On August 26, a runaway shelf of glacial ice above the Nepal-Tibet border broke loose, sending a wall of water and debris 62 miles down the valleys of Rasuwa, Nuwakot, and Dhading, demolishing everything in its path. As I write, more than 1,000 people are confirmed dead and more than 4,400 remain missing, across a stretch of the Himalaya so remote that rescue teams are still reaching villages on foot, days after the disaster.

I am writing to ask you to support AIF’s Nepal Relief & Recovery Fund and tell you why I believe this is exactly what AIF should do right now.

The New York Times has reported more than 500 foreign nationals from 23 countries among the missing, including more than 280 Indian citizens, many of them pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a route that Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Tibetan Bon practitioners have traveled for centuries to a peak each tradition regards as sacred. Ninety American citizens are also reported missing. Nearly every one of these travelers reached those mountains with the support of a Nepali guide, porter, driver, or lodge-keeper, and experienced the warmth of the local community—the very people this disaster has struck hardest.

AIF was founded in 2001, in the aftermath of the Gujarat earthquake, to connect the world’s two largest democracies in moments like this: bringing people together to support relief, recovery, and reconstruction for communities devastated by disaster. For 25 years—through the 2004 tsunami, the Kashmir earthquake, the Kedarnath floods, $44 million in COVID-19 relief that reached nearly four million people, and, just weeks ago, Assam’s flood-displaced families—we have built trusted partnerships on the ground and a track record of turning generosity into tangible results. We have done this work in Nepal before: after the 2015 earthquake, AIF partnered with UNICEF to rebuild 74 earthquake-resistant health facilities and help restore schooling and vaccine cold chains across fourteen districts.

Nepal Relief & Recovery Fund monies will be deployed through organizations working on the ground to provide emergency shelter, clean water, food, and clothing today, and to rebuild homes, schools, and livelihoods tomorrow. Winter will soon descend on these mountains, making that first need even more urgent. Every donation will help someone who has survived this current catastrophe take a critical step toward safety, dignity, and recovery.

You can trust AIF to monitor each dollar to ensure that it is deployed to serve those who need it most.

Landslides and floods don’t ask people what passport they carry or what language they pray in. They destroy indiscriminately, taking the lives of children, villagers, pilgrims, and tourists alike, indifferent to the boundaries of belonging we draw on paper. Few disasters show us, as starkly as this one, how little separates us—and how much we owe one another because of it.

AIF was built for defining moments like this. And with your support, we will meet this one, too.

Together in service,

Nishant Pandey

CEO, AIF

The application deadline for YAP has been extended to September 15, 2026 (11:59 PM EST).

Designed for U.S. high school students passionate about social change, YAP allows participants to lead impactful campaigns in education, public health, and livelihoods (individually or in teams of up to three).

Program runs:

October 1, 2026 – July 1, 2027.

Know a student or educator who would be a great fit? Encourage them to apply today!

AIF proudly celebrated India’s 80th Independence Day at the 44th India Day Parade in NYC. Over 60 staff, Banyan Impact Fellows, supporters, and corporate partners—including representatives from Accenture, Citi, Goldman Sachs, NBA, and S&P Global—marched alongside a vibrant float highlighting AIF’s 25-year legacy of driving social impact across education, public health, and livelihoods.

AIF gathered its Southern California community in Beverly Hills for an inspiring fireside chat at Anita Dongre’s boutique featuring Kevin S. Parikh, Chairman & CEO of Avasant. The evening highlighted AIF’s Digital Equalizer program—bridging the digital divide for over 10 million students across India—alongside insights from Ladli Foundation founder Devendra Kumar on grassroots work being done to empower girls and women with educational and livelihoods opportunities.

Join AIF at the inaugural Jaipur Literature Festival Los Angeles! From September 14–16, JLF LA brings together global writers, thinkers, and changemakers. Connect with the AIF community at the festival’s opening evening on September 14 at Tim Disney Hall as we celebrate 25 years of bridging the US and India through stories, ideas, and dialogue.

As global leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly, AIF will host a high-level discussion on the sidelines of UNGA centered on "Women’s Economic Empowerment in India: A Catalyst for Inclusive Growth."

Interested in joining? Email our Director, Growth, Nikita Khosla, at nikita.khosla@aif.org.

Join us at the Consulate General of India, San Francisco, to explore how AI technologies, when intentionally guided by human-centered values and ethics, can accelerate social impact and help organizations like AIF design bold futures for millions in health, education, and livelihoods.

Mark your calendars for AIF’s 14th Annual Golf Tournament on Tuesday, October 13, at the Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, New York. Don’t miss this day of friendly competition, community, and a chance to support AIF’s mission. Whether you're a seasoned golfer or just coming for the camaraderie, this is a great opportunity to network, play, and drive change. Contact Elena Constabile at elena.constabile@aif.org for more details.

Join the AIF Chicago Community for its annual gala on October 24, 2026 at the majestic Union Station. Be prepared for an evening of celebration, connection, and impact—we can’t wait to see you there!