The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation

What The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation does

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is a Mumbai-based charitable foundation established in 1976 by Indoo Shivdasani (1918–1979). It identifies and supports young Indians of exceptional talent through a portfolio of scholarships, awards, fellowships, art residencies, internships, and grants spanning academia, visual and performing arts, and sport. The foundation operates with a lean team of 8 employees and a board chaired by Azad Shivdasani, with Country Director Priyanka Varma leading day-to-day operations and trustees Vir Sanghvi, Olympia Shivdasani, and Vir Chauhan providing governance oversight.

Its core "product" is human-capital funding rather than a technology platform. The flagship offering is the Inlaks Scholarship, which covers tuition and living costs up to USD 120,000 at top universities in the UK, Europe, and the USA. Complementary programmes include the Fine Art Awards (supporting 116 artists cumulatively), overseas artist residencies with international partners (supporting 100 artists cumulatively), performing-arts support through Attakkalari and Drama School Mumbai, sport development via GoSports Foundation, and medical research funding through Dana-Farber. Since inception, the foundation has supported more than 1,400 alumni, including 509 scholars placed at leading international institutions.

The foundation is family-funded (no external investors) and monetises impact rather than commercial revenue. Its economic model rests on endowment income, donations, and grant partnerships with institutions such as the British Museum, Charles Wallace India Trust, Rijksakademie, Delfina Foundation, Gasworks, ISCP, ICP, UNIDEE, NIROX, Tracey Emin Foundation, Trinity College Oxford, and King's College London. Selection is highly competitive and brand-driven, with alumni functioning as a long-term reputational and fundraising asset that the foundation is now actively cultivating through a structured alumni network programme.

Name

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation

Legal name

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation

Website

https://inlaksfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is a Mumbai-based charitable foundation, founded 1976, that funds exceptional young Indians through scholarships, art residencies, performing-arts grants, and sport fellowships, supporting over 1,400 alumni across leading global institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Educational Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE), Research Grants, Fellowships & Stipends (International) (EDAIAOAJ), Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

• Scholarship funding
• Art residencies
• Fellowship programs
• Research grants
• Charitable foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Charitable Foundation Operations: The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is a charitable organization that provides grants, scholarships, awards, fellowships, and residencies to young Indians of exceptional talent. The Foundation does not generate commercial revenue; it distributes funds to recipients across various programs including overseas scholarships, art residencies, theatre awards, dance studentships, research grants, and social engagement fellowships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation is a charitable foundation that provides merit-based scholarships, awards, fellowships, grants, internships, and overseas art residencies to young Indians of exceptional talent. Its flagship offering, the Inlaks Scholarship, supports postgraduate study abroad with funding up to USD 120,000 covering tuition, living, travel, visa, and health costs, while its portfolio also includes art awards, theatre training grants, conservation seed funding, PhD research travel grants, social engagement fellowships, and residencies at eight international partner institutions.

