History
The Foundation was formally established on 9 March 2001 (under Section 25 of the Indian Companies Act of 1956). Since then, Azim Premji has contributed a substantial portion of his wealth to create a philanthropic endowment, valued at approximately INR 2,40,000 crore (USD 29 billion) as of January 2023. This endowment serves as the financial corpus supporting the Foundation’s various initiatives.
Our inception can be traced back to elaborate discussions between Azim Premji and Dileep Ranjekar, our founding CEO. These conversations culminated in a white paper that laid the groundwork for the Foundation’s mission. Through careful consideration of various developmental issues, primary education emerged as the focal point for the Foundation’s efforts. We recognise education as a pivotal challenge with far-reaching implications to address social and economic inequities and this continues to define our journey.
From the very beginning, we have collaborated with the government by leveraging existing systems and introducing effective, scalable and replicable models of change. We value the quality of good teacher education as a means of ensuring better learning outcomes for students.
Through various programmes and interventions within the government school system, we continue to support educators and others associated with teaching in their endeavour to improve and expand their knowledge and skills.
Timeline
Formal launch of Azim Premji Foundation
Azim Premji set up the Foundation in 2001 with the vision and purpose of making a significant, long-term contribution to the country's development.
Programmatic interventions in School Education
Work in expanding access, enrolment and retention of children in schools as well as improving quality of education through programmatic interventions. Read more
Azim Premji University in Bengaluru
Our first University was set up in 2010, as the cradle to nurture and train qualified, knowledgeable professionals in education and development sectors. Read more
Field Institutes
Our work in the field is focused on improving the government school system in India, with special emphasis on the more disadvantaged areas of the country.
Read moreAzim Premji Schools
The first Azim Premji School was set up in 2012. It is our expression of the quality of K-12 education in the country. We now run 9 such schools in 4 states, as safe, inclusive and enriching spaces for children.
Read moreGrants
Image credit - Purusottam ThakurCOVID-19 Response
During the severe health and humanitarian crisis triggered by the COVID-19 outbreak in India, we swung into action to help the civil society cope with the outcome of the pandemic.
Expansion into Health and Livelihoods
Our work has begun to help strengthen the public health system alongside our pioneering master’s programme in public health (MPH) at our University in Bhopal. We also support not-for-profits to bring accessible healthcare to vulnerable communities. Under Livelihoods, we focus on supporting disadvantaged people and communities achieve increased and sustainable income.Azim Premji University in Bhopal
Our university in Bhopal was established in 2023. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and diploma programmes.
Read morePartnership with Karnataka government (Health)
Azim Premji Foundation entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Karnataka on 20 July 2024 to support the nutritional enrichment of the mid-day meal programme in government and government-aided schools for three years.
Know moreLaunch of Azim Premji Scholarship
Partnership with CMC Vellore (Health)
Christian Medical College Vellore, in partnership with Azim Premji Foundation, will set up a new medical college and a teaching hospital on its Chittoor campus to offer value-based healthcare and medical education, primarily for the disadvantaged.
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