The Inlaks Foundation was established in 1976 by Indoo Shivdasani to incorporate his existing philanthropic activities and to provide a permanent, independent body for the expansion of these activities. The Foundation has now been renamed the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation.

The Foundation focuses on providing scholarships, grants and awards in various fields to outstanding young Indians to enable them to develop their professional, scientific, artistic and cultural abilities, both abroad and in India. It prides itself on being open to a wide range of subjects, many of which are not covered by other fund-giving bodies. Over the last three decades, more than 434 scholars have benefited from overseas scholarships while another 456 have received awards and Take-Off Grants in India and abroad.

The list of Inlaks alumni reflects the diversity of scholars that the Foundation has supported. Today many are leaders in their chosen fields the world over.

The key to the Inlaks approach is recognising and honouring individual talent. The Foundation looks for the unusual, searches out the special and spots people with promise. And once convinced, the Foundation does everything possible to encourage the candidate.

In 2008, the Foundation instituted the Inlaks Research and Travel Grant to enable registered PhD students of Indian universities to undertake short-term visits to institutions abroad to collect material, use facilities and consult experts. The Foundation now offers a visiting studentship to PhD students from India at the King’s India Institute, London.

In 2010, a biodiversity conservation initiative of the Foundation resulted in the Inlaks Ravi Sankaran Fellowship Programme for Field Biology, Ecology and Conservation. This provides funding for three kinds of activities: study toward a Master’s degree in an institution abroad; an internship with an institution abroad; and research or implementation projects within India.

In the last few decades, Indian art has enjoyed a vibrant and flourishing presence globally, although the financial support to young artists entering the domain has remained limited. With this in mind in 2012 the Fine Arts Award was enhanced and artist residencies were offered as part of the award to young emerging artists.

The Foundation has stepped up its support to the arts in many fields. An annual Curatorial Lab was supported and funded at the School of Arts and Aesthetics at JNU. Residencies are offered to artists and curators as well as to dancers and choreographers, both in India and overseas. With young artists and curators support is extended with the opportunity to exhibit. Museum professionals are supported at the ITP programme at the British Museum and a curator is supported at Goldsmith’s, London.

The Foundation has also aided colleges and hospitals in Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai.