The Irfan Kathwari Foundation appears focused on education-focused philanthropy, combining major institutional donations to higher-education institutions with direct support for individual students and an international diaspora-focused NGO. Their giving mixes a single large contribution to a regional university, substantial support for a Kashmir-focused organization, and a program of numerous individual scholarships, signaling interest in enabling access to post-secondary education and supporting a specific international community.
Irfan Kathwari Foundation Inc’s giving is defined by a mix of higher-education support, scholarship funding, and humanitarian grants. In 2025, its largest recent grant was a $500,000 contribution to WCSU Foundation in Danbury, Connecticut, followed by a $244,500 contribution to Chinar International in Herndon, Virginia. The foundation also made dozens of individual scholarships, including 92 scholarship recipients in Danbury for $104,750 in 2025 and 81 scholarship recipients there for $83,200 in 2023. That combination points to a funder that supports both institutions and direct educational access. The portfolio also includes support for organizations tied to refugees, displaced people, and crisis response. Grants to International Rescue Committee, Refugees International, and Human Rights Watch show that the foundation funds both service delivery and advocacy-oriented organizations. Another visible thread is Kashmiri and diaspora-focused education and community work, with contributions to Chinar International and Kashmir Education Initiative. Alongside those priorities, the foundation has also supported faith-based elder care, civic and policy groups, and local community organizations, showing a broad but education-centered pattern of grantmaking.
Education support appears across both institutions and individual students. The foundation gave $500,000 to WCSU Foundation for a contribution and $104,750 to 92 Scholarship Recipients for 92 individual scholarships, showing two distinct channels for post-secondary support. It also awarded $83,200 to 81 Scholarship Recipients in 2023, reinforcing that scholarships are not incidental. A second area is Kashmiri and diaspora-oriented work. Chinar International received $244,500 in 2025 and $60,000 in 2023, while Kashmir Education Initiative received $40,000 in 2023. These grants suggest sustained attention to education and community development linked to that community. The foundation also supports refugee and humanitarian organizations. Grants include $25,000 to International Rescue Committee, $22,000 to Refugees International for support of refugees, and $20,000 to Freedom House. That mix points to both direct humanitarian aid and broader rights-based work.
Typical grants are modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $5,000, a median of $13,750, and a p75 of $25,000. The distribution is wider than the median suggests because the foundation also makes occasional large institutional gifts. Its 2025 and 2023 filings show repeat support for several recipients across years, including scholarship recipients, Chinar International, Hebrew Home at Riverdale Fndtn, International Rescue Committee, Scenic Hudson Inc, Hope Community Services, and Yale Chief Executive Leadershp Inst. The foundation does not make grants to individuals directly; instead, the scholarship funding appears routed through recipient organizations or grouped recipient lists.
$1M
$23.6M
$2M
$1M
Most grants fall between $5K and $25K, with a median of $14K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$14K
75th Percentile
$25K
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Concentrated, high-dollar philanthropic style: a small number of grants each year that include one or two very large institutional contributions alongside a structured program of many smaller individual scholarships; focused rather than highly diversified.
Notable grantees: WCSU Foundation, Chinar International, Individual scholarship recipients (program of 92 scholarships)
Grants are concentrated in the United States, with 100% of recorded grants landing there. By recipient location, the most frequent state is Maryland, even though half of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s own New York state. Recent recipients are spread across Danbury, New Haven-area institutions, Bronx, New Rochelle, Poughkeepsie, Washington, DC, and Connecticut cities such as Bridgeport and Farmington. The pattern shows a regional footprint centered on the Northeast, with some grants reaching farther afield to Illinois, Texas, and Massachusetts.
Its recent grants center on education support, especially scholarships and higher-education institutions, along with refugee and humanitarian work. Named recipients include WCSU Foundation, Chinar International, International Rescue Committee, Refugees International, and Human Rights Watch.
The grant-size distribution is $5,000 at the 25th percentile, $13,750 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile. That sits alongside occasional larger gifts, including a $500,000 grant and several $50,000-level contributions.
