The Forever Plate Sustainability Fund Give once. Feed children for generations.
Your gift is invested, never spent. Every year, the proceeds put hot school meals in front of children in India. This year, next year, and every year after that.
One-Time Endowment Gift
Fund a Forever Plate
Gifts of $1,000 and multiples of $1,000
Tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Illustrative meal figures for presentation purposes.
The vessel that never empties
In the Mahabharata, the akshaya patra was a divine vessel with one extraordinary quality: it could never run out of food. For 25 years, Akshaya Patra has worked to make that ancient promise real for millions of schoolchildren across India.
The Forever Plate Sustainability Fund is that promise in financial form. Your gift becomes permanent principal in a charitable endowment. The principal is never touched. Only its annual proceeds are used, and they fund hot, nutritious school meals in perpetuity.
A vessel that never empties. A plate that is always full.
How It Works
One gift. Three simple movements.
You give once
Make a one-time gift of $1,000, or any multiple of $1,000. Your gift becomes permanent principal in the fund.
Your gift is invested
The principal is invested and never spent. It remains at work, year after year, as a lasting philanthropic asset.
The proceeds feed children
Each year, the annual proceeds fund hot school meals for children in India. Not once. Every year, in perpetuity.
Your $1,000 At Work
every year, forever, from a single $1,000 gift
Based on a projected 4 to 5 percent annual return and Akshaya Patra's cost of about 9 cents per meal. Illustrative figures for presentation purposes. Returns are not guaranteed.
Choose Your Forever
What your gift serves, every single year
| Your one-time gift | Meals funded each year | What that means |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | About 460 to 580 | Roughly 2 children fed for a full school year, every year |
| $5,000 | About 2,300 to 2,900 | Roughly 10 to 12 children fed for a full school year, every year |
| $10,000 | About 4,600 to 5,800 | Roughly 20 to 25 children fed for a full school year, every year |
| $25,000 | About 11,600 to 14,500 | Roughly 50 to 62 children fed for a full school year, every year |
Gifts are accepted in multiples of $1,000. Illustrative figures for presentation purposes.
Why Donors Choose This Fund
One gift, working three ways
Financial
- Tax-smart charitable legacy
- Permanent philanthropic principal
- Stewarded for long-term impact
Economic
- One gift creates recurring meals
- Invested for enduring leverage
- Annual proceeds support feeding
Social
- Helps children stay in school
- Supports nutrition and learning
- Creates lasting community impact
Questions, Answered
About the fund
For donors
Is my gift spent right away?
No. Your gift becomes permanent principal in the Forever Plate Sustainability Fund. The principal is invested and never spent. Only the annual proceeds are used to fund school meals, which is what allows one gift to feed children in perpetuity.
How many meals does my gift actually fund each year?
With a projected 4 to 5 percent annual return and a contribution of about 9 cents per hot meal, every $1,000 generates roughly 460 to 580 meals per year. These are illustrative figures for presentation purposes, and returns are not guaranteed.
Can I give more than $1,000?
Yes. The fund accepts one-time gifts of $1,000 and any multiple of $1,000. Every additional $1,000 adds roughly 460 to 580 more meals per year, forever.
Is my gift tax-deductible?
Akshaya Patra Foundation USA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. We do not provide tax, legal, or financial advice, so please consult your own advisors about your specific situation.
How is this different from a regular donation?
A regular donation is put to work right away and feeds children now. A Forever Plate gift is invested so it feeds children every year without ever needing to be given again. Both matter. This fund exists so that school meals never depend on any single year's fundraising.
Governance and stewardship
Who owns the Forever Plate Sustainability Fund?
The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA owns the fund.
Who makes decisions about the fund?
The Board of Directors of Akshaya Patra Foundation USA oversees the fund. The CEO and CFO are responsible for its execution.
Can the Operating Agreement be changed arbitrarily?
No. The Operating Agreement cannot be changed arbitrarily by anyone.
How will the proceeds be used? Feeding only, or kitchens and vehicles too?
By default, the proceeds are used for feeding. If a Forever Plate donor requests that the returns on their gift be directed to another purpose, such as kitchens or delivery vehicles, we will support that request.
Who manages the invested funds?
The fund is managed by Navina Wealth, an investment firm based in Houston, Texas. We may transition to another institution in the future depending on size, scale, and organizational needs.
What are the investment management fees?
Navina Wealth's fee schedule will be available on our website. Once the fund reaches $5 million, the fee decreases to 25 basis points.
How conservative is the investment approach?
We maintain a conservative investment policy that is reviewed quarterly and updated as needed. The policy will be available on our website.
What happens to the fund if Akshaya Patra USA ceases to exist?
If Akshaya Patra USA ceases to exist, the fund will be remitted to Akshaya Patra India to be used for feeding.
What if the US government were to close Akshaya Patra USA, or require that funds benefit only Americans?
This is unlikely but possible. It would be handled like the closure scenario described above, with the fund remitted to Akshaya Patra India to be used for feeding. We stay vigilant and will communicate clearly with donors if this ever arises.
Not ready for a $1,000 gift today?
Every gift feeds a child. Just $20 provides 232 meals, a full school year of lunches for one child. Give any amount and your impact starts immediately.
Make a gift of any size →Or stay close to the fund
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