Back to resources

India Inc: Lending a Helping Hand

Strategic Philanthropy | Jan 9, 2021

Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani, who donated Rs 47 crore of her personal wealth, feels the rich in India need to open their purses more. Noted philanthropist and chairperson of Arghyam Foundation Rohini Nilekani feels the philanthropy sector changed during the coronavirus pandemic as members of civil society donated generously. However, she is of the opinion that the wealthy need to open their purses even more. Nilekani led the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List for 2020 among women with a Rs 47-crore donation. Her husband, Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, is at number 7 with RS 159 crore given to charity. The couple has also signed the Giving Pledge. The 61-year-old had told Forbes India that more wealthy people in India must come forward and say that a portion of their wealth belongs to society. Her foundation looks at water and sanitation issues, while her philanthropic efforts earned her a spot among Forbes Asia’s annual list of Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy in 2010.

PDF

Forbes

More like this

Strategic Philanthropy

Small bunch of Indian philanthropists supporting ventures in unconventional areas of governance, human rights

Even as much of Indian philanthropic capital flows into predictable areas like education, healthcare or water, a small and gutsy bunch of philanthropists is directing their generosity towards issues like governance and the thorny thickets of human rights. View PDF
Oct 2, 2014 | Article

Strategic Philanthropy  |  Civil Society  |  Societal Thinking

Closing Keynote | Strategic Non-Profit Management India | 2019

This is an edited version of Rohini Nilekani’s closing keynote address delivered to the 2019 class of the Strategic Non-Profit Management – India offered developed in conjunction with the HBS Social Enterprise Initiative and offered in association with the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Ashoka University. I think we are at a fairly […]
Jul 26, 2019 | Speech

Strategic Philanthropy

Asia's 2018 Heroes Of Philanthropy: Putting Wealth To A Good Cause

Nandan & Rohini Nilekani, 63, 59. Cofounder, Infosys; founder, Arghyam Pledged to donate 50% of their wealth in November 2017 under the Giving Pledge and said, “Wealth comes with huge responsibility and is best deployed for the larger public interest.” Past contributions include $5 million to the premier Indian Institute of Technology Bombay in Mumbai, […]
Nov 15, 2018 | Personality

Civil Society  |  Strategic Philanthropy

Plotting Impact Beyond Simple Metrics

By Natasha Joshi | For NGOs, impact comes in different forms and to track the cycles of social change work, we must think across the tangibility and the speed of emergence of change. A few months back, we received an internal letter from the founder of an NGO, reflecting on the relationship between funders and […]
Aug 17, 2022 |