Welcome to Fortune Fund

The Fortune Fund is a non-profit organization designed to recognize and promote academically bright students from economically disadvantaged families in India and the United States. This non-profit is certified under the US 501(c)3 and India 80G tax-exempt status.

About Us

India-Based Program

The Fortune Fund provides books and uniforms to sponsored students, and has also been allocated to aid students in other areas where needs arise, such as facility and resource improvements. To keep the students from sitting on the dusty classroom…

US-Based Program

As support for the Fortune Fund has grown, founder Day Veerlapati decided to expand the charity from its focus on India to include rural schools in the US. He became aware of Bevier High School through a family connection and learned that less than 10% of the graduates enrolled in a 4-year college, through a research report done by a group of high school students during a summer internship.

Fortune Fund History

2003

The Fortune Fund was founded

Day Veerlapati initially had the idea to found the Fortune Fund in 2001 and set about starting the foundation. He applied for 501(c)3 charitable status in 2003.

2004

Began sponsoring Viveka Vardhini School and Zilla Parishad High School

In 2004, the Fortune Fund began sponsoring Viveka Vardhini School and Zilla Parishad High School. Zilla Parishad High School had limited access to clean drinking water. The Fortune Fund was able to drill a well that could provide clean drinking water for the school as well as the community of…Read More

2011

Began sponsoring Kavitha Junior College

The Fortune Fund began sponsoring Kavitha Junior College, which consists of 11th and 12th grade students (based on US grade levels)

2013

Began sponsoring Zilla Parishad Secondary and Patancheru Secondary School

The Fortune Fund began sponsoring Zilla Parishad Secondary and Patancheru Secondary School. The Fortune Fund approached these schools with the goal of expanding the program to additional needy students/schools

2015

Introduced the 1st annual Walk for Wisdom

The Walk for Wisdom was held for the first time and has been held annually ever since. This event is a “virtual” 1 mile walk held by participants around the globe

2017

Introduced a new program, Sponsor-A-Student

The Sponsor-A-Student program was introduced as a way to build more in-depth relationships between sponsors and students, though the program has been suspended due to COVID Regulations (return date indeterminate).

2021

Created the US Based College Scholarship Program

As donations increased, Day now had the funding necessary to create the US Based College Scholarship Program for academically gifted students in a rural Missouri community that didn’t have many students matriculate to college.

2023

Began sponsoring Sri Saraswathi Shishu Mandir School

In 2023, the Fortune Fund began sponsoring Sri Saraswathi Shishu Mandir Bhadrachalam School with the goal of turning this boarding school into a self-sustaining community and one of the top schools for children in tribal communities.

70%

of people in India live in rural areas

(approx.1 billion people)

25%

of the US population lives in rural areas

(approx. 75 million people)

$75 will cover all education, uniforms, and testing costs for one student in India through the entire academic/school year in the seventh through tenth grades.

Because of the dense population in India, almost everyone has access to high-speed internet and therefore don’t have any issues with global awareness. Instead, it’s more about access to food and water, and financial resources necessary to stay in school and support their families. Indian children have tons of family support from their parents.

Rural areas in the US struggle with emotional and family support, oftentimes being raised by extended family members. Additionally, over 50% of students receive government subsidized free lunches, which are the largest meal they eat for the day.