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IIT (BHU) FOUNDATION INC

LOUDONVILLE, NY · EIN 853447003 · Form 990 · FY2025 · NTEE B12 · Education · Medium ($1M-$10M) · iitbhufoundation.org
revenue
$3.3M
expenses
$354K
net assets
$7.6M
employees
0
program ratio
66%
mission · from form 990

THE FOUNDATION IS A U.S. "FRIENDS OF" ENTITY FORMED BY INDIVIDUALS WHO WISH TO ADVANCE AND SUPPORT THE WORK OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, "IIT (BHU)"), A PUBLIC TECHNICAL AND RESEARCH UNIVERSITY LOCATED IN VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH, INDIA, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE THE PRINCIPAL (ALTHOUGH NOT NECESSARILY EXCLUSIVE) GRANTEE OF FUNDS DISTRIBUTED BY THE ORGANIZATION.

profile · synthesized from sources

IIT (BHU) Foundation Inc. is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization established to support the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, a premier technical university in India. The foundation raises funds to advance education and research at IIT (BHU) through scholarships, faculty support, infrastructure development, and research initiatives. It operates as a "friends of" organization, channeling donations from alumni and supporters in the U.S. to strengthen academic and innovation programs in India.

named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Campus Infrastructure Development
Supports construction and enhancement of academic, residential, and recreational facilities including hostels, faculty apartments, and student centers.
Digital Heritage Lab
Proposes a research lab using 3D scanning, VR, and AI to document and preserve India’s cultural and architectural heritage, particularly in the Purvanchal region.
Research Park I and II
Supports the development of research parks focused on Cyber-Physical Systems, AI, Health Engineering, and Water Resource Management.
Research Sponsorship and Faculty Support
Raises funds to sponsor cutting-edge research and support recruitment, retention, and recognition of top faculty at IIT (BHU).
Scholarships and Financial Aid for Students
Provides need-based scholarships and financial aid to students at IIT (BHU) to ensure access to education regardless of economic background.
School of Decision Sciences & Engineering
Funds the establishment of a new academic school offering an M.Tech program in Decision Sciences and Engineering at IIT (BHU).
activities · 7 groups

What they do

  • Clean Energy Workforce Training 1 activity
    • Building institutional and technical capacity in advanced engineering fields
      Trains students and professionals in advanced materials and chemical engineering techniques for renewable fuel production. Participates in the AWS Generative AI Accelerator (GAIA) Class of 2025, receiving cloud infrastructure support and mentorship to enhance technical capabilities.
  • Energy Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
    • Conducting research on sustainable materials and energy technologies
      Carries out research on high-performance batteries, fuel cells, solar energy, carbon capture, water purification, air pollution control, and soil restoration using advanced nanostructures. Focuses on scalable production of materials for renewable energy applications, including biofuels and sustainable fuels, with pilot-scale synthesis and industrial demonstration.
  • Archaeological and Cultural Conservation 1 activity
    • Documenting and preserving cultural heritage through digital technologies
      Operates a Digital Heritage Lab that uses digital tourism technologies to explore, document, and preserve lesser-known heritage sites in India, particularly in the Purvanchal region, analyzing the influence of social, cultural, and religious factors on built environments.
  • Climate Change Research and Advocacy Funding 1 activity
    • Funding research initiatives at IIT (BHU)
      Raises and allocates capital to sponsor cutting-edge research in areas including materials science, energy innovation, sustainable technologies, biofuels, carbon capture, renewable energy integration, and waste-to-energy solutions. Supports research center development, equipment procurement, staff recruitment, and industry collaboration.
  • Industry-Specific Student Scholarships and Competitions 1 activity
    • Funding student innovation and entrepreneurship
      Awards $30,000 in seed funding to nine student-led startups from IIT (BHU) and provides mentorship through alumni engagement. Also established the “Above & Beyond Fund,” a one crore rupee endowed fund to support exceptional undergraduate students demonstrating initiative, curiosity, and innovation.
  • Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
    • Providing scholarships and financial aid to students
      Offers scholarships and financial assistance to students at IIT (BHU) regardless of financial background to reduce economic barriers and support academic success and personal development.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Funding infrastructure and facility development at IIT (BHU)
      Supports the construction, renovation, and expansion of academic and student facilities at IIT (BHU), including the Malviya Student Activity and Computing Centre (MSACC), Yavatkar Convention Centre (YCC), a G+8 multipurpose annex tower for the Chemical Engineering Department, and laboratory upgrades for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Includes planned development of centers such as CREAMS and CREST with multi-year budgets totaling tens of crores of rupees.
    • Funding teaching and learning enhancements at IIT (BHU)
      Provides grants for educational infrastructure, including US$5,000 for second-hand equipment for a Tinkering & Prototyping lab and support for experimental, engaging, and inclusive curriculum development. Also funds the establishment of specialized labs such as the Big-Data and Computation Laboratory (BDaC) and Digital Heritage Lab.
financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$3.27M
Contributions & grants$2.01M62%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1.26M38%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$354K
Program expenses66%
Admin / overhead22%
Fundraising12%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$232K
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$7.65M
Cash$554K
Investments$5.76M
Liabilities$48K
Net assets$7.60M
Liquid reserves214.2 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +158.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
SAGAR BHIMAVARAPU CEO 10 $75K
board members · 5
  • NARESH JAIN — CHAIRMAN
  • RAJ YAVATKAR — BOARD MEMBER
  • RAMESH SRINIVASAN — DIRECTOR
  • SOUMYO SARKAR — DIRECTOR
  • VIKASH AGARWAL — SECRECTARY
relationships · 15

