The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, one of the oldest, non-sectarian philanthropic organisations in India, was established in 1932 by Sir Dorabji Tata with the prime purpose of encouraging learning and research in the country, of meeting costs of relief during crises and calamities and of carrying out worthwhile charitable activities.
The Trust’s vision of constructive philanthropy has been sensitive to the fast-growing needs of a developing nation, while the work initiated by it holds contemporary relevance as it continues to support innovative enterprises in development.
In addition to the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, there are a number of Allied Trusts which also focus on overall developmental issues. They are:
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Tata Social Welfare Trust
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R D Tata Trust
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Tata Education Trust
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J R D Tata Trust
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J R D and Thelma J Tata Trust
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Jamsetji Tata Trust
Together the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Allied Trusts are administered and viewed as one donor entity.
The grant-making pattern of the Trusts involve three broad areas:
The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Allied Trusts have pioneered several leading institutions with endowment grants – the first of their kind in India – and in doing so have created many centres of excellence.
The Trusts have left an indelible mark in several fields – particularly in medicine, science and education – by setting up the following institutions:
Even as most of these institutions have now been handed over to the respective state or central governments for day-to-day administration, they continue to receive program and recurring grants for specific purposes from the Trusts. Read more
NGO/Programs
The Trusts support a range of NGOs working in different sectors across the country. Based on the parameters of innovation, timeliness, sustainability, adding value and promoting linkages, geographic spread and the felt needs of the community, grants are made in the six major sectors of social development:
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Natural Resource Management and Rural Livelihoods: The focus of support is on improving food security at the household, local and national levels and on issues concerning climate change and ecological security. The Trusts also recognize the importance of the increasingly scarce water resources and support the implementation of programs that work towards equitable and efficient use of water for meeting basic human needs. Read more
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Urban Poverty and Livelihoods: Improving working conditions for promoting sustainable urban livelihoods, improving the health and hygiene of the urban poor and promoting efforts to improve the reach, equity and effectiveness of government programs in urban development are the focus areas of this sector. Read more
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Education: Several innovative initiatives in education – within and outside the formal system – have been supported by the Trusts. The Trusts’ work looks at improving the quality of school education for disadvantaged groups such as Dalits, tribals, Muslims, girl children, urban slum dwellers, etc.; the education and development of adolescents; and the up-gradation of the profession of education itself. Read more
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Health: The focus areas in this sector deal with health issues of women (adolescent girls, maternal health etc.) as well as community medicine particularly in regard to child and maternal care and child nutrition; treatment, care and integration in the mainstream of the physically and mentally challenged and the integration of the Indian Systems of Medicine. The Trusts also support the creation of health infrastructure on a limited scale. Read more
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Civil Society, Governance and Human rights: The focus areas of this sector are support to Civil Society institutions/organisations that promote the implementation of the 73rd and 96th Amendments to the Constitution, contributing to good governance including through the use of RTI and legal means and efforts that help in the protection of the rights of the child, women, Dalits, tribals, under-trials and prisoners. Read more
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Media Art and Culture: The focus is on promoting arts scholarship, efforts at conserving endangered cultures and support to archival work. In addition, innovative approaches of the media in development and the research and development activities of the Arts are also promoted. Read more
Disaster Relief: As and when required the Trusts step in to provide relief and rehabilitation to alleviate distress and suffering caused by natural and man-made disasters.
Small Grants: The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust gives small / modest grants to organisations that require funds for smaller and innovative initiatives. Read more
Individual Grants
In addition to grants to institutions and NGOs, the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, the Jamsetji Tata Trust and the JRD Tata Trust provide merit and need-based educational and medical grants to deserving individuals.
Individual Educational Grants: Educational grants are offered as scholarships for higher education and travel grants for studies abroad as well as for attending conferences, presentation of papers for research, and sports-related activities. Read more
Individual Medical Grants: Medical grants are given as financial help for the treatment of cancer, heart ailments, kidney failure, neurological ailments, gynaecological problems, respiratory ailments, etc. Read more
JN Tata Endowment
J N Tata Endowment is the first Trust established by the founder, Jamsetji Tata, in 1892. This Trust provides loan scholarships to a large number of deserving individuals for pursuit of higher studies abroad. Over one hundred students are selected every year as J N Tata Scholars from all over India. The roster of J N Tata scholars includes many prominent academics, scientists and economists. Read more
Lady Tata Memorial Trust
The Lady Tata Memorial Trust was established by Sir Dorabji Tata in 1932 in memory of his wife, Lady Meherbai, who died of leukaemia at an early age.
The Trust spends four-fifths of its income on international research, and an International Advisory Committee, based in London, invites applications for awards for support for research on leukaemia worldwide. The Trust also supports institutional research carried out by recognized Indian institutions, research laboratories and leading scientific/medical centres doing research work in the diseases of the blood, with special emphasis on leukaemia research.
Lady Meherbai D Tata Education Trust
The Trust was set-up in 1932 and grants scholarships to young Indian women graduates of recognized Indian universities for pursuing higher studies abroad in the field of social work and public health.
The Sir Dorabji Tata Trust Established in 1932 by Sir Dorabji Tata
Set up in 1919, a year after the untimely demise of Sir Ratan Tata at the age of 47, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust is one of the oldest philanthropic institutions in India.
