ed for the New Hampshire Union Leader. And that's why...more
This Mother's Day, Philip Morris International is honoring "supermoms" at its India affiliate, IPM India Wholesale Trading Private Limited. "The company acknowledges the unwavering love and...more
One in four school children in Burundi now receives a nutritious meal, thanks to a donation from China. The UN's World Food Program says China has donated $1.5 million to provide 42,000 children...more
If you have a compelling story about the future of child care in America, you may be in luck. The Better Life Lab at New America and the Bainum Family Foundation are offering a total of $100,000...more
"Access to mental health support should be a fundamental right for all children, regardless of their socioeconomic status." That's the message from Hafeezah Muhammad, CEO of Backpack Healthcare,...more
Phoenix Children's Hospital is known for its world-class medical care and cutting-edge research, but it's also one of the country's most under-funded. That's about to change, thanks to a group...more
It's that time of year again: time for kids to start brushing their teeth, playing with their toys, and peeing in the potty. If that last part of the list doesn't ring a bell, you may want to...more
Zain is one of the fastest-growing telecom companies in the world, but it's also one of the worst when it comes to sustainability. The Middle East's second-largest telecom company has released...more
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3 Social Enterprises Earn Honors at Social Enterprise Award
Three social enterprises were recognized at the 2013 President’s Challenge Social Enterprise Award for their major contributions to society. SATA CommHealth and Bliss Restaurant landed Social Enterprise of the Year titles, while Bettr Barista Coffee Academy bagged the award for Social Enterprise Start-up of the Year.