Product overview

The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation operates a portfolio of merit-based opportunities for young Indians rather than a traditional product platform. The core offerings include: The Inlaks Scholarship for overseas postgraduate studies (up to USD 120,000); The Inlaks Fellowship for Social Engagement (two-year programme with INR 25,000-45,000 monthly stipend); The Inlaks Fine Art Award (INR 300,000 for emerging artists); The Inlaks Theatre Award (monthly allowance for skill enhancement); and multiple grants including the Inlaks Research & Travel Grant for PhD students, Inlaks-King's India Institute Studentship, Inlaks-Ravi Sankaran Grant for Conservation, Inlaks-Attakkalari Dance Studentship, Inlaks-Drama School Mumbai Theatre Studentship, and Inlaks-Asia Art Archive Art Grant. The foundation also manages overseas residencies at eight international locations including Delfina and Gasworks (UK), ISCP and ICP (USA), Rijksakademie (Netherlands), NIROX (South Africa), UNIDEE (Italy), and Tracey Emin Foundation (UK), plus an Internship for Field Biology, Ecology and Conservation. Supporting programmes include the Inlaks-Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship at Oxford, Khoj Peers Residency, British Museum International Training Programme, GoSports Foundation, and Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute partnership. Since 1976, the foundation has supported over 1,400 talented young Indians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Inlaks Scholarship The Foundation's flagship merit-based scholarship enabling young Indian graduates of exceptional talent, character, and motivation to pursue postgraduate studies overseas at a top-rated university or institution of their choice, with comprehensive financial coverage up to USD 120,000.
• The Inlaks Fellowship for Social Engagement A two-year fellowship supporting graduates and early to mid-career professionals to work on issues, projects, or research with positive societal impact under a mentor of their choice; monthly stipend ranges from INR 25,000 to 45,000 based on location.
• The Inlaks Fine Art Award Annual award supporting emerging Indian artists to undertake independent work for one year with a mandatory four-week attendance at a recognised art residency; valued at INR 300,000 over the award period. Candidates must be born after January 1, 1996.
• The Inlaks Theatre Award Award enabling Indian theatre practitioners to undertake skill enhancement through mentorship, training workshops, and residencies for up to one year; provides INR 15,000 per month allowance for the programme duration.
• The Inlaks Research and Travel Grant Grant supporting registered PhD students at Indian universities to undertake short-term research visits abroad for up to three months; includes travel allowance (up to USD 1,000), maintenance (up to USD 2,000/month), materials (up to USD 500), and health allowance (up to USD 500).
• The Inlaks-King's India Institute Studentship Studentship enabling PhD students at Indian universities to undertake short-term research visits to King's College London's King's India Institute for up to three months; includes travel, maintenance, materials, health allowance, plus a King's contribution of GBP 1,000.
• The Inlaks-Ravi Sankaran Grant for Field Biology, Ecology and Conservation Seed grant supporting individuals to undertake initial conservation projects in field biology, ecology, and conservation for up to one year; awards up to INR 300,000 per year with potential for follow-up funding.
• The Inlaks-Drama School Mumbai Theatre Studentship One-year studentship supporting theatre professionals to attend the Postgraduate Certificate Course in Acting and Theatre-making at Drama School Mumbai; provides support up to INR 200,000.
• The Inlaks-Attakkalari Dance Studentship Two-year studentship enabling dance artists to pursue the Diploma in Movement Arts and Pedagogy at Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts, Bengaluru; offers up to INR 300,000 for first-year tuition and INR 100,000 for second-year apprenticeship expenses.
• The Inlaks-Asia Art Archive Art Grant One-year grant encouraging artists to engage with archives as concept, system, and medium, in partnership with Asia Art Archive in India; provides support up to INR 200,000.
• The Inlaks-Ravi Sankaran Internship for Field Biology, Ecology and Conservation Internship supporting young individuals to gain experience in biodiversity conservation through attachments to recognised institutions overseas; funding up to USD 10,000 total covering living allowance, internship fees, and return airfare for durations of 6 weeks to 3 months.
• The Inlaks Residency at International Center of Photography (ICP), New York Two-month residency in New York for emerging Indian photographic practitioners or researchers, run in partnership with PhotoSouthAsia; includes USD 10,000 stipend, accommodation, mentorship (up to 24 hours), and access to ICP facilities including darkrooms, media labs, and library.
• The Inlaks Residency at Delfina Foundation, United Kingdom 12-week residency in London at Delfina Foundation, offered in partnership with Charles Wallace India Trust; includes return flight, airport transfers, visa fee reimbursement, GBP 40/day living allowance, GBP 1,200 materials budget, London travel pass, and accommodation.
• The Inlaks Residency at Gasworks, United Kingdom Fully-funded residency in London for contemporary visual art practitioners from India, run in partnership with Charles Wallace India Trust; 24-hour studio access, single-room accommodation, and public presentation opportunities.
• The Inlaks Residency at ISCP, New York Up to three-month residency at International Studio and Curatorial Program in Brooklyn for curators and artists from India; includes private studio space, studio visits, field trips, participation in ISCP Talks and Exhibition Program, plus stipend for accommodation and travel.
• The Inlaks Residency at Rijksakademie, Netherlands One- to two-year residency at Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten in Amsterdam; artists receive studio space, stipend, and access to artistic and technical advisors, workshops, library, and discursive engagement.
• The Inlaks Residency at NIROX Foundation, South Africa Six- to seven-week residency in South Africa for emerging and mid-career Indian artists, run with the Centre for Indian Studies in Africa at the University of the Witwatersrand; covers travel, production costs, and living arrangements.
• The Inlaks Residency at UNIDEE, Italy Two-month research residency at Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto in Biella, Italy; includes return travel, insurance, visa fees, single-room accommodation, EUR 900 per diem, production budget up to EUR 300, and study trips to Venice, Turin, and Milan.
• The Inlaks Residency at Tracey Emin Foundation, United Kingdom 14-month studio-based residency at the Tracey Emin Foundation in the UK for painters from India; partial financial support of GBP 12,000 towards living expenses; includes mentorship and exhibition opportunities for painters working with physical materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 509 scholars have studied at top universities worldwide including Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts (ACMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Inlaks-Attakkalari Dance Studentship providing comprehensive training towards Diploma in Movement Arts and Pedagogy. The Foundation supports up to 2 candidates annually with tuition fees up to INR 300,000 for first year and INR 100,000 for apprenticeship expenses in second year.
• King's College London - King's India InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Inlaks-King's India Institute Studentship enabling PhD students to undertake short-term research visits. Provides travel allowance up to USD 1,000, maintenance USD 2,220/month, materials up to USD 500, health allowance USD 500, plus GBP 1,000 from King's.
