Tarsadia Foundation: Unleashing Human Potential
Tarsadia Foundation was founded in 2009 by entrepreneur and philanthropist, BU Patel. BU grew up in a small village in Gujarat, India, where he worked as a farmer and put himself through college before relocating his family to Zambia in search of economic opportunity. BU eventually settled in the United States, and it’s where three generations of the Tarsadia family reside today.
Through our grants and investments, we are fueling Inclusive Mobility, tackling Current Crises and Future Threats and inspiring Human Transformation around the globe. We are also committed to rebuilding India’s social and economic systems so that marginalized communities across the country can reach their full potential.
As an immigrant family that came from very humble beginnings, we were very lucky to access economic opportunities that have allowed us to help others who are less fortunate. We believe it is our responsibility to ethically, effectively and equitably give back to our community – not just a transactional give, but to give with our heart and soul.
For the past decade, we’ve been hard at work trying to break cycles of poverty and unleash human potential. Together with our community, we have impacted millions of lives across the globe and we are deeply grateful for our partners, family and friends who have helped make this all possible. It takes brave, passionate and resilient people to create catalytic change, and we are only able to achieve this scale of impact because of our incredible network and their unwavering commitment to the communities they serve.
As we look forward, we will continue to lead with fearless humility and always strive to push the boundaries of what’s possible. We’re committed to trust-based, collaborative philanthropy and letting our partners guide the work.
We believe the path ahead looks promising and we invite you to join us on this journey.
For the past decade, we’ve been hard at work trying to break cycles of poverty and unleash human potential. Together with our community, we have impacted millions of lives across the globe and we are deeply grateful for our partners, family and friends who have helped make this all possible. It takes brave, passionate and resilient people to create catalytic change, and we are only able to achieve this scale of impact because of our incredible network and their unwavering commitment to the communities they serve.
As we look forward, we will continue to lead with fearless humility and always strive to push the boundaries of what’s possible. We’re committed to trust-based, collaborative philanthropy and letting our partners guide the work.
We believe the path ahead looks promising and we invite you to join us on this journey.
BU, Pushpa and Maya Patel with the extended family at a NGO drive
"We believe the first step to unleashing human potential is asking the right questions. While we recognize we don’t have all the answers, we lead with fearless humility and let our partners and their local insights guide our work. We approach our grantmaking through our impact pillars: Inclusive Mobility, Crises & Threats, Human Transformation and India Upliftment. Our portfolio of partners vary in size and approach, and reflect our family values of compassion and service."
Maya Patel at the Foundation annual retreat
Since its inception, the Tarsadia Foundation has set out to break cycles of poverty and help those in need. Today, the foundation supports 100+ partners that collectively impact over 16 million people through opportunity creation and financial inclusion programs, food and housing security, access to mental health services and more.
Each year, Tarsadia Foundation works to unleash human potential across the globe alongside our network of 100+ partners who are driving meaningful change across our core impact pillars: Inclusive Mobility, Crises & Threats, Human Transformation, and India Upliftment.
Explore our highlighted stories below to learn more about the partners and projects we support.
BU graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Baroda, Gujarat. Shortly after, BU and his wife Pushpa moved to Zambia in search of economic opportunity.BU established his first business, a small general store out of his home, and went on to build a successful clothing manufacturing business.
BU, Maya and the extended family at their annual Foundation gala
The Foundation and it's Beginning
In 2008, the foundation expanded to the U.S. and changed it’s name to the Tarsadia Foundation. In 2009, Tarsadia Foundation facilitated its first service trip to India in partnership with Rising Star. This newly established family engagement initiative was driven by the belief that on-the-ground volunteering experiences would inspire lasting impact in the communities – and in the hearts and minds of their family members. Over the next decade, Tarsadia Foundation facilitated four more service trips to Peru, Cambodia, India and Zambia.In 2010, Uka Tarsadia University was established in Surat, India and within 8 years, it was ranked in the top 200 universities in India. In 2011, they established Diwaliben Trust to promote education, health and community development in and around the Tarsadia village they grew up in.
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