Yes. The recent grants include 92 individual scholarships for $104,750 in 2025 and 81 scholarship recipients for $83,200 in 2023. Scholarship support is one of the clearest recurring themes in the record.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Chinar International, Hebrew Home at Riverdale Fndtn, International Rescue Committee, Scenic Hudson Inc, Hope Community Services, and Yale Chief Executive Leadershp Inst. That suggests repeated relationships rather than one-time awards only.
Its top state by grant count is Maryland. At the same time, 50% of grants go to recipients in New York, and the recent recipient map also includes Connecticut, Washington, DC, Illinois, Texas, and Massachusetts.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 77 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS | DANBURY, CT | $139,250 | 2026 | 92 INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES HOPE COMMUNITY SERVICES | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $108,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| EAI ASSOCIATE RECIPIENTS | DANBURY, CT | $56,500 | 2026 | STORM ASSISTANCE |
| WCSU FOUNDATION WCSU FOUNDATION | DANBURY, CT | $50,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| FUNKAR INTERNATIONAL FUNKAR INTERNATIONAL | ELLIOTT, MD | $50,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHINAR INTERNATIONAL CHINAR INTERNATIONAL | HERNDON, VA | $40,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL REFUGEES INTERNATIONAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $35,000 | 2026 | CONTRIB FOR SUPPORT OF REFUGEES |
| HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN | BRONX, NY | $35,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $25,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| KASHMIR EDUCATION INITIATIVE KASHMIR EDUCATION INITIATIVE | WAYLAND, MA | $25,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS AMERICAN RED CROSS | WASHINGTON, DC | $25,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| PEOPLE TO PEOPLE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE | NANUET, NY | $25,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SCENIC HUDSON INC SCENIC HUDSON INC | POUGHKEEPSIE, NY | $20,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| EAI ASSOCIATE RECIPIENTS | DANBURY, CT | $20,000 | 2026 | STORM ASSISTANCE |
| C S I S CSIS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST | CHEVY CHASE, MD | $20,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| INST FOR THE STUDY OF DIPLOMACY INST FOR THE STUDY OF DIPLOMACY | WASHINGTON, DC | $19,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| BEECHER FALLS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT BEECHER FALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT | BEECHER FALLS, VT | $15,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION | HOUSTON, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| WESTCHESTER MUSLIM CENTER WESTCHESTER MUSLIM CENTER | MT VERNON, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| ASIA SOCIETY ASIA SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND SEARCH FOR COMMON GROUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HEARTS & HOMES FOR REFUGEES HEARTS & HOMES FOR REFUGEES | PELHAM, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CT INST OF REFUGEES & IMMIGRANTS CT INST OF REFUGEES & IMMIGRANTS | BRIDGEPORT, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| RISE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN RISE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN | NEW YORK, NY | $9,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MAIDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MAIDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL | MAIDEN, NC | $8,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SALVATION ARMY DANBURY CORPS SALVATION ARMY DANBURY CORPS | DANBURY, CT | $8,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| SAMARITAN'S PURSE SAMARITAN'S PURSE | BOONE, NC | $8,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HUDSON-ATHENS LIGHTHOUSE PRES SCTY HUDSON-ATHENS LIGHTHOUSE PRES SCTY | ATHENS, NY | $7,500 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY | RYE BROOK, NY | $7,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| COMMONWELATH CRICKET OF NY COMMONWEALTH CRICKET OF NY | NEW YORK, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | TEAM SPONSORSHIP |
