Update on SHDF for Q2 2024

 We have continued to engage in significant activities consistent with our mission of providing scholarships to bright but financially disadvantaged students in Punjab and neighboring states in India for higher professional education. We are deeply grateful for your support and are pleased to share this update with you.

·      We have now completed the current Scholarship round for 2023-2024.  In this academic year, SHDF awarded a record number of 1823 scholarships.  This is a significant increase from the 1460 scholarships awarded last year.  These recipients were selected from over 3600 applications that were initially received and screened by our partner, Nishkam, in Delhi.
 
·      As per our usual procedures, over the past several months, each application was thoroughly assessed by our team in Delhi to ensure that it met the criteria of need and academic ability, and each one of them was then reviewed rigorously by our Board members here in Washington DC. Decisions were then made regarding the awarding of the scholarship.
 
·      To date, we have provided over thirteen thousand scholarships since we began in 2001. The scholarships have helped students become engineers, IT professionals, nurses, doctors, agriculturists, chartered accountants, finance professional etc. These scholarships are bringing back dignity and hope to the recipients, their families and the community.  With the multiplier effect of these scholarships through the families of scholarship recipients and their communities, the number of lives transformed is enormous.
 
·      As in earlier years, 75 percent of the scholarship recipients are female, and 65 percent are from rural areas.
 
·      It is important to note that more than a third of the recipients had an annual family income of less than Rs. 100,000 (that is less than $100 monthly).
 
·      Formal ceremonies awarding the scholarships have already taken place. Thus, the process that started in July last year is now complete.
 
·      We will soon be embarking on the new round with advertisements inviting applications being placed in the main newspapers.   Our center coordinators and volunteers will also be visiting colleges and universities, as well as specific rural areas, to publicize this opportunity to apply for assistance.   
 
·      We have now started deliberations regarding our goal for the 2024-25 academic year.  There is increasing demand as well as increasing costs in attending college.  In addition, we are finding an increasing number of applicants from poorer families and have therefore adjusted our guidelines to accommodate this.  With $550 allocated per scholarship, and an expectation of exceeding the number of scholarships awarded this year, we anticipate that we aim to raise over $800,000 this year.
 
·      A range of other activities have been initiated in recent months:
 
o   Diversification of computer/technology assisted organization documentation for members to work with;
o   Formalization of Canada Chapter to be fully operational;
o   Strengthening Relations with Nishkam through Virtual Meetings on Mentor-Mentee Program in India; Alumni Contacts and statistics;
o   Initiation of a unique Essay Competition on Dasam Patshah Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s teachings for SHDF scholarship recipients
 
·      We are also pleased to inform you that SHDF has been awarded the Platinum Seal of Transparency 2023 by Guidestar/Candid, the largest and premier source of information in the world on non-profits.  According to Guidestar, the Platinum rating is “the highest level of recognition a nonprofit can achieve. It indicates a commitment in sharing financial data, impact metrics, and resource stewardship." As Guidestar notes, less than 1 percent of nonprofits nationally achieve this rating. (The seals are awarded at the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels). It notes that “as the seals scale up, they require increasing amounts of information about an organization and its goals and effectiveness.”
 
·      To maintain this Platinum Seal, the SHDF has also adopted and implemented a Conflict-of-Interest Policy for all Board members and staff.  All involved have signed this policy and will be signing this on a yearly basis going forwards.
 
·      Currently we are in the process of a redesign of our website.  A local firm has been retained, meetings have been taking place and details of webpages are being worked on.  We hope that within the next several months we will have a more effective and dynamic website available to highlight our activities and invite participation from our donors and supporters.
 
We are truly grateful to you for all your past help and humbly request you to continue with your generous support and help us meet our goals. Education is a gift that keeps on giving. It is your generosity that will help young women and men, with great ability but meager means, realize their dream of higher education, and transform their lives.    
With warm regards and immense gratitude,
The SHDF Team
 
With deep gratitude,
The SHDF Team
www.shdf.org
contact@shdf.org