We're recruiting our Fall 2026 class.
Hey there! Asha Berkeley is looking for people who care about getting kids in India a real education. Check out the timeline and FAQ below, then come meet us. We're excited to meet you.
Recruitment timeline
Exact dates, times, and rooms drop on our Instagram at the start of the semester.
Coffee chats & apps open
Written applications open, and coffee chats start. Book any member on the members page. No prep, just questions.
Infosession 1
Dwinelle 259. Our mission, our projects in India, and the people behind them. Sessions 1 and 2 cover the same material.
Infosession 2
Dwinelle 79. Same content, different time, so it fits your schedule.
Written apps due
Short and written. We care about why you want to be here.
First round interviews
Invitation only. A conversation with current members.
Social night
Invitation only. Meet the chapter where it's most itself.
What you'd actually do
Evaluate real projects
Read proposals from NGOs in India, question their budgets, and vote on which ones we fund. Your judgment moves real money to real classrooms.
Run fundraisers
Campus events, community drives, and Team Asha. What we raise is what our seven partner projects get.
Build the community
Socials, retreats, big-little families. People stick around here well past graduation.
Frequently asked questions
Why education in India?
Education is the single most reliable lever against poverty, and India has more school-age children than any country on earth. Small amounts of money go remarkably far there: a semester of fundraising here can pay teachers, buy books, and keep whole classrooms running. We fund people already doing that work well, and we stay out of their way.
What exactly can I expect as a member?
You join a committee (projects, events, publicity, finance, or Team Asha) and work with it through the semester. You read real funding proposals from partner NGOs, help run fundraisers, and vote at general meetings on where the money goes. Every member gets a voice in funding decisions, including brand new ones.
I'm not planning a nonprofit career. Is Asha still a good fit?
Almost none of us are. We're future engineers, doctors, founders, and policy people who want our time at Berkeley to count for something beyond a resume line. Asha gives you practice at evaluating organizations, managing budgets, running events, and leading teams. Those travel to any career. The impact part just comes with it.
What does Asha look for in applicants?
No specific major, year, or experience. We look for people who genuinely care about the mission, think clearly, follow through on what they take on, and add something to the community. If you'd read a school's budget proposal carefully because real kids depend on it, you're our kind of person.
What's the time commitment?
A few hours a week for most members: general meetings plus your committee work. It ramps up around big fundraisers and project voting, and you'll know those weeks in advance. Many members balance Asha with heavy course loads and other clubs.
What's the new member experience like?
You get a big through our big-little program, a committee that actually wants your help, and a chapter that assumes you're smart from day one. Your first semester includes voting on real funding decisions, not fetching pizza.
How do I take my best shot at applying?
Come to an infosession and book a coffee chat. They give you the clearest picture of what we care about, and they let us meet you, which honestly matters. Then be real in the application. We'd rather read why this mission matters to you than a list of titles.
Anything else? Write to berkeley@ashanet.org or DM us on Instagram.