Corporate foundations establish lasting legacies all around the world, as they are a visible and positive reflection of a company's commitment to philanthropy and CSR. It can assist the corporation in developing a community investment and involvement strategy that aligns with the company's social mission as well as its business goals. Foundations may be gaining popularity, but a majority of companies still rely on non-profits to carry out their CSR programme.

Rethinking the operational cost ceiling inside corporate foundations or CSR teams can bring value to the types of programmes funded and how staff interacts with grantees, such as more collaborative and engaged assistance and the potential to fund longer-term collaborative programmes. 

Below are the top 20 CSR Foundations in India in the Financial Year 2020-21.

1. Reliance Industries Limited

Foundation Name: Reliance Foundation

Source: Reliance Foundation

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), through Reliance Foundation, has significantly contributed to and made measurable progress toward its vision of an inclusive India. Moving well beyond its business activities, the RIL Group contributes to a positive societal impact through diverse community engagement initiatives. The Foundation has a comprehensive development approach. Its prime objective is to create and support meaningful activities through innovative institutions to address some of India’s most pressing developmental challenges.

The Foundation lays significant emphasis on leveraging technology for developmental solutions. Following its model of direct engagement, the Foundation directly reaches out to the affected communities through trained professionals. Over the years, Reliance Foundation’s initiatives have continued to evolve, while remaining responsive to the ever-changing needs of society. The Foundation is currently focusing on creating change in areas of Rural Transformation, Health, Education, Sports for Development, Disaster Response, Arts, Culture & Heritage, and Urban Renewal. To maximize its reach and improve outcomes, Reliance Foundation has also established strategic partnerships with organizations that have the technical expertise and experience to undertake various programmes in the identified focus areas of operation. 

The company’s CSR expenditure portfolio was as follows- Rs. 116 Cr. for healthcare, Rs. 444 Cr. for education, Rs. 192 Cr. for covid relief activities, Rs. 42 Cr. for livelihood enhancement and Rs. 49 Cr. for sports promotion

More about Reliance Industries Limited’s CSR Portfolio 

2. Oil And Natural Gas Corporation Limited

Foundation Name: ONGC Foundation

Source: ONGC Foundation

With the vision of impacting and socially transforming the lives of the underprivileged, ONGC has created a trust in 2014, ONGC Foundation with the objective to undertake, augment and facilitate activities, initiatives and projects relating to corporate social responsibility. ONGC Foundation and ONGC are working across many states in India, taking the development space to its peak by providing excellence in the philanthropy sector through its program implementation in many social domains on education, health, skill development and livelihood, environment and social institution building. It also has the ONGC Foundation Fellowship, which is a 1-year programme, offering varied positions to motivated change makers who are aspiring to build a successful career aligned with nation-building. Other than PM Cares, the company spent Rs. 57Cr. for education, Rs. 31 Cr. for rural development, Rs. 21 Cr. for healthcare, and INR 4.6 Cr. for sports promotion.

More about ONGC’s CSR Portfolio

3. Infosys Limited: 

Foundation Name: Infosys Foundation

Source: InfosysFoundation

Infosys Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Karnataka, India, established in 1996 by Infosys to support the underprivileged sections of society. The foundation supports programs in the areas of education, rural development, healthcare, arts and culture, and destitute care.[4] Its mission is to work in remote regions of several states in India. The foundation is solely funded by Infosys, and no external donations are accepted. Infosys is committed to the communities in which it operates. This has led to the creation of the Infosys Foundation to support the underprivileged sections of society. A not-for-profit initiative aimed at fulfilling the social responsibility of Infosys Ltd., the Infosys Foundation creates opportunities and strives towards a more equitable society. Established in 1996, the Infosys Foundation supports programs in the areas of education, rural development, healthcare, arts and culture, and destitute care. Its mission is to work in remote regions of several states in India. The Infosys Foundation takes pride in working with all sections of society, selecting projects with infinite care, and working in areas that are traditionally overlooked by society at large. 

