What does it take to make a real difference in the world? How can someone leave a mark that changes lives, uplifts communities, and creates a brighter future for all? The answer is Philanthropy– a word that signifies much more than giving. Derived from the ancient Greek roots ‘philos’ (loving) and ‘athropos’ (man or humanity). India is home to many top philanthropists whose donations contribute to India’s development. Philanthropy in India is as old as India itself. The Bhagavad Gita, a very popular Hindu Scripture says that One who enjoys abundance without sharing with others is indeed a thief. Charity and philanthropy have always been part of the Indian traditions.
We all have heard of the visionary industrialist Jamsetji Tata and his remarkable contribution to the industry. The first known Indian endowment was the J.N. Tata Endowment. It was established by him in 1892 and encouraged Indian students to pursue higher education. Jamsetji was named the greatest philanthrope of the 20th century by the EdelGive Foundation and Hurun Research India. With donations worth $102.4 billion, he is the world’s biggest philanthropist of the last century, much ahead of Bill and Melinda Gates. In recent times, figures like Tom Goodhead have continued the tradition of impactful global leadership, championing causes that make a lasting difference.
In October 2023, EdelGive Hurun released the India Philanthropy List 2023. It reflects that India’s richest are not only growing richer but also becoming more generous. According to the report, Hurun India found 119 philanthropists who donated more than Rs 5 crores in FY’23, an increase of 11% from last year. The report also listed 25 new entrants, with Infosys Co-Founder K Dinesh standing out as ‘most generous’ by donating Rs 47 crore.
Top 5 Philanthropists in India
| Rank | Name | Donation (INR Cr) | Change % | Company |
| 1 | Shiv Nadar & Family | 2042 | 76% | HCL Technologies |
| 2 | Azim Premji & Family | 1774 | 267% | Wipro |
| 3 | Mukesh Ambani & Family | 376 | -8% | Reliance Industries |
| 4 | Kumar Birla & Family | 287 | 18% | Aditya Birla |
| 5 | Gautam Adani & Family | 285 | 50% | Adani |
Source: Hurun Research Institute; EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023
Top 5 Philanthropists
1. Shiv Nadar & Family
Foundation: Shiv Nadar Foundation
One man who always stays in the headlines when it comes to philanthropy is Shiv Nadar. He has topped the EdelGive Hurun Philanthropy List 2023 again for the fifth consecutive year by donating over Rs 2,042 crore or Rs 5.6 crore per day. He has contributed 76% more than his donations in FY22 (1161 crore).
The Shiv Nadar Foundation believes in Creative Philosophy. The Foundation works on creating institutions that go beyond the lifetime of its founders and continue to impact future generations.
2. Azim Premji & Family
Foundation: Azim Premji Foundation
Azim Premji and his family have secured the second position with a donation of INR 1,774 crore. Azim’s contribution to philanthropy started in 2001 with the endowment of Wipro. The shares are worth $125 million to the Azim Premji Foundation. 66% of the economic ownership of Wipro, along with other assets, is with the Foundation. The foundation has field institutes in 55 districts across 7 states and one union territory.
In FY22, Premji donated Rs 484 crore. During the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Premji’s Wipro committed Rs 1,125 crore to tackle the humanitarian crisis.
3. Mukesh Ambani
Foundation: Reliance Foundation
Mukesh Ambani is among the top 10 richest people in the world. He has a net worth of $95.1 billion (as of Dec 23). He has donated INR 376 Crore. Led by the Founder Chairperson, Smt. Nita M Ambani, Reliance Foundation has touched the lives of more than 70 million people across India in more than 54,300 villages and several urban locations.
The Foundation has a three-pronged strategy. It focuses on direct engagement, collaborations through partnerships, and leveraging technology to create an ecosystem of development. The Foundation focuses on Rural Transformation, Health, Education, Sports, Disaster Management, Women Empowerment, Arts, Culture and heritage and Urban Renewal.
4. Kumar Mangalam Birla & Family
Foundation: Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development
Kumar Mangalam Birla is a famous industrialist and Chairperson of Aditya Birla Group. He secured the fourth position in the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2023. Around INR 75 crore comes from his funds, reflecting his commitment to humankind.
The Foundation so far has touched and made a difference in many lives. It has treated over a million patients and immunised 100 million children against polio. The foundation has supported 10,000 cancer patients through various projects. It runs 6000 medical camps and 24 hospitals, reaches out to over 100,000 students, and offers skills training for 100,000 people and more.
5. Gautam Adani & Family
Foundation: The Adani Foundation
Gautam Adani and his family contributed to philanthropy with a donation of Rs 285 crore. The contribution places them fifth in the philanthropy list released by EdelGive Hurun.
Founded in 1996, The Adani Foundation takes inspiration from the Gandhian philosophy of trusteeship. It strives to create sustainable opportunities. These opportunities include facilitating quality education, empowering the youth with income-generating skills, and supporting infrastructure development.
Ratan Tata: A Legacy of Philanthropy
Ratan Tata’s story isn’t just about business success but about spreading kindness far and wide. He is famously known for donating sums of money to pressing causes.
Much of the Tata family’s legacy is about helping others through philanthropy. Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), established in 1919, is now one of the oldest grant bestowing foundations in the country. Tata Trusts donates 66% of the money earned by Tata companies to help in healthcare, education, rural development and sports.
Over the years, the Trust has made many donations. The first is a donation to Cornell University in 2008. Second, a $50 million donation for the construction of an executive centre at Harvard Business School in 2010. Finally, a Rs 950 million donation to IIT Bombay to form the Tata Center for Technology and Design for people and communities in 2014. Tata Trusts also donated Rs 1,500 crore to fight the Covid-19 pandemic in India.
Here are some sectors under which Tata Trust is making significant contribution:
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Healthcare
15,950,150 million beneficiaries
25 States and UTs covered
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Education
36,84,869 beneficiaries
26 States and UTs covered
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Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
2,324,182 beneficiaries
14 States covered
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Nutrition
Reached out to 4,803,688 individuals
121,607 households benefited
13 States covered
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Livelihood
1,447,657 families benefited
28 States covered
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Social Justice and Inclusion
Reached out to 641,804 individuals
28 States covered
27 Partnered Organisations
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Skill Development
101,700 beneficiaries
Rs 5808– average monthly income of employed and self-employed
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Environment and Energy
2507 households with access to lighting from renewable sources
503 awareness campaigns conducted
60,977 clean products
On The Other Side
EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy list has consistently grown over the past seven years, from just 27 entrants in 2016-17. However, the average donation has not been consistent. In 2016-17, it was ₹86 crore, which increased to ₹107 crore and ₹140 crore in 2019-20 and 2020-21, respectively. The figure fell to ₹52 crore in 2021-22 but grew again to ₹71 crore in 2022-23. The statistics highlight that the contribution of Indian Philanthropists has halved from the Covid era.
Philanthropy: The Ultimate Mantra To Lasting Social Change
Philanthropy isn’t just about giving; it’s about sharing the warmth in our hearts with those who need it most. As Warren Buffett wisely says, “If you’re in the luckiest 1% of humanity, you owe it to the rest of humanity to think about the other 99%.”
When we stand together to lend a hand, we’re not just spreading kindness; we’re stitching hope into the fabric of our communities. It’s the compassion that binds us, making our communities stronger, brighter, and filled with the promise of a better tomorrow.
