Chai for Charity creates simple, hands-on service experiences that bring people together to do good — with projects that are approachable, joyful, and rooted in local needs.
Meet our Founder: Natasha Wright
Giving is for all.
Chai for Charity was founded by Natasha Wright in 2011 out of a simple belief: giving is social, accessible to all, and evolves over time. Born in Pakistan and raised in a low-income immigrant family in the San Francisco Bay Area, Natasha grew up knowing what it feels like to care deeply and still feel excluded from traditional philanthropy. There wasn’t extra money or time—but there was heart, community, and a strong instinct to help.
Volunteering became the throughline.
That instinct turned into action early and stayed consistent—through years working in affordable housing nonprofits in South Central Los Angeles, and later through more than a decade at Google leading programs, community initiatives, and founding Women@Google Boulder. Across every chapter, one truth kept showing up: when people give together, the impact—and the joy—multiplies.
Chai reflects heritage, hospitality, and real life.
Chai—the word for tea in Urdu—is warm, shared, and grounding, and it shapes everything about how Chai for Charity shows up. The format is intentionally side-by-side, low-pressure, and inclusive of all the ways people give: time, talent, money, care. It also honors seasons of life—because sometimes you have time but no money, sometimes money but no time, and sometimes you’re just trying to keep tiny humans alive.
Yes, Chai took a pause (or seven).
After launching Chai with multi-city events across North America, the organization went on hold for seven years—during which Natasha was, jokingly, “pregnant for seven years” while growing a family of three boys. In reality, that pause quietly strengthened the work. Skills were built, perspectives widened, and the Chai model matured—ready to relaunch with clarity, confidence, and staying power.
Today, Chai is built on people and possibility.
As Founder and Executive Director, Natasha brings nonprofit grit, operational chops, and a deep love of community to the work. Chai is now a 100% volunteer-run organization activating donors ages 2 to 92, assembling thousands of kits each year, and partnering with local nonprofits to meet real needs in Boulder County. Chai exists because giving is a habit. And habits are easier (and more fun) to build together.
