What is Friends of HUA
Friends of HUA are dedicated supporters, volunteers, and ambassadors of Hindu University of America who come together in local communities across the U.S. to strengthen HUA’s presence on the ground.
Each FoHUA chapter serves as an extension of the university, fostering awareness, building community, and advancing HUA’s mission through local outreach, fundraising, and enrollment efforts. Friends of HUA are friends in name, partners in action. Together, we’re shaping the future of Hindu Studies.
Mission of Friends of HUA
The mission of Friends of HUA is to create a strong, community-based support system that advances the vision of Hindu University of America. Friends of HUA chapters embody the university’s values in local communities, serve as a bridge between HUA and the Hindu diaspora, and ensure that the treasures of Sanātana Dharma are accessible to future generations.
Specifically, Friends of HUA work to:
Build vibrant local chapters that foster awareness, represent HUA’s values, and engage the community through events, workshops, and dialogues that highlight Hindu knowledge, culture, and philosophy.
Support HUA’s growth by enrolling students, mobilizing resources, and cultivating committed donors and well-wishers to ensure the university’s long-term sustainability.
Strengthen community connections by serving as ambassadors of HUA, building partnerships with mandirs and Hindu organizations, and carrying forward the vision of a dharmic university for generations to come.
Upcoming Events
Oct 24, 2025
Florida
Nov 9, 2025
New Jersey
Jan 10, 2026
Los Angeles
HUA-Saṃvāda is an ongoing fundraising dialog with the seekers of personal and societal transformation through the lens of knowledge systems, culture and traditions of Hindu Dharma in an atmosphere of academic excellence involving critical inquiry, ethics, and self-reflection.
Become a Friend of HUA
Ways You Can Give
Card or eCheck
Supporting HUA can be as simple as a few clicks online. You may use your debit card, credit card, or eCheck (direct payment from your bank account) to make a one-time contribution.
Matching Gift
Did you know your employer might double—or even triple—your gift? Many companies have matching gift programs where they contribute an equal or greater amount to the charity of their employee’s choice.
Qualified Charitable Distribution
If you are 70½ or older, the IRS requires you to take a minimum distribution (RMD) from your traditional IRA. Instead of taking that distribution as taxable income, you can direct it to HUA as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
Charitable Bequest
One of the most meaningful ways to support HUA is through your estate planning. By including a charitable bequest to HUA in your will or living trust, you create a legacy that will endure long after your lifetime.
Donor Advised Funds (DAF)
A Donor Advised Fund is like a charitable investment account that you can set up through financial institutions, community foundations, or organizations like Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable.
Bank Draft
A bank draft (ACH transfer) or wire transfer allows you to send funds directly from your bank account to HUA.
Check
For many, writing a check remains a simple and heartfelt way to give. Both personal and business checks are welcome, and they often come with the joy of knowing your gift was intentional and tangible.
- Card or eCheck
- Matching Gift
- Qualified
Charitable Distribution - Charitable
Bequest - Donor Advised
Funds (DAF) - Bank Draft
- Check
Card or eCheck
Supporting HUA can be as simple as a few clicks online. You may use your debit card, credit card, or eCheck (direct payment from your bank account) to make a one-time contribution.
More Details >Matching Gift
Did you know your employer might double—or even triple—your gift? Many companies have matching gift programs where they contribute an equal or greater amount to the charity of their employee’s choice.
More Details >Qualified Charitable Distribution
If you are 70½ or older, the IRS requires you to take a minimum distribution (RMD) from your traditional IRA. Instead of taking that distribution as taxable income, you can direct it to HUA as a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD).
More Details >Charitable Bequest
One of the most meaningful ways to support HUA is through your estate planning. By including a charitable bequest to HUA in your will or living trust, you create a legacy that will endure long after your lifetime.
More Details >Donor Advised Funds (DAF)
A Donor Advised Fund is like a charitable investment account that you can set up through financial institutions, community foundations, or organizations like Fidelity Charitable or Schwab Charitable.
More Details >Bank Draft
A bank draft (ACH transfer) or wire transfer allows you to send funds directly from your bank account to HUA.
More Details >Check
For many, writing a check remains a simple and heartfelt way to give. Both personal and business checks are welcome, and they often come with the joy of knowing your gift was intentional and tangible.
More Details >Large Donor Circles
(Yearly/Lifetime/Legacy)
TIER 1
- Sushruta Patrons
- Kautilya Pathfinders
- Maitreyi Pioneers
- Vyasa Custodians
Medium Donor Circles
(Annual Giving Campaign)
TIER 2
- Shanti
- Sukha
- Ananda
Small Donor Circles
(Monthly Giving Campaign)
TIER 3
- Seva
- Mitra
- Shraddha
FAQ
Why Friends of HUA?
Friends of HUA exists because Hindu University of America cannot achieve its vision alone. While HUA provides the academic framework: courses, faculty, and programs, it is the Friends who carry this mission into their local communities, making it visible, accessible, and sustainable.
FoHUA is needed because:
Awareness: Too many Hindus in America are still unaware that an accredited university dedicated to Hindu Studies even exists. Friends of HUA are the university’s ambassadors, spreading the word where it matters most: among families, youth, mandirs, and organizations.
