The Mittal Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £7.44 million (2024)
• Total Income: £11.56 million (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: £15 million (major institutional gifts) to smaller program support
• Geographic Focus: International (UK, India, United States)
• Application Process: No public application process - trustee discretion

Contact Details

Registered Charity: 1146604

Website: None

Email: Not publicly available

Phone: Not publicly available

Note: This is a private family foundation. Contact information is not publicly listed, and they do not accept unsolicited applications.

Overview

The Mittal Foundation was established in 2012 as a private charitable trust by the Mittal family, led by steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal (Chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal) and his wife Usha Mittal. The foundation operates as a strategic grant-making organization with a focus on education, child health and welfare, arts and culture, and poverty alleviation. With annual charitable expenditure of £7.44 million (2024), the foundation makes significant institutional grants and participates in collaborative funding initiatives, particularly in India and the United States, with some UK-based giving. The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, with all four trustees being Mittal family members. Their approach emphasizes long-term partnerships with major institutions and results-based funding mechanisms, including Development Impact Bonds.

Funding Priorities

Grant-Making Approach

The Mittal Foundation operates through:

• Strategic Institutional Partnerships: Major multi-million pound gifts to universities and hospitals
• Collaborative Funding: Participation as outcome funder in Development Impact Bonds and multi-funder initiatives
• Direct Program Support: Grants to educational and charitable organizations aligned with family priorities

The foundation does not accept unsolicited applications. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees based on the family's strategic interests and existing relationships.

Major Grants and Partnerships

Education:

• $25 million to Harvard University (2017) to establish the Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute
• Support for Pratham Education Foundation (Lakshmi Mittal serves as board member of Pratham UK)
• Outcome funder for the Quality Education India Development Impact Bond (British Asian Trust, 2018-2022) - world's largest education DIB reaching 200,000 children
• Established LNM Institute of Information Technology in Jaipur (2003)
• Founded Usha Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management in New Delhi (2009)
• Support for Usha Mittal Institute of Technology in Mumbai (women's engineering education)

Healthcare:

• £15 million to Great Ormond Street Hospital, London (2008) for the Mittal Children's Medical Centre - the hospital's largest private contribution ever received
• Partnership with UNICEF on child malnutrition in India

Arts and Culture:

• Promotion of the arts (per charitable objects), though specific grants not publicly detailed

Priority Areas

• Education: Particularly higher education institutions, primary education improvement in India, and South Asia studies
• Child Health and Welfare: Major children's hospitals and nutrition programs
• Poverty Alleviation: Through education and nutrition interventions
• Arts and Culture: As stated in charitable objects

Geographic Focus

• India: Primary focus area for education and development programs
• United States: Academic institutions and research
• United Kingdom: Healthcare and some arts/education support

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

The foundation is governed by four family trustees (all appointed between 2012-2018):

• Usha Mittal - Chair (appointed 2012)
• Lakshmi Mittal - Trustee (appointed 2012) - Chairman and CEO of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel company
• Aditya Mittal - Trustee (appointed 2018)
• Megha Mittal - Trustee (appointed 2016)
• Vanisha Mittal Bhatia - Trustee (appointed 2016)

No trustees receive remuneration. The foundation has 2 volunteers and no trading subsidiaries.

Charitable Philosophy

The Mittal family's approach to philanthropy emphasizes:

• Strategic partnerships with established institutions
• Results-based funding (e.g., Development Impact Bonds)
• Long-term commitments to educational advancement
• Focus on child welfare and development
• Collaborative funding with other major philanthropists

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

The Mittal Foundation does not have a public application process.

This is a private family foundation where all grant decisions are made by the trustee board consisting exclusively of Mittal family members. The foundation does not:

• Accept unsolicited applications
• Operate an online grant portal
• Publish application guidelines
• List contact details for funding inquiries

Grants are made based on:

• Strategic priorities determined by the family trustees
• Pre-existing relationships and partnerships
• Invitations to participate in collaborative funding initiatives
• Direct outreach from the foundation to potential beneficiaries

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - decisions are made at trustee discretion on an ongoing basis.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Not Accessible for Direct Applications: This foundation does not accept applications from UK charities. Do not attempt to contact them with unsolicited proposals.

• Collaborative Funding Exception: If your organization is involved in a major collaborative funding initiative (particularly focused on education in India or child health), the Mittal Foundation may become a funder through participation in that larger program.

• Board Connections Matter: Lakshmi Mittal's involvement with Pratham UK board demonstrates that institutional governance connections can lead to support.

• Major Institutional Campaigns: Universities and major healthcare institutions undertaking transformational capital campaigns may be considered for naming gifts.

• Geographic Alignment: Organizations working in India, particularly on education and child nutrition, align most closely with documented funding priorities.

• Results-Based Approaches: The foundation has demonstrated interest in innovative funding mechanisms like Development Impact Bonds that tie funding to measured outcomes.

• No Public Reporting on Individual Grants: The foundation does not publish a grants list or detailed information about most beneficiaries beyond major institutional gifts.

References

• The Charity Commission Register - The Mittal Foundation (1146604): https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5027245
• Great Ormond Street Hospital press materials regarding the Mittal Children's Medical Centre (2008, 2012)
• Harvard Gazette: “Mittal family gift expands opportunities for South Asia engagement”
• British Asian Trust: “Quality Education India Development Impact Bond” program information (2018-2022)
• Wikipedia: Lakshmi Mittal philanthropic activities
• FasterCapital: "A Heart of Gold: Lakshmi Mittal's Philanthropic Endeavors"
• The Lakshmi Mittal and Family South Asia Institute, Harvard University website