The Aaron and Virginia Fitt Foundation focuses almost exclusively on individualized scholarship support for a very small number of students, with an emphasis on overseas or international students (several grantees appear to be from India and Africa). Grants are targeted to immediate student needs—tuition, living expenses and travel—rather than institutional or programmatic funding. The foundation concentrates its giving, often making multiple awards to the same recipient to sustain a student’s progress.
Aaron and Virginia Fitt Foundation Inc centers much of its giving on individual scholarships and student support, often using direct payments for tuition, living costs, and travel rather than broad institutional grants. A clear pattern in the recent grants is repeated support to the same people across multiple years, including Smita Jagriya in Pune, who received awards for tuition, living expenses, and travel while studying. The foundation also supports students from conflict-affected or international settings through small, targeted awards: William Deng Garang Mayuom received a South Sudan medical scholarship, and Frank Mwema received scholarship and operating support tied to the Meheba Project. In a few cases, the foundation also funds organization-level student or community work, such as Ayii University for a mpox conference and Let's Walk Uganda for operating expenses. The overall profile is of a funder that gives modest but sustained grants to individuals, with some larger scholarship awards reserved for specific students.
Higher education scholarships are the foundation’s core activity. In 2025, it gave $20,450 to Poonam Waghri for a scholarship for an orphan child from India at College of the Atlantic, and in 2024 it gave the same recipient $20,000 for the same purpose. The funder also backs scholarship recipients in East Africa: Erick Akhim received $1,800 for a scholarship, and George Ntuli received $1,720 for a scholarship. Student support extends beyond tuition. Smita Jagriya received $10,055 in 2024 for scholarship assistance, living funds, and a plane ticket to India after graduation, while earlier awards covered tuition payments, winter-break living expenses, and monthly stipends. The foundation also made programmatic support for health education, including $9,980 to Ayii University for direct spending on funding a mpox conference.
Typical grants are small: the 25th percentile is $500, the median is $898, and the 75th percentile is $1,312. That distribution fits a model of direct, person-level support rather than large institutional awards, even though a few scholarships are much larger. Recurrence is a defining feature: Smita Jagriya received multiple awards across 2023 and 2024, and Poonam Waghri also appears in consecutive years. The foundation funds individuals directly and also makes restricted payments on behalf of scholarship recipients, including tuition and travel costs. Its latest 990 year on file is 2025, and it does not make program-related investments.
$139K
$35K
$69K
$91K
Most grants fall between $500 and $1K, with a median of $898.
25th Percentile
$500
Median
$898
75th Percentile
$1K
About 33% of grants go to recipients in NC.
Top 10 recipient countries by grant volume for Aaron and Virginia Fitt Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenya | 27 | $21K | 45.0% |
| 2 | India | 12 | $28K |
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Highly concentrated: very few grants per year, large share of funds to individual scholarship recipients, repeat awards to the same students rather than broad or institutional grantmaking.
Notable grantees: Poonam Waghri (College of the Atlantic scholarship, multiple grants), Frank Mwema (scholarship recipient), Smita Jagriya (scholarship and living/travel support)
Grant recipients are concentrated in East Africa and India. Kenya accounts for the largest share of recipient locations, with named grantees in Nakuru, Nairobi, Eldoret, Kilifi, and Siayah. India is another major cluster, including Pune and Andover, MA-based scholarship support tied to an orphan child from India. Uganda appears repeatedly as well, with recipients in Kampala, Mukono District, and Makindye. Smaller numbers reach South Sudan and Tanzania, showing a regional pattern rather than a single-city focus.
Its recent grants are dominated by individual scholarships and student support. Examples include scholarship awards, tuition paid on behalf of recipients, living-expense stipends, and travel costs for students. The foundation also occasionally funds related education and health projects, such as a mpox conference and operating support for student-oriented or community projects.
The typical grant is modest: the 25th percentile is $500, the median is $898, and the 75th percentile is $1,312. The pattern includes many awards around $1,000, alongside a few larger scholarship grants above $20,000.
Yes. The recent grants show multi-year support to the same recipients, including Smita Jagriya across 2023 and 2024 and Poonam Waghri in both 2024 and 2025. That suggests the foundation often uses recurring awards to sustain a student over time.
