Microsoft Philanthropies completes a year of empowering communities across India

Microsoft Philanthropies, created a year ago, recently reported its progress and contributions made in 2016 towards community development across the world. In India, Microsoft Philanthropies has invested significant time, money and effort over the last year and contributed a total of over 10 Million USD towards community development.  This contribution includes both cash and technology investments to transform the way nonprofits deliver impact in India, offer educational opportunities to empower the next generation and extend support during humanitarian crises. Globally, it has committed more than $650 million in 2016 and impacted lives of more than 15 million youth across 58 countries.

Microsoft Philanthropies was created with a commitment to bring the benefits of technology to people who need them the most, as well as to nonprofit organizations that are working to address humanity’s most pressing issues.

“As India moves on the path of becoming a digitally empowered society, at Microsoft, we believe technology is a powerful force for improving people’s lives and solving India’s key challenges,” said, Madhu Khatri, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft India. “Over the years, we have seen how applying technology has revolutionized every business, industry and organization.  Cloud computing has emerged as a vital resource for addressing the world’s problems, helping fuel breakthroughs across the full-range of economic and social challenges. These technologies will help serve the mission of Microsoft Philanthropies to drive digital inclusion and empowerment in India and across the world.”

With a foundation of more than 26 years of giving in India, Microsoft Philanthropies invests its strongest assets – the latest technology, dedicated and talented employees, its voice in advocacy, and financial resources – to advance a future that is for everyone, including –

• Technology for Good: Microsoft has donated millions in cloud services to more than 142 nonprofits across India. Two impactful examples of a nonprofit making a difference with Microsoft Cloud is Akshaya Patra and Habitat4Humanity, that fight issues like hunger and malnutrition in India and works with low-income families to build new homes and incremental housing, respectively.
• Employee Giving: In 2016, Microsoft employees supported the company’s giving efforts by contributing to support over 150 NGOs across India as part of the annual Microsoft India Employee Giving Campaign.
• YouthSpark - Empowering the Next Generation: In the last one year, Microsoft has provided training to more than 25,000 youth, of which about 13,000 have been placed in jobs, 1,100 have started their own entrepreneurial ventures and 2,600 were inspired to continue education and training in computer sciences across 22 states in India. Microsoft has also provided cash grant support to NASSCOM Foundation and QUEST Alliance for investing in development of coding and computer science learning modules for training youth.
• Humanitarian Action: As part of relief and humanitarian efforts, Microsoft took responsive action to provide aid for Tamil Nadu Floods. The company offered funding support for a six-month emergency response program with an aim to reach 800 households comprising approximately 4800 persons in the worst affected areas in urban locations of Chennai and rural areas of Cuddalore District and Kanchipuram District. Microsoft also helped with targeted technology solutions by providing free international calls for support via Skype.

Globally, Microsoft Philanthropies has made huge progress by:

• Committing $1 billion in cloud services for nonprofits and researchers to support the public good, and to date, donating $465 million to 71,000 organizations
• Delivering connectivity to remote schools, health clinics and community centers in 11 countries though the innovative use of “TV white spaces”;
• Expanding access to computer science education to 225 high schools in United States;
• Providing more than $30 million in technology and cash donations to organizations serving refugees and displaced people; and,
• Raising a record $142 million through our employee giving program, benefitting 19,000 nonprofits and schools.