Community Connection: A university cannot thrive in isolation; it must be rooted in community. Friends of HUA create that living bridge, ensuring that what is taught at HUA reaches the homes and hearts of Hindus everywhere.
Sustainability: Like all universities, HUA requires strong and consistent support. Friends of HUA mobilize resources, both financial and human, that keep the university stable and allow it to grow, ensuring affordable tuition and world-class academic programs in the field of Hindu Studies.
Legacy: Friends of HUA help secure something much bigger than a single course or program. They are investing in the long-term preservation of Sanātana Dharma in America, ensuring that future generations inherit the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual wealth of their tradition.
In short, FoHUA is the grassroots force that transforms HUA’s vision into reality, building a nationwide movement to sustain dharmic education for generations to come.
Why should I join Friends of HUA?
By joining Friends of HUA, you become part of a larger movement to preserve, protect, and promote Sanātana Dharma through education. While HUA provides high-quality courses and programs, it is the chapters that ensure this knowledge reaches households, mandirs, and Hindu organizations in every city. Your participation will help create a cultural and intellectual foundation for future generations of Hindus in America. Beyond this mission-driven impact, joining Friends of HUA also connects you with like-minded individuals in your area, giving you opportunities to serve, learn, and build community together.
What do Friends of HUA chapters do?
Each chapter is dynamic and adapts to the needs of its community, but core activities include:
- Organizing events such as fundraisers, seminars, panel discussions, conferences, retreats, and workshops.
- Representing HUA local community events and introducing HUA’s academic programs to students, parents, and professionals.
- Building relationships with local mandirs, community associations, and Hindu organizations.
- Creating opportunities for donors and well-wishers to contribute to HUA’s mission.
In essence, chapters act as both ambassadors and advocates, amplifying HUA’s presence locally.
Do I need to be a donor to join?
No. Friends of HUA is about partnership, not only financial giving. While donations are always welcome, there are many other meaningful ways to contribute, whether by volunteering your time, offering your professional expertise, hosting an event, sharing HUA’s work with your networks, or helping recruit students. Every contribution matters, and together, small efforts multiply into big impact.
How much time commitment is expected?
The time commitment varies based on your role and availability. Chapter leaders (such as Presidents or Coordinators) typically commit several hours each month to plan and guide activities. Volunteers may commit anywhere from a couple of hours a month to helping at specific events. The key principle is flexibility: Friends of HUA is designed to integrate with your existing life, while offering you an opportunity to serve dharma meaningfully.
How are Friends of HUA chapters organized?
Chapters are structured with a small leadership team that usually includes a President/Chair, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and an Outreach Lead. Larger chapters may add event coordinators or enrollment leads. HUA provides a handbook, officer role descriptions, and training to help new chapters set up smoothly. This structure ensures accountability, shared responsibility, and continuity of efforts over time.
Can Friends of HUA raise funds locally?
Yes. fundraising is a central responsibility of every chapter. Local fundraising efforts may include annual events, donor appreciation gatherings, raffles, small group campaigns, and appeals to local philanthropists. Funds raised go directly to support HUA’s operations and programs, ensuring that tuition fees can remain affordable while the university continues to grow. Chapters thus play a crucial role in securing HUA’s sustainability and expansion.
How do Friends of HUA support student enrollment?
Chapters introduce HUA’s unique programs to the community by sharing course information, inviting faculty to give talks, hosting information sessions, and personally encouraging families to enroll. Many Friends of HUA members are alumni themselves, who can authentically share how HUA’s courses have impacted them. By enrolling new students, chapters not only strengthen the university financially but also ensure that more families access the knowledge and wisdom of Sanātana Dharma.
How do I start or join a local chapter?
If a chapter already exists in your city, you can join directly by contacting its leadership team through HUA’s Community Outreach Office. If no chapter exists, you may apply to start one with HUA’s support. The university will provide you with a starter kit, handbook, and training to launch your chapter successfully. HUA staff will walk with you at every step, ensuring you have the resources to grow your chapter steadily.
What support does HUA provide to Friends chapters?
- A handbook and playbook for chapter formation and growth.
- Training sessions for leaders on fundraising, event organization, and outreach.
- Marketing and communication materials like flyers, templates, social media kits and other collaterals.
- Staff support to answer questions and guide you through challenges.
- Recognition and appreciation for chapter leaders and volunteers at annual galas.
Is Friends of HUA limited to the U.S.?
Currently, Friends of HUA chapters are being formalized across major U.S. cities where Hindu communities are established. However, HUA welcomes interest from global supporters who wish to build similar networks abroad. As the university grows, international Friends chapters may form in Canada, the UK, Australia, and beyond.
What is the long-term vision for Friends of HUA?
The vision is to create a robust nationwide (and eventually global) network of dharmic ambassadors who carry forward HUA’s mission in their local contexts. In the long run, every major Hindu community in the U.S. will have a Friends of HUA chapter actively representing the university, fostering enrollment, mobilizing resources, and promoting Hindu Studies. Together, these chapters will form the grassroots foundation that ensures HUA thrives for generations to come.