• International Center of Photography (ICP), New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PhotoSouthAsia (PSA) offering 2-month residency to emerging Indian photographers. Resident receives $10,000 stipend, access to ICP facilities including darkrooms, media labs, studios, and 24 hours mentorship.
• PhotoSouthAsia (PSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ICP and Inlaks Foundation offering residency to Indian photographers. PhotoSouthAsia highlights photographers from South Asia bringing them to platform with publishers, educators and curators.
• Delfina Foundation, United KingdomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner12-week residency in London offering return flight, airport transfers, visa fees reimbursement, living allowance £40/day, materials budget £1,200, travel pass, and accommodation. Partnership with Charles Wallace India Trust.
• Gasworks, United KingdomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFully-funded residency in London with 24-hour studio access, single room accommodation, and public presentation opportunities. Partnership with Charles Wallace India Trust for artists based in India.
• International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP), New YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResidency for curators and artists from India from April to June 2026. Includes private studio, regular studio visits, field trips, participation in ISCP Talks and Exhibition Program, plus stipend for accommodation and travel.
• Rijksakademie Van Beeldende Kunsten, NetherlandscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne to two year residency in Amsterdam allowing artists to develop work with studio, stipend, artistic and technical advisors, workshops, library, and discursive engagement.
• NIROX Foundation, South AfricaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner6-7 week residency in South Africa with collaboration with Centre for Indian Studies in Africa at University of the Witwatersrand. Covers travel, production costs, and living arrangements.
• UNIDEE / Cittadellarte-Fondazione Pistoletto, ItalycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner2-month research residency in Biella, Italy including return travel, insurance, visa fees, single room accommodation, per diem €900, production budget up to €300, plus study trips to Venice, Turin, and Milan.
• Tracey Emin Foundation, United KingdomcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner14-month studio-based art residency for painters beginning March 2027. Partial financial support of GBP 12,000 towards living expenses. Free program with mentorship and exhibition opportunities.
• Drama School MumbaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for one-year Postgraduate Certificate Course in Acting and Theatre-making. Foundation provides support up to INR 200,000 for talented theatre professionals.
• Asia Art Archive in India (AAA-I)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for art grant encouraging artists to engage with archives. Grant up to INR 200,000 for one year. AAA in India builds research-based digital archival collections on artists and exhibitions from South Asia.
• Ravi Sankaran FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for field biology, ecology and conservation grants and internships honoring Dr. Ravi Sankaran (1963-2009), renowned ornithologist. Provides seed money up to INR 300,000 for conservation projects.
• British MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting museum professionals at the International Training Programme (ITP). Six-week UK program for up to 26 participants from around the world developing museum skills and best practices.
• Charles Wallace India TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting Indian artists at Delfina Foundation and Gasworks residencies in UK. Provides partial funding and access to UK art institutions for emerging Indian artists.
• GoSports FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting young sportspersons under Athlete Scholarship Programme, particularly badminton athletes in their run-up to becoming world-class athletes.
• Khoj International Artists' AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting 5-6 young artists at Khoj PEERS residency programme providing platform for dialogue, experimentation, and exchange for emerging artists.
• Trinity College, Oxford / Weidenfeld-HoffmannminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInlaks-Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship supporting one Indian student for Masters at Trinity College, Oxford with leadership development and networking program.
• Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership supporting one young individual in science at Dana-Farber Cancer Research Institute for proposed research projects selected by the Institute.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Infosys Foundation: India-based corporate foundation supporting education, research, and arts. Comparable to Inlaks as an Indian philanthropic foundation funding scholarships, research, and cultural programmes.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): Germany's national agency promoting academic exchange and awarding scholarships to international students. Comparable to Inlaks as a merit-based outbound scholarship administrator with structured application, selection, and alumni engagement.
• Reliance Foundation: India-based corporate foundation with substantial education, arts, and rural development portfolios. Comparable to Inlaks as a large Indian family-led philanthropic foundation supporting scholarships, arts, and social engagement.
• Tata Trusts: India's largest philanthropic foundation, with significant education grantmaking. Comparable to Inlaks as a family-controlled Indian foundation supporting higher education and social development, though at much larger scale.
• Fulbright Program: US government-funded international exchange programme offering scholarships for overseas study and research. Comparable to Inlaks as a merit-based outbound scholarship with rigorous multi-stage selection and a lifelong global alumni community.
• Aga Khan Foundation: International development foundation offering scholarships and fellowships for students from developing countries. Comparable to Inlaks as a private philanthropic foundation supporting exceptional international students with multi-decade alumni networks.
• Chevening Scholarships: UK government's flagship scholarship for international students to pursue postgraduate study in the UK. Comparable to Inlaks as an outbound scholarship targeting high-potential international candidates for UK study, often co-funding similar institutional partners.
• Getty Foundation: US-based arts philanthropy funding residencies, conservation, and scholarly research. Comparable to Inlaks as a grantmaking foundation supporting arts residencies and international cultural exchange, particularly visual arts.
• Rhodes Trust (Rhodes Scholarship): Merit-based overseas postgraduate scholarship sending exceptional students to the University of Oxford. Comparable to Inlaks as a prestigious, privately-funded outbound scholarship with a lifelong alumni network and global prestige.

Broad incumbents

• British Council: UK cultural and educational organisation facilitating international exchange, scholarships, and arts programmes. Comparable to Inlaks as a UK-facing education and cultural exchange partner, with broader scope and government backing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/1128924057225436
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/inlaks-shivdasani-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/inlaksfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation