Archana Chandra has chartered an impressive path professionally, transitioning from the corporate sector to the sphere of social development. Presently holding the position of CEO at Jai Vakeel Foundation & Research Centre, she leads one of the nation’s prominent NGOs dedicated to supporting intellectually challenged children. Additionally, Archana serves as the trustee at SRCC, which has contributed to the establishment of one of the country’s largest paediatric hospitals in collaboration with Narayana Hrudayalaya Limited (NH). Archana is also on the advisory boards of Annamrita (a part of the ISKCON Food Relief Foundation) and Antarang Foundation.
Meanwhile, Amit Chandra is an investor banker turned private equity investor working as the managing director of Bain Capital, India. He has been a part of the firm’s Asia leadership team since 2008, and is the founder of the firm’s India office. His extensive board memberships include several notable companies and non-profits, such as Akanksha Foundation, Ashoka University, Genpact, L&T Finance, Piramal Enterprises, Tata Sons, and Tata Trusts.
The husband-wife duo has jointly founded the A.T.E. Chandra Foundation, a professionally managed entity that adopts a strategic ‘portfolio approach’ to social sector investments, primarily focusing on two core verticals – sustainable rural development and social sector.
Amit and Archana Chandra
The sustainable rural development vertical plays a pivotal role in one of the country’s most extensive programs providing water to farmers. It also actively supports various impactful natural farming initiatives. Collaborating closely with influential foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Caring Friends, Central Square Foundation, EdelGive, Omidyar Networks, and Rohini Nilenkani Philanthropies, the foundation has significantly aided renowned philanthropic institutions and movements, including Ashoka University, Bridgespan India, Centre for Social Impact & Philanthropy, DaanUtsav, Olympic Gold Quest, and SRCC Children’s Hospital.
Their foundation’s social sector capacity building initiatives are among the largest initiatives in the nation, emphasizing leadership development training and fostering a philanthropic ecosystem while advocating for evidence-based capacity building investments.
Recognized for their philanthropic endeavours, Amit was honoured as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2007, while both Archana and Amit were lauded in Forbes’ Asia’s Heroes of Philanthropy list in 2016. They are among the signatories of the #LivingMyPromise pledge, which has garnered support from philanthropists like them who have committed to donating over 50% of their wealth towards noble causes.
