OVERVIEW: The Jagran Foundation mainly gives in greater Seattle. Areas of interest include health, education, community development, environment and Indian causes.
IP TAKE: The foundation lacks transparency, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. It will be difficult to get an audience with this funder without a connection to its founders.
PROFILE: Established in 2002, the Jagran Foundation is steered by Microsoft veteran Rajesh Jha and his wife Sudha Mishra, a freelance graphic and web designer. Rajesh Jha graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madra, and a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. In 1990, he joined Microsoft as a software design engineer. Rajesh is currently executive vice president of Microsoft’s Experiences and Devices Group.
The Bellevue-based Jagran foundation does not maintain a website, which limits information available on its grantmaking priorities and activities. According to tax records, the Jagran Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, education and economic opportunity.
Grants for Public Health
Health is one of the foundation’s largest giving areas. Jagran does not name priorities for its work in this area, but giving appears to prioritize organizations based in Seattle. Grantees include Bellevue’s Overlake Medical Center, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Foundation and the Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Grants for Education
The Jagran Foundation supports both K-12 and higher education. Higher education giving is national in scope. The couple funded the Sudha and Rajesh Jha Scholarship at UMass Amherst, where Rajesh earned is master’s. Other grantees include the University of Washington, Brown University and the Overlake School in Redmond, Washington.
Grants for Environment and Community Development
This foundation’s giving for community development, particularly the maintenance and improvement of public green spaces, has increased in recent years. Grantees include Seattle’s Outdoors for All Foundation, Washington’s National Park Fund, the Nature Conservancy in Washington and the Issaquah Alps Trails Club.
Grants for Southeast Asian and Indian Causes
Jha and Mishra are involved with Hindu Temple and Cultural Center in Bothell, Washington, and steadily support the institution. Other grantees include Asha for Education Seattle Chapter, India Association of Western Washington, Pratham USA, and Kiran Anjali Project, which “links up with secular, grassroot organizations in India that work within our mission to provide education and job training to underprivileged children.”
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $1,000 to $100,000.
This foundation focuses on organizations in the Seattle area of Washington.
Jagran supports organizations of all sizes, and many of its grantees receive ongoing support.
This funder does not accept unsolicited requests for funding.
For additional information about past giving, see the foundation’s past tax filings.
The Jagran Foundation does not provide a way to get in touch, but its phone number is listed as 425-641-1631.
PEOPLE:
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CONTACT:
Jagran Foundation
5803 167th Ave SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
425-641-1631