Recipient locations are concentrated in Kenya, India, and Uganda. Kenya is the largest recipient country by count, followed by India and Uganda. The recent grant list also includes smaller numbers in South Sudan and Tanzania.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 | Uganda | 9 | $7K | 15.0% |
| 4 | United StatesDomestic | 3 | $41K | 5.0% |
| 5 | Zambia | 2 | $25K | 3.3% |
| 6 | South Sudan | 2 | $4K | 3.3% |
| 7 | Sudan | 1 | $10K | 1.7% |
| 8 | Tanzania | 1 | $2K | 1.7% |
| 9 | Spain | 1 | $640 | 1.7% |
| 10 | South Africa | 1 | $268 | 1.7% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poonam Waghri | Andover, MA | $20,450 | 2025 | Scholarship for orphan child from India College of the Atlantic |
| Frank Mwema | Meheba | $19,524 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Ayii University | Munuki Miasaba Road | $9,980 | 2025 | Direct Spending on Funding a Mpox Conference |
| Frank Mwema | Meheba Camp | $5,390 | 2025 | Operating Expenses Meheba Project |
| Irene Barungi | Kilifi | $2,249 | 2025 | Operating Expenses Kenya Project |
| Deng William Mayuom | Juba | $2,200 | 2025 | Operating Expenses South Sudan |
| Erick Akhim | Nakuru | $1,800 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| George Ntuli | Kigamboni | $1,720 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| William Deng Garang Mayuom | Munuki Miasaba Road | $1,545 | 2025 | South Sudan Medical Scholarships |
| Derrick Kaganda | Makindye | $1,497 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Let's Walk Uganda | Makindye | $1,250 | 2025 | Operating Expenses |
| Irene Barungi | Kilifi | $1,175 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Valentine Ngige | Juju | $1,100 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| David Ogutu | Siayah | $1,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Joseph Aketh | nairobi | $1,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Kevin Kibet | Eldoret | $1,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Mbajjwe Wilson | Mukono District | $1,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Samwel Ombagi | Nairobi | $1,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Alexander Muema | Nairobi | $1,000 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Olga Septemba | Kampala | $999 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Ramah Namatovu | Kampala | $996 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Sharline Leon | Kilifi | $800 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Sharon Akinyi | Thika kiganjo | $775 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Mis Expenses | Durham, NC | $677 | 2025 | Asheville Emergency Assistance Program - Hurricane Helene Response creates and dog food direct spending for animal shelters impacted |
| Keneth Nabimanya | Masaka City | $672 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Smita Jagriya | Barcelona | $640 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Marion Michubu | Nairobi | $600 | 2025 | Anti-Poaching Award |
| Trinah Katusiime | Kampala | $512 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Mary Nganga | Maranga | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Kyobe Allan | Mukono District | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Fridah Mwangi | Nairobi | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Kennedy Musembi | Nairobi | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Denis Michubu | Nairobi | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Stacey Langali | Nairobi | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Irene Barungi | Kilifi | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Calvins Otieno | Nairobi | $500 | 2025 | Anti-Poaching Award |
| Powel Kazi | Siaya | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Beryl Opiyo | Kisumu | $500 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Ibanda Geofrey | Kampala | $499 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Alma Mwangi | Fort Smith Road | $425 | 2025 | Scholarship |
| Gerryl Mmayi | Kakamega County | $350 | 2025 | Anti-Poaching Award |
| Ali Ssempala | Isingiro | $300 | 2025 | Medical Expenses Support |
| Kasichana Salmin | Nairobi | $250 | 2025 | Anti-Poaching Award |
| Shreya Deshmukh | Pune | $245 | 2025 | AIC Scholarship |
| Eric Amini | Democratic Republic of | $100 | 2025 | Award |
| Poonam Waghri | Andover, MA | $20,000 | 2024 | Scholarship for orphan child from India College of the Atlantic |
| Smita Jagriya | Pune | $10,055 | 2024 | Scholarship assistance living funds plane ticket to India after graduation |
| Shreya Deshmukh | Pune | $494 | 2024 | Undergraduate partial tuition scholarship for student from low-income family |
| Kimera Kaganda | Kampala | $412 | 2024 | Asylum Assistance |
| Greg Shackleford | Himeville | $268 | 2024 | Animal welfare projects in Lesotho |
Poonam Waghri
$20,450Scholarship for orphan child from India College of the Atlantic
Frank Mwema
$19,524Scholarship
Ayii University
$9,980Direct Spending on Funding a Mpox Conference
Frank Mwema
$5,390Operating Expenses Meheba Project
Irene Barungi
$2,249Operating Expenses Kenya Project
Deng William Mayuom
$2,200Operating Expenses South Sudan
Erick Akhim
$1,800Scholarship
George Ntuli
$1,720Scholarship
William Deng Garang Mayuom
$1,545South Sudan Medical Scholarships
Derrick Kaganda
$1,497Scholarship
Let's Walk Uganda
$1,250Operating Expenses
Irene Barungi
$1,175Scholarship
Valentine Ngige
$1,100Scholarship
David Ogutu
$1,000Scholarship
Joseph Aketh
$1,000Scholarship
Kevin Kibet
$1,000Scholarship
Mbajjwe Wilson
$1,000Scholarship
Samwel Ombagi
$1,000Scholarship
Alexander Muema
$1,000Scholarship
Olga Septemba
$999Scholarship
Ramah Namatovu
$996Scholarship
Sharline Leon
$800Scholarship
Sharon Akinyi
$775Scholarship
Mis Expenses
$677Asheville Emergency Assistance Program - Hurricane Helene Response creates and dog food direct spending for animal shelters impacted
Keneth Nabimanya
$672Scholarship
Smita Jagriya
$640Scholarship
Marion Michubu
$600Anti-Poaching Award
Trinah Katusiime
$512Scholarship
Mary Nganga
$500Scholarship
Kyobe Allan
$500Scholarship
Fridah Mwangi
$500Scholarship
Kennedy Musembi
$500Scholarship
Denis Michubu
$500Scholarship
Stacey Langali
$500Scholarship
Irene Barungi
$500Scholarship
Calvins Otieno
$500Anti-Poaching Award
Powel Kazi
$500Scholarship
Beryl Opiyo
$500Scholarship
Ibanda Geofrey
$499Scholarship
Alma Mwangi
$425Scholarship
Gerryl Mmayi
$350Anti-Poaching Award
Ali Ssempala
$300Medical Expenses Support
Kasichana Salmin
$250Anti-Poaching Award
Shreya Deshmukh
$245AIC Scholarship
Eric Amini
$100Award
Poonam Waghri
$20,000Scholarship for orphan child from India College of the Atlantic
Smita Jagriya
$10,055Scholarship assistance living funds plane ticket to India after graduation
Shreya Deshmukh
$494Undergraduate partial tuition scholarship for student from low-income family
Kimera Kaganda
$412Asylum Assistance
Greg Shackleford
$268Animal welfare projects in Lesotho