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Intra-National Welfare and Support Foundation of America

Last updated: 19 April 2026678 words

The Intra-National Welfare and Support Foundation of America (INWSFA) is an Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation founded by Dilli Adhikari and Sharmila Lamichhane. The foundation organises the Intra Cup sports tournaments and produces the reality television series Mero Voice Universe and Mero Dance Universe, which air on Nepal Television and feature contestants from over 50 countries. INWSFA received its tax-exempt designation in December 2019 and is registered under EIN 83-2926128.

The Intra-National Welfare and Support Foundation of America (INWSFA) is an Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation founded by Dilli Adhikari (President) and Sharmila Lamichhane (Executive Director). Registered under EIN 83-2926128 and designated tax-exempt in December 2019, the foundation organises sports tournaments, produces reality television programmes broadcast on Nepal Television, and operates a mobile application connecting members of the Nepali-speaking diaspora worldwide. INWSFA is headquartered at 1279 E Dublin Granville Rd, Columbus, OH 43229, and is classified under NTEE Code A26 (Arts, Culture and Humanities).[1]

History and Organisation

INWSFA was incorporated in the state of Ohio and received its Internal Revenue Service 501(c)(3) designation in December 2019. The organisation describes its mission as promoting cultural preservation, community welfare, and international solidarity among Nepali-speaking populations across the globe. Dilli Adhikari, a former Bhutanese refugee resettled in the United States, serves as President, whilst Sharmila Lamichhane serves as Executive Director.[2]

Intra Cup Sports Tournaments

INWSFA organises the Intra Cup, a series of annual sports tournaments drawing teams from Bhutanese and Nepali diaspora communities across the United States.

1st Intra Cup (2021)

The inaugural Intra Cup was held in 2021 and featured a soccer tournament, establishing the event as a recurring fixture in the diaspora sports calendar.

2nd Intra Cup (2022)

The second Intra Cup was held at Big Run Athletic Complex in Columbus, Ohio, and expanded to include volleyball. The tournament attracted 29 teams from nine U.S. states and was inaugurated by Dilli Adhikari and Ohio State Representative Mark Johnson. The men's division winner received a prize of $8,500, whilst the women's division winner received $3,500.[3]

3rd Intra Cup (2023)

The third Intra Cup was held in Rochester, New York. In the soccer veteran category, Cincy Intra FC won the title and a prize of $10,000.[4]

Reality Television Programmes

Mero Voice Universe

Mero Voice Universe is a singing competition broadcast on Nepal Television that uses a distinctive "sightless audition" format. The programme features contestants from more than 52 countries and offers a grand prize of NPR 1 crore (10 million Nepalese rupees). Season 1 (2023) was won by Pritam Rai from Sikkim, India. Season 2 (2025) was won by Pratham Gurung. The judging panel has included prominent Nepali artists such as Deep Shrestha, Anju Panta, Mithila Sharma, and Keki Adhikari. The programme has its own Wikipedia article documenting its format and reception.[5][6]

Mero Dance Universe

Mero Dance Universe is a dance competition following a similar structure and prize format to Mero Voice Universe. Season 1 (2023) was won by Khushi Karki from Thailand. Season 2 (2025) was won by Rista Gurung. Both programmes have contributed to INWSFA's visibility within the global Nepali-speaking community.[7]

Digital Presence

INWSFA operates a mobile application called Intra Foundation, available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. The app provides information about upcoming events, tournament registrations, and organisational news. The foundation also maintains a YouTube channel and Facebook pages through which it broadcasts highlights from its events and reality programmes.[8]

Finances

According to the organisation's Form 990 filing for fiscal year 2020 — the only filing publicly available on ProPublica — INWSFA reported total revenue of $447,849, derived entirely from contributions. Total expenses for the period were $436,182, of which $366,588 was distributed as grants. ProPublica notes that the organisation is "not listed in the IRS's most recent list of tax exempt organizations," and only a single Form 990 filing is publicly accessible.[9]

See Also

References

  1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Intra-National Welfare and Support Foundation of America." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/832926128
  2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Intra-National Welfare and Support Foundation of America — Form 990." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/832926128
  3. Khabarhub. "2nd Intra Cup Volleyball Tournament held in Columbus, Ohio." 2022. https://english.khabarhub.com/2022/08/262019/
  4. myRepublica. "Intra Cup 2023 held in Rochester, New York." 2023. https://www.myrepublica.nagarik.com/news/intra-cup-2023/
  5. Wikipedia. "Mero Voice Universe." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mero_Voice_Universe
  6. myRepublica. "Mero Voice Universe." https://www.myrepublica.nagarik.com/news/mero-voice-universe/
  7. ePardafas. "Mero Dance Universe." https://epardafas.com/mero-dance-universe/
  8. Apple App Store. "Intra Foundation." https://apps.apple.com/us/app/intra-foundation/id1590462175
  9. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Intra-National Welfare and Support Foundation of America — Financials." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/832926128

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