About Vanitha
Indian American Association Of Women
Vanitha is a volunteer-based organization. Our mission is to provide services to communities in need, through educational forums and charity. Our mission is “Help for the Helpless and Education for All”
Our Story
Founded in 1995, Vanitha began with a simple yet powerful vision: to provide help for the helpless and education for all. What started as a small group of dedicated Indian American women in the Bay Area has grown into a thriving organization that has touched thousands of lives.
Support Our Mission
25+
Years of Service
10K+
Lives Impacted
Community. Dignity. Education. Compassion in Action.
Vanitha began as a gathering of women committed to supporting one another and extending that support to those in need. What started with a grant to the Abhaya Orphanage in India, providing education, nutrition, and safe shelter to orphaned children, has grown into a sustained, multi-regional effort focused on dignity, access, and long-term empowerment.
Today, Vanitha operates across multiple primary spheres of impact: local service in California, donations and grants to support those in need across USA and long-term global partnerships, primarily across different parts of India.
Locally, we support underserved communities in the Bay Area through direct action and community mobilization. Our efforts include organizing essential supply drives for the unhoused, distributing food and clothing to migrant farm workers in Salinas and Watsonville, supporting veterans and senior centers, partnering with women's shelters, and responding to disasters such as wildfires, floods, and the COVID crisis. We mobilized corporate laptop donations to equip under-resourced Oakland schools with functional computer labs, ensuring students could continue their education.
Beyond material aid, Vanitha invests in knowledge and mentorship. We organize education forums, health fairs, and workshops focused on career development and financial independence, particularly for women seeking economic self-sufficiency and women supporting and being present for other women and families through their challenging times, be it illness or disability is the best form of support. We believe that information, when shared responsibly, becomes a lever for long-term stability.
Globally, Vanitha partners with trusted, feet-on-the-ground organizations that serve vulnerable populations with transparency and accountability. Our grants support orphanages and care-leaver programs that mentor young adults aging out of institutional care. We fund vocational training and educational sponsorships for students from single-parent households or economically fragile families. We support residential schools and programs serving differently-abled children and adults, adivasi or oppressed communities. We contribute to pediatric cancer care, palliative care centers, and initiatives that provide compassionate end-of-life support to children and families facing terminal illness. We support teachers and Udaan school working in the Ajmer slums to feed and educate the children, and to provide them with basic needs. We also collaborate with select organizations to build homes and essential infrastructure for families living without safe shelter. We have adopted several schools and educational institutions building up the infrastructure, facilities, libraries and providing access to computers and computer literacy for these kids who would otherwise never get to see or use a computer. These efforts ensure a lasting legacy and support and capability for generations of children.
Across all initiatives, Vanitha remains volunteer-led, deeply community-rooted, and committed to careful stewardship of funds. We prioritize direct impact, trusted partnerships, and sustained engagement in our giving journey.
What began as a circle of women has evolved into a bridge, connecting resources to need, community to community, and compassion to action.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (Tax ID: 94-3223623), we operate entirely on volunteer power, who donate their time and resources to support our mission. This means 100% of your donations go directly to our programs and the communities we serve. Since inception, Vanitha has raised funds, donated and spent countless hours on various charitable activities and contributed to numerous local and global charities.
We rely on the support of this community to continue our work. It is your help that has sustained us through the past years as needs continue to mount. Our vision is to continue and broaden our efforts. We thank each and everyone of you for trusting us and supporting our mission. With company matching, your donations go a much longer way in supporting those in need.
Our Community in Action
Moments that capture the heart of Vanitha's work.
Vanitha empowers women and children in underserved communities through targeted educational grants, infrastructure projects, and direct community support. We support schools, fund critical facility improvements, sponsor select talented students who are unable to pay college and tuition, and partner with trusted grassroots organizations to close opportunity gaps and break cycles of poverty. Through volunteer mobilization, community forums, and disciplined grantmaking, we connect resources to need with accountability and measurable impact.
Compassionate support for vulnerable communities
Education as a pathway to empowerment
Breaking cycles of poverty through opportunity
A world where every woman and child has access to education, healthcare, and the support they need to thrive, regardless of their circumstances.
Universal access to quality education
Healthcare and well-being for all
Equitable support regardless of circumstances
Our Core Values
These principles guide everything we do at Vanitha.
We approach every individual with empathy and understanding, recognizing the dignity inherent in all people.
We believe in the transformative power of education to break cycles of poverty and empower communities.
We build bridges between cultures and foster a sense of belonging through shared service.
We maintain the highest standards of transparency and accountability in all our operations.
Our Leadership
Meet the dedicated volunteers who guide Vanitha's mission.
Board of Directors
View Past Leadership
Manju is an engineering executive who brings over three decades of experience leading and scaling global organizations. She makes a difference by turning ideas into structured action. She applies the same operational discipline, strategic clarity, and accountability to Vanitha's mission, expanding both global partnerships and hands-on local impact. She is committed to building an engaged community of volunteers and supporters, communicating our impact, fostering mentorship, and creating meaningful opportunities to serve with compassion. At the center of her leadership, driven by a lifelong passion to mentor and lift others up, is her belief that service is a shared responsibility and a profound source of joy, dignity, and human connection.
Geeta is an engineering architect and has been the driving force behind Vanitha since 2001, serving as President multiple times and doing the outreach into the community of supporters and sponsors and succession planning for sustained results. She is generous and tireless in her efforts to make a difference. Her passion and spirit are an inspiration for others. Her vision of empowering women and children through education and community support has touched thousands of lives.
Priya brings three decades of supply-chain management experience and is passionate about creating sustainable programs that create lasting change in communities. Her generous donations and efforts have touched many lives and institutions supporting women and children. She is passionate about mentoring and growing young people and enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience. Vanitha's activities provide great joy and meaning in her life.
Usha is a seasoned technology leader and community advocate serving as a Board Member on Vanitha's Charity Board. With close to three decades of experience in the tech industry, she currently works as a Technical Program Manager, driving AI-led innovation and enterprise programs. Beyond her professional achievements, Usha is a poet, blogger, and passionate patron of the arts, and an active SFJAZZ member who deeply supports music and cultural expression. Committed to philanthropy and women's empowerment, she brings strategic vision, compassion, and strong community engagement to Vanitha's mission of uplifting and supporting those in need.
Dolly is a dedicated volunteer and community leader committed to Vanitha's mission of empowering women and children through education and charitable service.
Annie brings years of experience in community service and volunteer leadership, championing Vanitha's programs that support underserved populations.
Lizy is a passionate advocate for education and women's empowerment, contributing her expertise to advance Vanitha's community impact initiatives.
Sucheta brings strategic vision and community engagement expertise to Vanitha's board, helping drive meaningful change for those in need.
Mary is a compassionate leader dedicated to Vanitha's charitable mission, actively supporting programs that serve vulnerable communities across California.
Shirley is a committed community volunteer who brings enthusiasm and dedication to Vanitha's outreach programs and fundraising efforts.
Smitha contributes her professional expertise and community spirit to support Vanitha's mission of providing help for the helpless and education for all.
Miji is an enthusiastic volunteer and board member who actively participates in Vanitha's community events and charitable programs.
Vibha brings her passion for community service and women's empowerment to Vanitha's board, helping shape programs that create lasting impact.
Want to Learn More?
We'd love to tell you more about our programs and how you can get involved.