Akanksha Education Fund (AEF) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering students from underserved communities in India to unlock their full potential by providing access to transformative school experiences and effective school-to-work transitions.
For over three decades, we have proudly supported The Akanksha Foundation in India in their innovative programs that provided a high-quality education to underserved children. Our more recent work also extends support by providing resources and guidance to help students make a smooth transition to higher education and career prospects. Our work includes:
- The School Project — a network of 26 public-private partnership schools across Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur
- Project Setu — a program that creates systemic impact by bringing Akanksha’s best practices to 220 schools in 2 municipal corporations in Maharashtra
- School to Work — We also build partnerships as part of this comprehensive program, ensuring students have access to opportunities to build economic mobility and progress beyond the classroom.
Through our work, we strive to create pathways out of generational poverty, and equip students with the skills and resources they need to lead lives of agency and purpose.
What Sets Akanksha Apart
- Akanksha schools enroll students in kindergarten, and track them until the time they graduate college and begin to work – close to a 20-year partnership with the student and family.
- The schools are free to attend with a lottery-based admission process to ensure equitable access to an Akanksha education for ALL children, irrespective of their socio-economic backgrounds.
- 85% of Akanksha school alumni are on track to either pursue further education or join the workforce and there has been a 14% increase in average income of Akanksha alumni from 2022-23 to 2024-25
- Akanksha’s holistic learning experience encompasses academic learning, digital literacy, socio-emotional well-being, and arts and physical education, helping each child reach their full potential.
- Akanksha’s parent engagement program involves the parents as partners in the learning journey of their children. Parents are part of the School Management Committee (SMC) and wholeheartedly participate in the functioning of the school.