Who they work with

  • AWS Generative AI Accelerator Partner — Selected for the GAIA Class of 2025, receiving cloud infrastructure support and mentorship.
  • Archaeological Survey of India Government — References ASI as a key agency responsible for protecting and maintaining heritage monuments in India, indicating alignment with national heritage preservation efforts.
  • Department of Architecture, Planning and Design Partner — Collaborates to establish the Tinkering & Prototyping lab, providing space and integrating with existing curriculum and lab facilities.
  • Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology Partner — Collaborates with CREST by providing technical expertise in chemical engineering and materials science.
  • Dr. Raj Yavatkar Partner — Alumnus and donor whose contribution supported the development of the Yavatkar Convention Centre at IIT (BHU).
  • E-Cell at IIT BHU, Varanasi Partner — Collaborates with the IIT (BHU) Foundation as co-title sponsor of E-Summit’26.
  • IIT (BHU) Partner — Collaborates with IIT (BHU) faculty on research and infrastructure development projects.
  • IIT (BHU) Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology Partner — Host academic department providing foundational support and institutional alignment for CREAMS.
  • Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi Partner — Primary beneficiary and implementing institution for Foundation-funded projects including infrastructure, scholarships, and research.
  • Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University) Partner — Principal grantee of funds distributed by the organization; the primary institution the foundation exists to support.
  • Lightspeed Venture Partners Funder — Backed the company in significant investment rounds as of 2025.
  • Shashank Bhonge Partner — Alumnus contributing technical expertise and support to student-led semiconductor innovation.
  • Sri Sagar Bhimavarapu Partner — Alumnus co-spearheading the AURA Lab to enable student-led semiconductor projects.
  • Sri Sunil Khanna Partner — Alumnus leading the AURA Lab initiative to support student innovation in deep-tech engineering.
  • Vijay Panyala Partner — Alumnus providing technical input and support for undergraduate semiconductor research at IIT (BHU).
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Expertise-Driven Sustainable Innovation
    methodology: expertise-driven research
    By leveraging institutional strengths in chemical engineering and advanced materials, the foundation advances sustainable technologies—particularly in renewable fuels—through research that emphasizes industrial scalability and continuous process integration.
  • Financial Access and Excellence Reinforcement
    methodology: financial_access_aid
    By providing scholarships and financial aid alongside support for top-tier faculty and research, the foundation ensures equitable access to education while simultaneously elevating institutional excellence and global competitiveness.
  • Friends-of Model for Strategic Grantmaking
    methodology: friends-of-model
    By operating as a U.S.-based "Friends of" organization, the foundation channels donor contributions to align with IIT (BHU)'s strategic plans, ensuring that funding priorities directly support institutional development and long-term academic goals in India.
  • Infrastructure-Led Academic and Research Advancement
    methodology: infrastructure-led academic development
    By investing in modernized, expanded, and specialized physical infrastructure—including laboratories and faculty facilities—the foundation enables academic growth, supports cutting-edge research, and bridges innovations from lab to industry at scale.
  • Peer and Experiential Learning Ecosystem
    methodology: peer_to_peer_learning
    By integrating hands-on tinkering, faculty mentorship, and peer-to-peer collaboration in lab-based environments, the foundation fosters deeper student engagement and innovation, enabling students to translate theoretical knowledge into practical deep-tech applications.