India’s Top 15 Philanthropists Who Donate Money for Social Good

India has given several billionaires to the world. According to the prestigious Forbes magazine, India has the third-highest number of billionaires in the world after the U.S. and China. However, the difference in the quality of life and economic freedom between these billionaires and the poor in a country like India is huge. To reduce this economic freedom gap, a few billionaires in India are extending their helping hands to those in need.

These billionaires are the heroes of deep benevolence and philanthropy in India. They are actively contributing their money and expertise to various fields like healthcare, education, employment, and many more.

Top 10 Billionaires who Donate Money for Social Good in India

Indian industrialists are actively involved in the decision making of CSR policies and funds allocation towards it, also perform philanthropic initiatives on a personal level. These philanthropists have made huge contributions by donating their wealth, time and expertise for overall development in the country.

As per the 7th edition of EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropist List 2020, Azim Premji of Wipro surpassed last edition winner Shiv Nadar with a generous donation of ₹ 7,904/- Crore.

Let’s look at some of the biggest philanthropists in India and the donations that they have made in India:

1. Azim Premji & Family

Azim Premji, the founder & chairman of Wipro Ltd., is known as India’s most philanthropic man. His endowments are the most generous in Asia and among the top five in the world. Mr Premji surpassed everyone on the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 7904 crores. He has committed his entire wealth towards philanthropy. He has pledged to give about $21 billion, putting him in the global league as Jamsetji Tata, George Soros, Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

2. Shiv Nadar & Family

Shiv Nadar, the tech leader and the founder of HCL Technologies, ranked 2nd in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with a generous donation worth ₹ 795 crores. Mr Nadar was the No.1 philanthropist in the 6th edition of the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List. Shiv Nadar is also known as one of the early patrons who supported the backward areas of India for rural and urban education and art. Mr Nadar follows a philosophy of Creative Philanthropy.

3. Mukesh Ambani & Family

Mr Mukesh Ambani, the Managing Director and Chairman of Reliance Industries, is the most opulent businessman in Asia. He ranks 3rd in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 458 crores. Mr Ambani has conducted his charitable initiatives by investing in sectors like education, social, rural development and healthcare through Reliance Foundation headed by his wife, Nita Ambani. In 2018, when Kerala was hit by a monsoon flood, Mr Ambani donated ₹ 71 crores in cash and supplies.

4. Kumar Mangalam Birla & Family

Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, is a determined practitioner of the trusteeship concept of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr Birla ranked 4th in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 276 crores. Birla’s philanthropic efforts mainly focused on education-related causes. The Aditya Birla Foundation, which is majorly investing in education, is also involved in the COVID-19 relief work.

5. Anil Agarwal & Family

Mr Anil Agarwal, the Founder & Chairman of Vedanta Limited, donated ₹ 215 crores towards charitable causes. Mr Agarwal ranked 5th in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020. In 2014, he pledged 75% of his wealth to charity. A majority of his donations spend on healthcare and education. The Anil Agarwal Foundation is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation, in collaboration with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the State government, working to eradicate malnutrition from Uttar Pradesh. The Foundation also works towards computer literacy, vocational training, women & child empowerment, and social welfare.

6. Ajay Piramal & Family

Mr Ajay Piramal, the Chairman of Piramal Group, involved in charity all his life. Mr Piramal believes that the wealth earned is not to keep but to share. Ajay Piramal ranked 6th  in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 196 crores. The Piramal family manage its charitable activities through the Piramal Foundation, which acts as an executing agency of the Piramal Group CSR initiatives. The Piramal Foundation concentrates on causes related to education, healthcare, livelihood creation and youth employment.

7. Nandan Nilekani

Mr Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys, has pledged half of its wealth to philanthropy. Mr Nilekani ranked 7th in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 159 crores. The focus of the charitable activities of MR Nilekani and his wife Rohini Nilekani is education. Mrs Rohini Nilekani was a founding trustee of the Akshara Foundation, set up in March 2000. The purpose of the Akshara Foundation is to ensure every child goes to school and learn well.  Mr & Mr & Mrs Nilekani also set up a societal platform initiative known as ‘EkStep’ that provides a digital infrastructure for early learning.

8. Hinduja Brothers

The Hinduja Brothers have inherited the philosophy of social responsibility and beneficence from their ancestor, Shri Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja. His philosophy was, “My Dharma is to work so that I can give”. The Hinduja Brothers ranked 8th in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 133 crores. Hinduja Brothers execute their charitable activities through Hinduja Foundation. The Foundation is involved in many projects related to Rural Development, Healthcare, and Education.

9. Gautam Adani & Family

Mr Gautam Adani, the Chairman of Adani Group, is back on the list of the top 20 richest persons in the world. Mr Adani ranked 9th in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 88 crores. Mr Adani carries out his philanthropic activities through Adani Foundation. The Adani Foundation works in four vital areas Education, Community Health, Sustainable Livelihood, and Community Infrastructure Development.  Besides this, the foundation has established the Adani Vidya Mandir, a school for needy children in Ahmedabad, Bhadreshwar, and other states of India.

10. Sudhir Mehta & Samir Mehta

The Mehta Brothers of the Torrent Group made Torrent Pharma the fifth-largest Indian pharma company after acquiring Unichem. Sudhir Mehta & Samir Mehta ranked at 10th position in the seventh edition of the list of philanthropists in India by the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 with donations worth ₹ 82 crores. Their philanthropic work has made Mehtas the 2nd most generous family in Gujarat after the Adanis. The Mehta brothers execute their charitable activities through UNM Foundation. Their key focus lies in the areas of healthcare, education and Knowledge enhancement and social care and concern.

Top 5 Generous Women Philanthropists In India

Besides businessmen, some women entrepreneurs are also featured in the Philanthropist List 2020. Rohini Nilekani of Infosys came out to be the most generous woman with a donation of ₹47 crores during the year, followed by Anu Aga & family and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon.

Most generous Indian women in FY20:

Final Thought!

These top philanthropists are making a huge difference in society through their charity works. But do you know every year, millions of Indians, were affected by natural disasters? Due to climate change in different parts of the nation on an untimely basis, the humanitarian crises have become more complex than ever. To deal with disasters, Sakal Relief Fund was formed with the vision to play a proactive role in disaster management. So if you wish to make a difference in society, you can donate directly to Sakal Relief Fund to contribute directly to society.

For more information, you can call on 9881099908 or you can write to us at support@sakalrelieffund.com or you can donate online.