The people behind the mission

Meet our co-founders

Two people who turned a frustration with poor indoor air into a growing movement for cleaner, healthier spaces.

Co-Founder

Rahul Awasthi

Co-Founder and Clean Air Advocate

Rahul Awasthi co-founded The Air Purification Association (TAPA) to make clean indoor air more accessible for schools, nonprofits, and communities that need it most. As Co-Founder, he leads the organization's advocacy efforts, strategic partnerships, and long-term vision for expanding access to high-capacity air purification. His background in scientific research, nonprofit leadership, and public policy shapes TAPA's evidence-based approach to improving indoor air quality. Rahul believes that clean air is a fundamental part of healthy learning, working, and living environments. Through TAPA, he is committed to creating lasting, measurable improvements in public health one space at a time.

Co-Founder

Aryan Patel

Co-Founder and Operations Lead

Aryan Patel co-founded The Air Purification Association (TAPA) to help turn the organization's mission into practical, measurable action. He oversees operations, equipment sourcing, and deployment logistics, ensuring air purification systems reach the communities where they can make the greatest impact. Aryan works closely with schools, nonprofits, and local partners to coordinate installations and maximize the effectiveness of every deployment. His focus on efficiency and community collaboration helps TAPA expand its reach while maintaining high standards of service. He believes that everyone deserves access to cleaner indoor air, regardless of where they live, learn, or work.

Our structure

Why we are unincorporated, for now

We made a deliberate choice. People needed cleaner air right away, and we did not want a single classroom, shelter or workshop to wait while legal paperwork moved. So we started helping first, and we are building the formal structure as we grow.

The mission came first. The structure is following it.

Impact before paperwork

We wanted to change things immediately. Operating as an unincorporated nonprofit association let us put equipment into real rooms now, instead of spending our first months on filings.

Lean, hands on and direct

Staying small keeps us focused entirely on the work: collecting units, refurbishing them, matching them to spaces, and getting them out the door fast.

Built to formalize

As we grow, we plan to incorporate as a nonprofit corporation and pursue formal tax exempt status, so we can serve more communities, accept larger donations, and steward every dollar transparently.