Sewa International

What Sewa International does

Sewa International is a Hindu faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Houston, Texas. The organization operates through a network of 25+ local chapters across the United States, with international development programs in India, Bhutan, Colombia, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. Its mission centers on four pillars: disaster response and recovery, education, health and wellness, and women empowerment, serving underserved communities including refugees, immigrants, and disaster victims regardless of religion, tribe, language, or caste.

The organization runs a portfolio of distinct programs including ASPIRE (after-school education for underserved K-6 children), LEAD (high school leadership development), SELF (holistic health and wellness program tracking Sleep, Exercise, Lifestyle, and Food), SHE (girls' sanitation and hygiene), Sponsor a Child, Doctors for Sewa (medical volunteer deployment), AmeriCorps national service, Stop Diabetes Movement (yoga-based diabetes prevention developed with S-Vyasa University), Bhutanese Empowerment, Disaster Response, and the Get Inspired Internship. These programs are delivered primarily through volunteer labor coordinated by local chapters, with notable partnerships including Lowell Public Schools and Project LEARN (ASPIRE STEM), DFW Hindu Temple (mobile pantry), and V-Guard Foundation (multi-speciality health camps). The only third-party technology integration disclosed is Training Peaks for the SELF program.

Sewa International operates a lean paid-staff model (1-10 employees) supplemented by a large volunteer base, funded primarily through individual donations, corporate matching programs, DIY fundraising campaigns, and grants including $499,849 from AmeriCorps Public Allies (July 2024) and $50,000 from the Indo-American Charity Foundation (December 2025). The organization maintains a 7% expense ratio, a 4-Star Charity Navigator rating, and is governed by an Advisory Board and Executive Committee with Dr. Anurag Mairal (Stanford-affiliated) serving as President. Its go-to-market is community-led through chapter networks, with services delivered at no cost or subsidized rates to beneficiaries.

Name

Sewa International

Legal name

Sewa International, Inc.

Website

https://sewausa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sewa International is a Hindu faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating 25+ US chapters and international programs in five countries, delivering disaster response, education, health and wellness, and women empowerment services to underserved, refugee, and immigrant communities through a volunteer-led model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Humanitarian Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Emergency and Other Relief Services (62423), Community Food Services (624210)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Community Support Services (Case Management, Referrals) (EDAJAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Refugee, Crisis & Humanitarian Education Partnerships (EiE) (EDADALAG), MHPSS & Trauma-Informed Support for Displaced Populations (BPADAHAJ), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC)

Keywords

• Disaster relief services
• Humanitarian aid programs
• Community education programs
• Volunteer development services
• Nonprofit charitable services

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Primary revenue stream through individual donations, corporate matching programs, and DIY fundraising campaigns. The organization collects donations for specific causes including disaster relief, education programs, and community development.
2. Program Services and Fees: Minimal fees charged for certain programs; Yoga workshops offered at no cost or minimal fee, free for low-income and seniors. Programs valued at nearly $2000 commercially but provided at subsidized rates.
3. Grants: Funding from grants for specific programs including AmeriCorps, education initiatives, and disaster relief operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sewa International is a Hindu faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers disaster response and recovery, education programs, health and wellness initiatives, and women empowerment programs. Services are delivered free or at subsidized rates to underserved children, disaster victims, refugee and immigrant communities, and women/girls through a network of 25+ local chapters across the United States and select international programs.

