The SABA Foundation Commitment
Learn From Each Other | Champion Justice | Serve Together
We support South Asian communities in North America with roots in countries of South Asia including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
Mission
The South Asian Bar Association of North America Foundation supports access to justice through grant making and educational programming, by fostering collaboration among nonprofit organizations serving South Asian communities in North America, and by advancing causes important to the communities we serve.
We do this by:
Grant Making
Each year, the Foundation distributes funding to community-based organizations and other non-profits that provide much needed services to South Asian communities in North America. The Foundation funds work benefitting South Asian communities in North America related to domestic violence intervention; immigration rights; prevention of, and support for victims of hate crimes, discrimination and racial profiling; and other community access to justice issues.
Fellowships
The Public Interest Fellowship (“Fellowship”) is a joint program of the South Asian Bar Association of North America Foundation (SABA North America Foundation) and participating SABA Chapters. SABA North America Foundation plans to fund three to six grants, each ranging from $5,000 - $10,000 for law students or recent law graduates, who will be working in public-interest jobs.
Educational Programming
SABA North America Foundation has sponsored an Engaged Learning Series hosted by the South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO) and the South Asian American Policy & Research Institute (SAAPRI), a year-long series featuring webinars and podcasts that explore civil rights and key issues impacting South Asians and other affinity groups in the U.S.
In the past, SABA North America Foundation has also hosted “Learning Labs” and "Roundtables", a series of trainings led by seasoned attorneys and other experts on various topics such as nonprofit governance, immigration law, and bystander intervention.
Community Engagement
The SABA North America Foundation is deeply committed to community service and access to justice through hands-on, member-driven initiatives. SABACares connects SABA members with opportunities to give back directly to communities in need through service projects hosted at the annual SABA North America Conference. These efforts respond to local needs in the host city and have included assembling hundreds of care and activity kits for underserved students, with future projects focused on supporting survivors of domestic violence.
In parallel, the SABA Pro Bono Project expands access to legal services by bringing volunteer attorneys together to provide direct assistance to community members. Hosted in partnership with trusted local organizations, these clinics offer critical support in areas such as immigration law and powers of attorney, reinforcing SABA’s commitment to equity, dignity, and justice through the law.
Other Causes Important to Our Communities