| OPEN CIRCLE NETWORK OPEN CIRCLE NETWORK | ELIOT, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| ENDOWMENT OF THE US INST OF PEACE ENDOWMENT OF THE US INST OF PEACE | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| IMRAN KHAN CANCER APPEAL IMRAN KHAN CANCER APPEAL | FARMINGTON, CT | $3,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| NBEA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD NBEA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,400 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| NEW ROCHELLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FNDTN NEW ROCHELLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FNDTN | NEW ROCHELLE, NY | $500 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER | BRONX, NY | $500 | 2026 | CONTRIBUTION |
| WCSU FOUNDATION WCSU FOUNDATION | DANBURY, CT | $500,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| CHINAR INTERNATIONAL CHINAR INTERNATIONAL | HERNDON, VA | $244,500 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| 92 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS | DANBURY, CT | $104,750 | 2025 | 92 INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN | BRONX, NY | $50,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION | GLENVIEW, IL | $25,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | NEW YORK, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| C S I S CSIS | WASHINGTON, DC | $20,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
| YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST | CHEVY CHASE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | CONTRIBUTION |
77 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
$139,25092 INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS
EAI ASSOCIATE RECIPIENTS
$56,500STORM ASSISTANCE
WCSU FOUNDATION WCSU FOUNDATION
$50,000CONTRIBUTION
FUNKAR INTERNATIONAL FUNKAR INTERNATIONAL
CONTRIBUTION
CHINAR INTERNATIONAL CHINAR INTERNATIONAL
$40,000CONTRIBUTION
CONTRIB FOR SUPPORT OF REFUGEES
HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN
$35,000CONTRIBUTION
EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
KASHMIR EDUCATION INITIATIVE KASHMIR EDUCATION INITIATIVE
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
PEOPLE TO PEOPLE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
SCENIC HUDSON INC SCENIC HUDSON INC
$20,000CONTRIBUTION
EAI ASSOCIATE RECIPIENTS
$20,000STORM ASSISTANCE
C S I S CSIS
$20,000CONTRIBUTION
YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST
$20,000CONTRIBUTION
INST FOR THE STUDY OF DIPLOMACY INST FOR THE STUDY OF DIPLOMACY
$19,000CONTRIBUTION
BEECHER FALLS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT BEECHER FALL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPT
$15,000CONTRIBUTION
WESTCHESTER MUSLIM CENTER WESTCHESTER MUSLIM CENTER
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
CT INST OF REFUGEES & IMMIGRANTS CT INST OF REFUGEES & IMMIGRANTS
$10,000CONTRIBUTION
MAIDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MAIDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
$8,000CONTRIBUTION
SALVATION ARMY DANBURY CORPS SALVATION ARMY DANBURY CORPS
$8,000CONTRIBUTION
HUDSON-ATHENS LIGHTHOUSE PRES SCTY HUDSON-ATHENS LIGHTHOUSE PRES SCTY
$7,500CONTRIBUTION
LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY
$7,000CONTRIBUTION
COMMONWELATH CRICKET OF NY COMMONWEALTH CRICKET OF NY
$5,000TEAM SPONSORSHIP
OPEN CIRCLE NETWORK OPEN CIRCLE NETWORK
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
ENDOWMENT OF THE US INST OF PEACE ENDOWMENT OF THE US INST OF PEACE
$5,000CONTRIBUTION
CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY CHILDREN'S THEATRE COMPANY
$2,000CONTRIBUTION
NBEA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD NBEA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
$1,400CONTRIBUTION
NEW ROCHELLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FNDTN NEW ROCHELLE PUBLIC LIBRARY FNDTN
$500CONTRIBUTION
MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER MONTEFIORE MEDICAL CENTER
$500CONTRIBUTION
WCSU FOUNDATION WCSU FOUNDATION
$500,000CONTRIBUTION
CHINAR INTERNATIONAL CHINAR INTERNATIONAL
$244,500CONTRIBUTION
92 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
$104,75092 INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIPS
HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN HEBREW HOME AT RIVERDALE FNDTN
$50,000CONTRIBUTION
EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION EVANS SCHOLAR FOUNDATION
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH
$25,000CONTRIBUTION
C S I S CSIS
$20,000CONTRIBUTION
YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST YALE CHIEF EXECUTIVE LEADERSHP INST
$20,000CONTRIBUTION