Swatee was Director of Stars Foundation, a private philanthropic foundation focused on funding grassroots organisations working with children and young people around the world, founded by an entrepreneurial philanthropist. She oversaw the engagement of global foundations and major donors in innovative funding collaborations and led Stars through key strategic changes – including restructures, mergers, acquisition and its eventual sun setting.
Prior to joining Stars, Swatee worked at Marie Stopes International, UNICEF, UNWomen and International Planned Parenthood Federation – the latter where she led the organisation to secure contracts from the US Government through a $74m cooperative agreement (SIFPO 2) and a $150m sub agreement (EVIDENCE).
Swatee is a board member and adviser to a number of international development agencies, start-ups and funder affinity groups. She co-founded a social business which creates exploratory arts and music events around the globe and releases material through their record label. She co-founded a glamping business which she later sold and invested in a sustainable, slow fashion label which is working to revive the cotton industry amongst rural and indigenous communities in India.
She draws strength from bridging and convening for collaborative action across all she does to work for a world of justice and liberation for everyone.
✦ Twitter: @Swatee
Swatee Deepak
Swatee has significant experience in supporting movements, starting and leading organisations through growth and transitions across philanthropy, investments, development agencies, socially minded businesses and the arts. Swatee currently works with private and public foundations in strategy development and design, with individuals and families of wealth on their redistribution strategies and oversees a portfolio of businesses and start-ups.
Swatee was previously Director of With and For Girls Collective, the world’s only participatory fund by and for adolescent girls. She oversaw the growth of this unique donor collective focused on increasing resources to adolescent girls around the world and amplifying their voices into the 'corridors of power'.
