Rohini Nilekani Quotes

What's in my mind is that I'm investing in people. It might be through a building or a program, but I'm investing in people. And the people that I'm investing in are underprivileged or hold a core value that I believe in.

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.

The Hebrew word “tzedakah” … is translated as “charity” but … comes from the same root as the word for “justice”.

Those fortunate to achieve great wealth should put it to work for the good of humanity.

I came to see that it wasn't enough just to care about people. You also had to build systems in which you could ensure that there are results and accountability.

Charity is only a waystation on the road to justice.

We have moved into an era where we are called upon to raise certain basic questions about the whole society. We are still called upon to give aid to the beggar who finds himself in misery and agony on life's highway. But one day, we must ask the question of whether an edifice which produces beggars must not be restructured and refurbished.

To feed the hungry, clothe the naked and shelter the harborless without also trying to change the social order so that people can feed, clothe and shelter themselves is just to apply palliatives. It is to show a lack of faith in one’s fellows, their responsibilitie s as children of God, heirs of heaven.

Most of the money I made has gone back to Africa or is going back to Africa.

I've always felt obligated to help those less fortunate than me. It's an obligation that anyone who has a chance to be in the NBA should feel and act upon.

According to our Christian ethics, we're supposed to love God, love each other and help take care of the poor. It is immoral to charge somebody making $5,000 an income tax.

It's time to re-think charity. It's time to give charity the big-league freedoms we really give to business. The fight for these freedoms must be our new cause, because without them, all of our causes are ultimately lost.

Philanthropy and social change work are at their best when they are driven by your values and connected to what you care about most.

Charity is just writing checks and not being engaged. Philanthropy, to me, is being engaged, not only with your resources but getting people and yourself really involved and doing things that haven't been done before.

I've been a philanthropist for all my life, and... I've had many involvements in humanitarian and environmental issues.

I truly believe that philanthropy and commerce can work together.

There is a moral obligation that those who have should give to those who don't.

I'm going to give away a lot more than half my money. I'd be happy to give that to the government if the government put together programs that were like I'm giving away to charity, in which I believe the money is effectively used to help people.

There's a big difference between charity and between activism and philanthropy. They're very different things and I think, you know, everybody should find a passion or a cause that they can really get behind, but it has to be organic.

I started off with making personal donations and eventually set up my own foundation, VTCY Foundation, now known as Better Malaysia Foundation. My contributions are also made through companies that I own.

It's hard to be a good philanthropist in China.

A lot of wealthy people, they don't realize they have the alternatives of spending the money for good.

I won't sell any Facebook shares as long as I'm on the board. When I leave, all my Facebook shares will be donated to two or three D.C. education-related charities I've supported over the years. Thus, a small portion of Facebook's success will be shared with low income students in Washington.

The system of volunteerism is divisive. It pits one charity against the others for the charity dollar.

I have committed to giving away 80% of my wealth, much of it in India, but also in other countries.