Shiv Nadar tops EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024 with major donations to education

The 2024 EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List has crowned HCL Technologies founder Shiv Nadar and his family as the leading donors in India. Their contribution of Rs 2,153 crore was primarily directed towards educational initiatives.

Compiled by Hurun Research, this report reveals a notable rise in large-scale donations, with 18 philanthropists each giving over Rs 100 crore, up from only two in 2018.

Following Nadar, the list’s top donors include Mukesh Ambani and family, the Bajaj family, Kumar Mangalam Birla and family, and Gautam Adani and family, who together contributed approximately Rs 4,625 crore - making up 53% of India’s total philanthropic contributions this year.

Among the notable figures, Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, at 38, stands out as the youngest philanthropist with a donation exceeding Rs 100 crore, while Rohini Nilekani, who donated Rs 154 crore, is recognized as the most generous woman on the list.

Top 10 Donors in the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2024

1. Shiv Nadar & Family – Rs 2,153 crore (Education)

2. Mukesh Ambani & Family – Rs 407 crore (Access to higher education for underprivileged communities)

3. Bajaj Family – Rs 352 crore (Education for engineering)

4. Kumar Mangalam Birla & Family – Rs 334 crore (Education)

5. Gautam Adani & Family – Rs 330 crore (Education in remote villages)

6. Nandan Nilekani – Rs 307 crore (Ecosystem Building)

7. Krishna Chivukula – Rs 228 crore (Education)

8. Anil Agarwal & Family – Rs 181 crore (Education)

9. Susmita & Subroto Bagchi – Rs 179 crore (Public Healthcare)

10. Rohini Nilekani – Rs 154 crore (Ecosystem Building)

Education emerged as the top philanthropic cause, with 123 philanthropists donating Rs 3,680 crore.

Over the past five years, the number of philanthropists donating more than Rs 10 crore has surged by 48%, with 117 individuals reaching this mark in 2024. Additionally, there has been a 125% increase in those donating over Rs 50 crore since 2019, while donations of over Rs 20 crore have seen a 128% rise.

The report also highlights the different approaches taken by philanthropists: 91 use NGOs to manage their CSR spending, and 113 have their foundations. This year’s list features 96 new entrants who collectively donated Rs 1,556 crore, bringing the total number of women philanthropists to 21.

With 109 self-made philanthropists included, marking an increase of 43 from last year, the 2024 list underscores a growing commitment to philanthropy across India's top business leaders and entrepreneurs.