Philanthropy is universal and timeless. The act of giving back is not bound by race, ethnicity or color.

The Aastha Horizons Fund is managed and operated by a group made up of predominantly Lancaster County Indian-Asian Americans. Its mission is to help everyone in an attempt to make their home a better place to live.

"My favorite part is the philanthropy," said Manjeet Kaur, one of the founders of the Aastha Horizons Fund and a resident of Manheim Township. "We've been given so much by Lancaster County, and now we want to give back. Everybody does it for different reasons. I saw my family and dad (give back). When you see enough of it, it feels like your duty."

"Giving begins at home," said Reema Parikha, an advisory group member who resides in East Hempfield Township. "I feel like this fund is the gift that keeps on giving. It's amazing to see how these funds are used."

Overseen by an advisory group and conducted in association with the Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF), the Aastha Horizons Fund is a giving circle that raises funds through donations and distributes them to Lancaster County nonprofits via a grant application process. The fund's advisory group meets on a regular basis but does not operate from a brick-and-mortar office.

Translated from Indian culture, Aastha means faith, belief, trust and hope for a better tomorrow.

"Aastha is a very simple word," said Kaur. "As humans, we can approach people who are looking at the dawn and give them a little bit of extra hope for a better tomorrow. It's what we want to do. We want to make a difference. We want (the fund) to continue to grow."

Aastha Horizons Fund's grant process is initiated with advisory group members inviting local nonprofits to apply for grants. Once the grant applications are received, the advisory members meet as a group, discuss the nonprofits' merits and needs and then vote on the applications.

Before a final approval is granted, the advisory group interviews officials of the nonprofits requesting the grants.

"We try to focus on organizations that are less heard of," said Nishit Trivedi, a member of the advisory group who resides in West Hempfield Township.

"It's not just the money," said Rao Sankarmanchi, an advisory group member and a resident of West Hempfield Township. "We're looking for people to partner with as volunteers. We want to help out in any way we can."

Typically, the Aastha Horizons Funds awards grants in the $2,500 range. In 2024, the fund awarded five grants to local nonprofits, and over the course of its three-year existence, the Aastha Horizons Funds has granted more than 10 awards, including ones to Power Packs, Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, the Turkish Philanthropy Funds, Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development, Milagro House, Aaron's Acres, Reach Out and Read of Lancaster County, Lancaster Science Factory and Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services.

"As we're going through the grant process, the organizations are getting to know us, and they're sharing about us," said Rakesh Popli, a member of the advisory group and a resident of West Lampeter Township. "In three years, I feel like we've accomplished some significant achievements."

"I think the word is getting out (about the Aastha Horizons Fund's work)," said founding member Deepa Balepur, who resides in West Hempfield Township.

Aastha Horizons Funds raises money through events and private donations, some of which originate from the members of the advisory group.

"It's a giving circle," said Trivedi. "We have resources coming in, and the funds are managed by the Lancaster County Community Foundation, and the grants are written by the community foundation. While the funds are sitting there, they are invested and managed properly."

Near the end of 2021, Balepur was an LCCF board member when she had an idea that evolved into the Aastha Horizons Fund.

"Deepa started the process," said Kaur. "It was her vision, and she connected people. She called me to be part of the process. I was already involved with a similar organization, but we were mostly putting out fires. What Deepa told me is, 'We're trying to do it as continually funding.' That really resonated with me."

"I was exposed to the concept of collective giving at Lancaster County Community Foundation," said Balepur. "It was very intriguing. As I started talking to people, there were others who wanted to be engaged as well. Everybody brings different levels of expertise. It started with 'it sounds cool,' but it can be better if we bring other people on board."

For additional information, go to http://www.lancfound.org/aastha-horizons-fund.