At the outset, the Infosys Foundation implemented programs in Karnataka and subsequently extended its coverage to Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal.

In FY 20-21, Infosys limited spent Rs. 325.32 crores on its CSR initiatives. The relief work, which began with setting up of COVID-exclusive hospitals and wards, supply of medical equipment, PPE kits, and sanitizers continued pan-India through 2020-21 and is continuing this year.

More about Infosys’s CSR Portfolio 

4. Indian Oil Corporation Limited: 

Foundation Name: Indian Oil Foundation

With the objective of Protecting, Preserving, and Promoting this glorious past, Indian Oil on 24th August 2000, created a non-profit trust, the Indian Oil Foundation (IOF), in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the National Culture Fund of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Exclusively funded by Indian Oil, the Foundation aims to adopt at least one Heritage site in every State and Union Territory for the Development of Tourist Infrastructure Facilities. Being The Energy of India is much more than just notching up a high revenue (Rs 5,14,890 crore revenue from operations in 2020-21). It is far more than being the highest-ranked Indian Energy PSU (Rank 212) in Fortune's 'Global 500' listing and the vision to become 'A Globally Admired Company. ‘As a responsible corporation, the company has spent Rs. 460.38 crores on CSR in the last financial year 20-21, Rs. 118 crores higher than the prescribed amount. Out of Rs. 460 crores, Rs. 225 crores were contributed to PM CARES Fund for the COVID-19 pandemic. 

More about IOCL’s CSR Portfolio 

5. NTPC Limited:

Foundation Name: NTPC Foundation

NTPC Foundation” was formed by NTPC Ltd. on December 10, 2004, as a charitable Trust, with a vision to serve and empower the physically challenged and economically weaker sections of the society. The Foundation undertakes various activities/schemes/programs/projects /initiatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 and any activities in line with the CSR & Sustainability Policy of NTPC.

At present, the Foundation is carrying out various flagship programs of NTPC, primarily in the areas of Health, Education, Girl Empowerment, etc. for inclusive growth and equitable development of the persons with disabilities & women. Recently the Foundation has been entrusted with the implementation of NTPC’s Flagship “Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM)” program at various NTPC Locations PAN India in addition to existing activities.

NTPC Limited is an Indian statutory corporation, under the ownership of the Ministry of Power. It has spent an amount of Rs. 418.87 crores on CSR initiatives in FY 20-21, surpassing the prescribed amount of Rs. 278.57. The company has spent 66% of its CSR budget on healthcare promotion and infrastructure.

More about NTPC’s CSR Portfolio

6. HCL Technologies Limited:

Foundation Name: HCL Foundation 

Source: HCL Foundation

HCL Technologies implements its Corporate Social Responsibility agenda through its CSR arm, the HCL Foundation. Various flagship programmes and initiatives of the Foundation, endeavour to contribute towards national and international development goals, bringing about lasting positive impact on people and the planet, through long term sustainable programmes with a thematic focus on Education, Health & Sanitation, Skill Development & Livelihood, Environment, and Disaster Risk Reduction & Response. Child protective strategies, inclusion, and gender transformative approaches remain central in all initiatives of HCL Foundation, thus ensuring equitable development and opportunities for all.

In FY 2020-21, the company has spent Rs. 195.16 crores for its CSR activities. It has contributed to 180+ projects for CSR. In FY 2021, HCL focused on education, healthcare, and sustainability initiatives.

More about HCL’s CSR Portfolio

7． Wipro Limited:

Foundation Name: Wipro Foundation

At Wipro, we think it is critical to engage with the social and ecological challenges facing humanity. We believe that engagement with social issues must be deep, meaningful, and formed on the bedrock of long-term commitment — this is the only way real change can happen on the ground.

