The Shiv Nadar Foundation was established in 1994 by Shiv Nadar, Founder, HCL – US$ 11 billion leading global enterprise. Driven by the idea that education plays a key role in narrowing the socio-economic divide, the Foundation has invested over US$1 Billion into its philosophy of Creative Philanthropy. This involves building institutions of excellence, imparting students with world-class skills and a strong sense of values, and triggering transformation through the Ripple Effect. Cumulatively, the Foundation has helped to shape the futures of more than 30,000 students over the years.

Institutions created by the Foundation include SSN College of Engineering and the VidyaGyan Leadership Academy amongst others. Affiliated to Anna University, SSN is one of the top 10 private engineering colleges in India and has crafted a niche for itself. Top companies visit SSN regularly and graduates have been recruited for international assignments by companies like Apple and Facebook amongst others. VidyaGyan Leadership Academy is a K-12 school for rural underprivileged students and provide free residential education to the selected students from 6th till 12thclass. It has been instrumental in helping bright students from rural India to reach leading international and national institutions such as IIT, AIIMS, Babson College, Bryn Mawr College, Virginia Tech, Purdue University etc. for higher studies.