India’s leading philanthropists are redefining the way we give back—10 people to know

Philanthropy in India has come a long way—it’s no longer just about writing cheques and attending charity galas. Today, a mix of young and established names are getting hands-on with causes that need real attention—from women’s health and education to rural development. Whether it’s business leaders like Nikhil Kamath and Binny Bansal, or changemakers like Navya Naveli Nanda and Aradhana Rai Gupta, these are people using their influence and resources to make a difference. Some are building impactful organisations from scratch, others are finding new ways to give back—but what ties them together is a clear focus on creating lasting change.

Aradhana Rai Gupta, Co-Founder, Project Baala

Aradhana Rai Gupta is the co-founder of Project Baala, an initiative tackling menstrual health awareness and access in rural India. Through innovative menstrual products and educational workshops, Baala has reached over 800,000 women and girls, breaking taboos around periods and promoting menstrual hygiene.

Nikhil Kamath, Co-Founder, Zerodha and True Beacon

Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, is one of India’s youngest and most notable philanthropists. At just 38, he has been featured on the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024 for his contributions of over ₹120 crore through the Rainmatter Foundation, which focuses on climate change, livelihoods, and social equity. Kamath is also the driving force behind the Young Indian Philanthropic Pledge (YIPP), encouraging young entrepreneurs to commit a portion of their wealth to meaningful causes. His philanthropic work reflects a deep focus on building sustainable, long-term solutions for India’s most pressing issues.

Binny Bansal, Co-Founder, Flipkart

Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal has quietly emerged as one of India’s notable young philanthropists. In 2020, he debuted on the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List as the youngest philanthropist, ranking 109th with a donation of ₹5.3 crore, primarily focused on education. Notably, Bansal was also the only leader from the startup ecosystem to feature on that year’s list. Since exiting Flipkart in 2018, he co-founded xto10x Technologies, a consultancy helping start-ups scale effectively, while continuing to invest in over 30 startups. As the first philanthropist under 40 to make to the list, Bansal has set an important precedent for young entrepreneurs to actively contribute to social causes.

Amira Shah Chhabra, Director, Harish and Bina Shah Foundation

Amira Shah Chhabra leads the Harish and Bina Shah Foundation, which works across critical areas like urban child malnutrition, sanitation, girls' empowerment through sports, anti-trafficking, and anti-child marriage initiatives. Before joining the Foundation, she worked with Dasra’s Portfolio team, offering capacity-building support to non-profits, and has prior experience as a formulation scientist at Cipla and a healthcare consultant. With a Master’s in Pharmacy from the University of Nottingham, Amira brings both scientific expertise and on-ground philanthropic leadership to her role.

Navya Naveli Nanda, Founder, Project Naveli

Navya Naveli Nanda is the founder of Project Naveli, a non-profit working to bridge gender gaps in India through education, healthcare, legal aid, and entrepreneurship. Launched in 2020, the initiative has grown from distributing menstrual hygiene products to supporting over 25,000 women entrepreneurs. Navya also runs Nimaya, a career accelerator for young women, EntrepreNaari, a community for women-led businesses, and Nyayri, offering free legal and mental health counseling—building an ecosystem that empowers women to thrive.

Safeena Husain, Founder, Educate Girls

Safeena Husain is the founder of Educate Girls, a non-profit working to improve girls’ education in some of India’s most remote villages. Under her leadership, the organisation has mobilised for enrollment over 1.8 million girls and supported over 2.2 million children with remedial learning since inception.During the pandemic, Educate Girls also led large-scale relief efforts, distributing ration and hygiene kits to over 200,000 households and reaching more than a million individuals. To tackle the learning crisis caused by Covid-19, Safeena launched Camp Vidya, a community-based learning programme that has reached over 340,000 children across 17,000+ camps, ensuring that education, especially for girls, continues despite all odds.

Vidya Shah, CEO, EdelGive Foundation

Vidya Shah leads EdelGive Foundation, one of India’s top philanthropic platforms focused on empowering grassroots NGOs. She’s built a model that goes beyond funding—combining resources, fundraising, and capacity-building to help non-profits scale and sustain impact. A firm believer in collaborative giving, Shah has connected funders, NGOs, and corporations to drive real change. So far, EdelGive’s work has reached nearly 4.5 lakh people across India, all driven by her vision to strengthen the country’s social sector through trust and partnership.

Adar Poonawalla, CEO, Serum Institute of India

Known globally for leading vaccine production, Adar Poonawalla also heads the Poonawalla Science Park and Adar Poonawalla Clean City Initiative, focusing on healthcare, sanitation, and public health. His foundation has contributed to COVID-19 relief, sanitation projects, and healthcare access across India.

Madhavkrishna Singhania, CEO & Joint Managing Director, JK Cement

Madhavkrishna Singhania, CEO and deputy managing director of JK Cement, has demonstrated a strong commitment to philanthropy. At 36, he donated eight crores, earning him a spot among India's young philanthropists in the EdelGive-Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024. 

Rohini Nilekani, Author and Founder of Arghyam Foundation

Rohini Nilekani, one of India’s most prominent philanthropists, donated ₹170 crore in 2024. Through Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and Arghyam, she focuses on issues like education, environment, water, and women’s empowerment, supporting grassroots organisations and driving systemic change.

Lead image credits: Tandem Communications
 

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