TL;DR:
Rank | Philanthropist | Donation (Rs Cr) | Main Focus |
1 | Shiv Nadar & family | 2,708 | Education |
2 | Mukesh Ambani & family | 626 | Education, Healthcare |
3 | Bajaj family | 446 | Rural Development |
4 | Kumar Mangalam Birla & family | 440 | Healthcare |
5 | Gautam Adani & family | 376 | Education |
The nation’s 191 leading donors collectively contributed ₹10,380 crore in FY25, an 85% rise in three years, highlighting a surge in large-scale giving across education, healthcare, and social welfare.
Key Highlights from EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025
Top Donors :
- Shiv Nadar & family (HCL Technologies) ranked No.1, donating ₹2,708 crore, mainly through the Shiv Nadar Foundation, focusing on education and social development.
- Mukesh Ambani & family (Reliance Industries) ranked second with ₹626 crore, via the Reliance Foundation, supporting education, healthcare, and women’s empowerment.
- Bajaj family ranked third with ₹446 crore, focusing on rural development and education.
- Birla family (₹440 crore) and Gautam Adani & family (₹376 crore) rounded out the top five.
Notable Philanthropists
- Rohini Nilekani ranked 8th with ₹204 crore, recognized as India’s most generous woman philanthropist.
- Sudhir Mehta & Samir Mehta (UNM Foundation) donated ₹189 crore, marking a 69% rise from last year.
- Nikhil and Nithin Kamath (Zerodha), the youngest on the list, donated ₹147 crore.
Overall Giving Trends
- Total donations by 191 philanthropists reached ₹10,380 crore in FY25, an 85% increase over three years.
- The top 25 donors contributed ₹50,000 crore over three years, averaging ₹46 crore daily.
- Education, healthcare, rural development, and women’s empowerment remain the main focus areas.
Background
- The EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2025 was released in early November 2025, covering donations made between April 2024 and March 2025.
- Shiv Nadar has topped the list four times in five years, reflecting consistent leadership in education-driven philanthropy.
Top 10 Philanthropists in India 2025 as per EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List
Rank | Philanthropist(s) | Donation (₹ Crore) | Primary Focus Areas | Donation Channel / Foundation |
1 | Shiv Nadar & family | 2,708 | Education, Social Development | Shiv Nadar Foundation |
2 | Mukesh Ambani & family | 626 | Education, Healthcare, Women Empowerment | Reliance Foundation |
3 | Bajaj family | 446 | Rural Development, Education | Bajaj Group Trust |
4 | Kumar Mangalam Birla & family | 440 | Healthcare, Education | Aditya Birla Capital Foundation |
5 | Gautam Adani & family | 376 | Education, Sustainable Development | Adani Foundation |
6 | Nikhil Kamath & Nithin Kamath | 147 | Education, Rural Development | Personal Donations with Digital Education Focus |
7 | Hinduja family | 298 | Healthcare, Medical Camps | Hinduja Foundation |
8 | Rohini Nilekani | 204 | Water, Sanitation, Social Entrepreneurship | Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies |
9 | Sudhir Mehta & Samir Mehta | 189 | Social Development, Livelihoods | UNM Foundation |
10 | Cyrus S. Poonawalla & Adar Poonawalla | 173 | Public Health, Vaccine Research | Villoo Poonawalla Foundation |