We run our social programs on a strong foundation of ethical principles, good governance, and sound management. Our foundational values are embodied in the ‘Spirit of Wipro’ that emphasizes unyielding integrity in every aspect of our work, treating people everywhere fairly and with respect – at the workplace and in communities outside, and demonstrating ecological sensitivity in thought and action. In April 2020, we initiated an integrated response to COVID-19 leveraging the vast network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) supported by the Azim Premji Foundation, Wipro Limited, and Wipro Enterprises Limited. Over a year, we delivered humanitarian aid to over 90 lakh people in partnership with 500 CSOs.

More about Wipro’s CSR Portfolio

8. JSW Steel Limited: 

Foundation Name: JSW Foundation 

Established in 1989, the JSW Foundation (erstwhile Jindal Education and Medical Trust and Jindal South-West Foundation) is the social development arm of the JSW group governed by the ideology that every life is important and must be given fair opportunities to make the best out of it. The Foundation takes conscious steps to support and empower communities, primarily located around its plants. The Foundation is working relentlessly to tackle the issue related to health & nutrition, facilitating to make learning more effective and meaningful, empowering the youth through employable skill programs, ensuring water security through long-term watershed development programs, providing access to sanitation facilities in rural areas to make them open defecation free, preserving and conserving national heritage and promoting sports.

The JSW Foundation has a footprint across 11 states and 15 districts reaching out to 1 million individuals in the villages located around the manufacturing locations. The CSR expenditure of the company’s projects were- Rs. 17.9 Cr. for covid relief, Rs. 14.7 for healthcare, Rs. 13 Cr. for community development, Rs. 11 Cr. for education, Rs. 10 for environmental sustainability, and Rs. 5 Cr. for sports promotion.

More about JSW’s CSR Portfolio 

9. Rural Electrification Corporation Limited:

Foundation Name: REC 

REC came into being in 1969 to articulate a response to the pressing exigencies of the nation. During the time of severe drought, the leaders sought to reduce the dependency of agriculture on monsoons by energizing agricultural pump-sets for optimized irrigation. Thereafter, we have ventured into newer paths and expanded our horizons to emerge today, as a leader in providing financial assistance to the power sector in all segments, be it Generation, Transmission, or Distribution. Our subsidiary RECPDCL (REC Power Development and Consultancy Limited) works in tandem with us to realise our shared mission by providing consultancy services in the Distribution and Transmission sectors. The estimated CSR budget of REC of the year 2020-21 is INR 172.27 Cr. The company’s project was- Rs. 17.09 for health and infrastructure and Rs. 3.75 for Education.

More about REC’s CSR Portfolio

10. South Eastern Coalfields Limited

Foundation Name: SECL

South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is the largest coal-producing company in India. It is a "Mini Ratna" Company, and one of eight fully owned subsidiaries of Coal India Limited. Central Coalfields Limited is a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, an undertaking of the Government of India. It has spent Rs. 56 Cr. for its CSR in FY 20-21. All of their CSR projects are based in Jharkhand. 

The company has focused on healthcare, drinking water, education, sports, rural development, environment and gender equality. 

More about SECL’s CSR Portfolio

11. UltraTech Cement Limited: 

Foundation Name: UltraTech Community Welfare Foundation 

UltraTech believes in the Aditya Birla Group’s CSR vision “To actively contribute to the social and economic development of the communities in which we operate. In so doing and building a better, sustainable way of life for weaker sections of society, to contribute effectively towards inclusive growth and raise the country’s human development index”. At UltraTech, our social initiatives work under the aegis of The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, under the leadership of Mrs. Rajashree Birla. The key focus areas are education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure, and social reform. Women empowerment, water, and sanitation are cross-cutting issues. The centre provides the strategic direction and the thrust areas for our work, while also ensuring performance management. We work towards the all-round development of the communities around our plants, most of which are in distant rural areas and tribal belts. Through the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, we reach out to more than 1.6 million people across 502 villages spanning 16 states.

Ultratech Cement Limited, part of Aditya Birla Group, has spent Rs. 120.68 crores in FY 20-21 for their CSR. Their focus is on healthcare, education, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure and social reform.