Product overview

Sewa International operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering a portfolio of social service programs. The organization runs multiple distinct programs including ASPIRE (after-school education for underserved children), LEAD (high school leadership development), SELF (holistic health and wellness), SHE (women's empowerment and hygiene), Sponsor a Child, Family Services (health, awareness, case management), Disaster Response, Doctors for Sewa, AmeriCorps, Bhutanese Empowerment, Stop Diabetes Movement, and Get Inspired Internship. These programs are delivered through a network of 25+ local chapters across the United States, with international operations in India and other countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ASPIRE After-school supplementary education program providing language intervention and academic support for children from kindergarten through sixth grade, with a focus on underserved, refugee, and immigrant communities.
• LEAD Leadership development program for high school students, providing community engagement opportunities, volunteer experience, and mentorship to build future leaders.
• SELF (Know Your Healthy SELF) Holistic health and wellness program focusing on four pillars: Sleep, Exercise, Living in the Present/Lifestyle, and Food/Diet. Includes group activities like trekking, swimming, cycling, and meditation, with mentor-guided support.
• SHE Project Women empowerment initiative providing sanitation facilities and menstrual hygiene education for girls from vulnerable communities.
• Sponsor a Child (SAC) Child sponsorship program connecting donors with children living in vulnerable communities to support their education and development.
• Family Services Comprehensive family support services including Health and Wellness Programs, Educational and Awareness Workshops, and Family Case Management Services.
• Disaster Response Emergency relief services providing rescue operation support through helplines, volunteer assistance, and organized food and clothing drives during disasters.
• Doctors for Sewa Medical volunteer program connecting healthcare professionals to provide health camps and medical consultations in underserved areas.
• AmeriCorps Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.0+ million students benefited through education programs
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Project LEARNcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Sewa International USA partnered with Project LEARN and Lowell Public Schools to launch the ASPIRE STEM Enrichment Program in Lowell, Massachusetts, serving 67 students as of March 2026 with participation growing through peer referrals.
• Lowell Public SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026ASPIRE STEM Enrichment Program is an after-school initiative integrating engineering challenges and scientific experiments twice weekly while removing participation barriers through transportation support and stipends. Funded by an anonymous donor committed to educational equity.
• V-Guard FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2026V-Guard Industries Ltd conducted a multi-speciality health camp across 22 Gram Panchayats in Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand in collaboration with Sewa International, providing medical consultations, basic diagnostics, and essential medicines to 1,726 individuals over eight days with over 25 healthcare professionals.
• DFW Hindu TemplecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 November 2025Sewa International partnered with DFW Hindu Temple to launch a mobile pantry in Houston supporting families in need across the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area. The program incorporates a lease agreement to expand food distribution efforts with weekly mobile food deliveries.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Red Cross: Dominant US disaster-response nonprofit with paid staff, large reserves, and federal/government relationships. Comparable in disaster-relief and emergency-services verticals where Sewa competes for visibility and corporate funding.

Regional players

• Goonj: Major Indian nonprofit focused on disaster relief, clothing/food drives, and community development across rural India. Comparable to Sewa's India-based international programs, though operates primarily in India rather than the US.

Direct peers

• Habitat for Humanity International: Large faith-rooted nonprofit built on a volunteer-driven chapter model delivering community service programs. Highly comparable in operating model (local chapters, volunteer mobilization, donation-funded), though focused on housing rather than Sewa's broader social-service portfolio.
• Mercy Corps: Global humanitarian nonprofit combining disaster response, economic development, and health/wellness programs. Comparable to Sewa's multi-vertical model spanning disaster, education, health, and women empowerment across multiple countries.
• Samaritan's Purse: Faith-based disaster relief and community-development nonprofit known for rapid mobilization and physical assets (e.g., disaster response units). Comparable to Sewa's faith-based identity and DRV-style rapid-response capability.
• World Vision US: Faith-based international humanitarian and development organization with sponsorship, disaster response, child education, and community health programs. Strongly comparable in mission, donor model, and program breadth.
• International Rescue Committee (IRC): Major refugee resettlement and humanitarian nonprofit operating in the US and internationally. Directly comparable to Sewa's Bhutanese Empowerment, vocational training, and refugee-support programs.
• United Way Worldwide: Federated fundraising and service-delivery nonprofit with a national network of local chapters. Comparable in distributed chapter-based operating model and community-service orientation.
• Direct Relief: Humanitarian aid nonprofit focused on disaster relief and medical assistance, including health-camp deployments in underserved areas — directly comparable to Sewa's Doctors for Sewa and disaster health programs.
• Catholic Charities USA: Federated faith-based nonprofit network delivering social services including disaster relief, refugee resettlement, family case management, and education. Closely comparable to Sewa's faith-rooted identity and local-chapter service delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sewausa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sewa International