We grant scholarships for higher professional education to bright students from low-income families in Punjab and other Northern Indian states. Meeting a critical need in funding for higher education, during the past two decades, we have provided more than thirteen thousand scholarships, nearly three-quarters to women; two-thirds from rural areas.
Guided by the principles of Sikhism, we are committed to serving humanity by addressing urgent needs in our community:
In 1999, six professionals from the Washington Metro area learned about the disappointment and lack of opportunity to pursue professional college education by a large number of bright but poor students in Punjab More so, female students coming from low-income families were disproportionately being denied higher professional education due to lack of family financial resources. Inspired by Sikh Philosophy, the spirit of Sewa, these six professionals took the initiative to set up the Sikh Human Development Foundation to provide scholarships to such disadvantaged children. The Foundation was registered as a non-profit tax-exempt organization. In 2001, the first 22 scholarships were awarded to children from families whose incomes were below the poverty line.
SHDF has been awarding scholarships since 2001. For over two decades, we partnered with the Nishkam Sikh Welfare Council in New Delhi to implement this program. In 2025, SHDF established a new partnership with the Sikh Educational Society (SES) in Punjab to continue our mission. SES is headquartered in Chandigarh and Faridkot and has an outstanding record going back almost a century, overseeing eighteen schools and colleges across Punjab and Chandigarh.
SHDF determines the rules and procedures, application formats, as well as selection criteria.
SES now manages all scholarship operations in India, including application processing, written tests, and interviews. The entire application process is fully online, making it easier and more accessible for students in both rural and urban areas. Applicants first take a written test, followed by interviews and recommendations. The completed applications are then forwarded to SHDF. SHDF reviews each application in detail and determines the need-based scholarship amount for every eligible student.
All recipients come from low-income families. The average household annual income of the awardees in 2024 was approximately equal to $1,175 per annum—that is, less than US$100 a month (less than 8,000 Rupees a month). Our students include orphans, children of widows, terminally sick parents, farmers who committed suicide, drivers, female tailors operating from home, female domestic servants, Gurdwara sevadars, milkmen, agricultural laborers, pensioners, and others. In recent years, almost three quarters of the scholarship recipients have been young women, and in aggregate around two-thirds are from Punjab villages.
Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance, maintaining at least 60% overall marks in the last two semesters or the previous academic year. Additionally, the applicant’s household income must not exceed Rs. 250,000 per year (less than $250 per month).
No, SHDF scholarships are need-based. The amount is determined by evaluating each student’s educational expenses, family income, number of college-going siblings, and any financial assistance they receive from other sources.
The cost to sponsor one student is $550. This is reviewed each year and may change based on inflation and fee structures.
SHDF has so far provided more than 13,000 scholarships, all given to bright but financially-disadvantaged students to help them become doctors, engineers, IT professionals, Agriculturists, Nurses, Chartered Accountants, etc. Of these, more than 6,000 scholarship recipients have already graduated and most of them are well-employed. 66% of the scholarships were allocated to students from rural areas of Punjab and 75% to female students. The transformational impact on these students, their families and the community is remarkable. These scholarships are bringing back dignity and hope to the recipients, their families and the community. In addition to providing scholarships, SHDF is holding workshops to impart communication, leadership and entrepreneurial skills to the scholarship recipients.
Yes, our scholarship program strongly advocates female college education by encouraging more and more female students to apply. Offering quality and universal education to young girls promotes progress for society as a whole. This is not only important for women empowerment but also has far reaching and multiplying effects.
SHDF scholarships are granted to all eligible students irrespective of religion, caste or creed.
Here is a glance at the most recent scholarship distribution:
More than 6,000 Scholarship recipients have graduated. Most have found good jobs, and are working as engineers, nurses, IT professionals among others.
Compared to most other non-profit organizations, SHDF overheads are quite low. All Board members travel to India on their own expense to supervise implementation of the program. Ten SHDF Centers in Punjab, Delhi and Haryana are manned by volunteers (college professors, college staff and some students).
Apart from holding an annual Fund Raising Dinner in the USA, SHDF makes funds’ appeals in community centers and Gurdwaras. Due to its transparency and open approach SHDF is fortunate to have loyal support from a group of major donors in the USA, with recent very generous contributions from supporters from California. Donors have also come forward from the UK, Australia, Canada and a few other countries. We have also formed Chapters in Richmond and Cleveland (more to be formed in other cities).
SHDF will continue to provide almost two thousand scholarships every year. We will also continue to hold soft-skill development training workshops for the scholarship recipients. Additional steps have been taken recently to form a Student Alumni forum, encouraging past graduates to become engaged in helping new students and also supporting SHDF’ financially. We are also exploring an important “Mentor-Mentee” program.
Current Goals
You can transform the lives of bright and needy students! No donation is too small. Please donate whatever best you can.
You can:
All donations to SHDF are tax deductible as SHDF is a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3). Our federal tax ID number is 52-2171746.
We are the premier organization outside of India that provides funding to young women and men who have ability and aspiration to go into higher education and yet their poverty does not allow them to do so.
Our operating principles are based on transparency, accountability, and low administrative cost. Our accounts are audited every year and are available to donors.
Education is the only sustainable solution to the challenges facing the youth, (including a rapid rise of drug addiction), particularly in Punjab but also elsewhere in India.
Your contribution is critical for the struggling youth. Their futures and their families’ and communities’ futures are dependent on education. They must not remain excluded from economic opportunities. With your contribution, you can help transform lives.
Contact us:
Email: info@shdf.org
facebook.com/SHDFInfo
Phone: 240-780-1530
Our Mailing Address is:
10504 Riverbend Lane, Potomac, MD 20854
The Sikh Human Development Foundation is dedicated to catalyzing transformative change by offering scholarships to underserved yet ambitious students across Punjab and nearby regions. Through donor support, the Foundation has helped empower students to pursue advanced education and professional opportunities in diverse fields, awarding over 13,000 scholarships over the past two decades.