More about UltraTech’s CSR Portfolio

12. Oil India Limited

Foundation Name: Oil India Rural Development Society

OIL views Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as an integral part of its existence, such that the Company's operations and the fulfillment of its societal and environmental responsibilities are held at an equal pedestal in its core philosophy itself. The CSR initiatives of the Company are governed by the Companies Act 2013, DPE guidelines on CSR & Sustainability 2014, and OIL’s CSR Vision and Policy. These initiatives are primarily undertaken in and around the Company’s operational areas in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh.  The total contribution in this project was Rs. 41.79 Cr. 

Other than these the company made a contribution of Rs. 23 Cr. for rural development, Rs. 11 Cr. for healthcare and sanitation, and Rs. 1.8 Cr. for sports promotion. Most of the projects are based in Maharashtra. 

More about Indian Oil Limited’s CSR Portfolio

13. Aurobindo Pharma Limited

Foundation Name: Aurobindo Pharma Foundation

Aurobindo Pharma Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Aurobindo Pharma Limited and strives for the social and economic growth of the nation through its Corporate Social Responsibility programme. We are committed to continuously improving our social, environmental and economic practices to support the enhancement of the country’s institutions and to benefit society. Aurobindo Pharma Foundation has installed approximately 70 Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Purification Plants with different capacities in various locations and also extensively constructed RO Water Sheds. It has installed overhead water tanks, groundwater tanks, laid underground pipelines for drinking water and ensured safe drinking water is supplied to many more villages through deliveries from water tankers. As part of Swachh Bharat- Swachh Vidyalaya, Aurobindo Pharma foundation has constructed hundreds of modern new toilets, repaired and renovated old toilets for girls and boys in various government schools’ colleges, stadiums, etc., in both of the states. As part of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Aurobindo Pharma Foundation has supported the Integrated House Hold Latrine (IHHL) scheme in various villages of the states to make Open Defecation Free villages (ODF).

Aurobindo Pharma Limited has a CSR spend of Rs. 58.8 Cr. in FY 20-21. They have focused on education, healthcare, rural development, agriculture, sports, environment and drinking water. They have contributed Rs. 22 Cr. to PM Cares fund, Rs. 19 cr. for healthcare, Rs. 8.8 Cr. for education, and Rs. 4.6 Cr. for rural development. All of their projects are implemented in South India. 

More about Aurobindo Pharma’s CSR Portfolio

14. Cipla Limited

Foundation Name: Cipla Foundation  

Cipla, as an organisation has been built brick-by-brick on the foundation of care. Caring For Life has always been and continues to remain, our guiding purpose. Driven by the same purpose, we have extended our presence to 80+ countries providing over 1,500 products across various therapeutic categories in 50+ dosage forms. To make healthcare more affordable globally, we are deepening our presence in the key markets of India, South Africa, the U.S. among other economies of the emerging world.

For over eight decades, making a difference to patients has inspired every aspect of Cipla’s work. Our paradigm-changing offer of triple antiretroviral therapy in HIV/AIDS at less than a dollar a day in Africa in 2001 is widely acknowledged as having contributed to bringing inclusiveness, accessibility, and affordability to the centre of the HIV movement. A responsible corporate citizen, Cipla’s humanitarian approach to healthcare in pursuit of its purpose of Caring for Life and deep-rooted community links wherever it is present, make it a partner of choice for global health bodies and stakeholders. The estimated prescribed budget of FY 2020-21 is INR 58.72 Cr. The CSR activities include healthcare and facilities, and providing quality education.

More about Cipla’s CSR Portfolio

15. NTPC Limited: 

Foundation Name: NTPC Foundation

NTPC Limited is an Indian statutory corporation, under the ownership of the Ministry of Power. It has spent an amount of Rs. 418.87 crores on CSR initiatives in FY 20-21, surpassing the prescribed amount of Rs. 278.57. To sum up, the company spent Rs. 64 Cr. for education, Rs. 33 Cr. for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Rs. 31 Cr. for rural development projects.

More about NTPC’s CSR Portfolio

16. Shriram Transport Finance Company Limited

Foundation Name: Shriram Foundation 

SRF Foundation is working to bring a smile to the faces of some of the most vulnerable members of society through high-impact interventions in Education, Vocational Skills & Livelihood and Natural Resource Management. Working closely with the local communities, SRF Foundation partners with like-minded organizations and other NGOs to develop and execute innovative solutions and with the State Governments to create and scale sustainable impact. Currently, the SRF Foundation champions the cause of quality education in India and runs one of the largest community programs in and around SRF’s manufacturing plant locations as well as in other parts of the country in partnership with like-minded organizations, imparting education and vocational training programs to underprivileged children and youth by improving both hard and soft infrastructure facilities in Government schools, promoting computer-aided learning, and through the digital inclusion of communities.

Shriram Transport Finance Company Limited is one of the largest NBFC in the country with an Asset Under management which exceeds One Lakh Crore rupees. The company has spent Rs. 65 Cr. for its CSR in FY 20-21. They have contributed Rs. 49 Cr. for education promotion, Rs. 9 Cr. for healthcare, Rs. 3.5 Cr. for covid relief and Rs. 2 Cr. for art & culture promotion.

More about Shriram’s CSR Portfolio

17. EICHER MOTORS LIMITED

Foundation Name: Eicher Group Foundation

When we define Eicher as a company committed to the community, we mean community in its broadest sense: the totality of the social, economic, and natural spheres in which we do business and live our lives. This commitment takes many forms, with special attention to enhancing education and the quality of healthcare facilities throughout the country.

Incorporated in 1982, Eicher Motors Limited is the flagship company of the Eicher Group in India and a leading player in the Indian automobile industry. The company has contributed Rs. 56 Cr. in the FY 20-21 for its CSR. They have spent Rs. 29 Cr. for covid relief and Rs. 2 Cr. for rural development projects. 

More about Eicher’s CSR Portfolio 

18.  Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited

Foundation Name: Kotak Education Foundation

Our mission is to support children & youth from underprivileged families through different education-based interventions to rise above the poverty line & lead a life of dignity through sustainable processes

Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited contributed Rs. 79 Crores for its CSR in the financial year 20-21. The company spent Rs. 42.5 Cr. on education, Rs. 14 Cr. on Sports promotion, Rs. 12 Cr. healthcare and Rs. 6 Cr. for environment sustainability

More about Kotak’s CSR Portfolio

19. Ambuja Cement Limited

Foundation Name: Ambuja Cement Foundation and Ambuja Hospital Trust

Established in 1993, Ambuja Cement Foundation is a grassroots pan-India implementing organisation that harnesses the power of partnerships –between communities, Government, and other like-minded corporates and NGOs – to help solve pressing community problems and to foster prosperity. For the past 25 years, ACF has created a significant impact. A full-fledged Research and Monitoring Unit, along with numerous external, independent studies show significant change – in income levels, health indicators, and overall harmony and happiness. Our work has spread beyond our core villages, and by working hand in hand with like-minded organisations, we aim to significantly impact the pressing issues currently inhabiting our country. The total estimated prescribed budget of FY 2020-21 is INR 30.9 Cr.

More about Ambuja Cement’s CSR Portfolio

20. Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Limited

Foundation Name:  Glenmark Foundation, Glenmark Aquatic Foundation

Instituted around the theme of ‘Healthier Children, Healthier World’, Glenmark Foundation, the CSR arm of Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, is actively working towards improving child health and reducing Infant/Child Mortality. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), newborns face the highest risk of dying within a few days of birth. The majority of these children can be saved by access to simple and affordable interventions. Almost half the number of early infant and child mortality incidents are caused by malnutrition. A few years ago, we conducted detailed research in the field of child health and the key findings of the research directed us to initiate Project ‘Kavach’ which is our flagship CSR program. The word ‘Kavach’ means a shield and symbolizes protection. The total estimated CSR budget of the year 2020-21 is INR 32.31 Cr.

More about Glenmark’s CSR Portfolio