Every person should have the opportunity to realize his or her full potential.”
Sukanto Tanoto & Tinah Bingei Tanoto
Founders of Tanoto Foundation
When our Founders, Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto set up a kindergarten and primary school in Besitang, Indonesia in 1981, they wanted to provide greater access to quality education and improve the lives of the children who had no proper school to go to.
Since then, Tanoto Foundation has grown to focus on supporting human capital development through education, healthcare and leadership development.Tanoto Foundation has built a global presence and partners with world-leading like-minded organizations.
By harnessing the transformative power of education, we can build a better future together.
Core belief
Quality education accelerates equal opportunity.
Mission
Harnessing the transformative power of education to realize people’s full potential and to improve lives.
Our Leadership
Our visionary leaders who
drive Tanoto Foundation’s mission.
Our Journey
A look at where we began, to where we are now.
1981
- Tanoto Foundation was founded, with its inaugural kindergarten and elementary school established in rural Besitang, North Sumatra.
2001
- Tanoto Foundation was established in Singapore.
- A scholarship program was launched at Singapore Management University.
2003
- The Chen Jinrong Culture and Educational Fund was established in China.
2004
- Tanoto Foundation supported the tsunami relief operation in Ache.
2006
- The National Champion Scholarship Program was officially launched in Indonesia.
- The Tanoto Scholarship program at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore was launched.
2009
- The Tanoto Foundation Professorship and Research on diabetes was established at Duke-NUS Medical School.
- The Tanoto Scholarship program for the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in Singapore was launched.
2010
- The Pelita Pendidikan School Improvement Program was launched in Indonesia.
2013
- The Tanoto Initiative was launched at the Wharton School.
- The Tanoto Foundation Professorship and Research Initiative in medical oncology was established at Duke-NUS Medical School.
2014
- The Tanoto Early Childhood Program was launched in Jakarta.
- The Tanoto Foundation Professorship and Research Initiative in cardiovascular medicine was established at Duke-NUS Medical School.
2015
- The Tanoto Forestry Information Center was opened at Bogor Agricultural University.
2016
- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Talent Development Program was established in China with the support of Tanoto Foundation.
- The Tanoto Foundation partnered with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to pilot the localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at provincial and district levels within Riau Province.
2017
- The Viral Research and Experimental Medicine Center @ SingHealth Duke-NUS (ViREMiCS) was established with the support of Tanoto Foundation.
2018
- TELADAN, which focuses on youth leadership development, was launched in Indonesia
- PINTAR, a school improvement program, was launched in Indonesia SIGAP, which focuses on early childhood education and development, was launched in Indonesia.
- The Centre for Child and Maternal Health Programme (CHaMP) Fund was established in Singapore.
- Tanoto Foundation China was established.
2019
- Initiated by UNDP Indonesia, Tanoto Foundation, and Bappenas, the SDG Academy was launched in Indonesia as a learning hub to localize SDGs in Indonesia and to allow stakeholders to collaborate and contribute to the attainment of SDGs.
- The first Diploma III Pulp and Paper Technology study program in Indonesia was launched at Riau University with the support of Tanoto Foundtion.
2021
- e-PINTAR, a digital learning platform designed to help teachers develop more active, immersive, and student-led learning environments, was officially launched in Indonesia.
- BEACON, a holistic leadership development program for Tanoto Scholars, was launched in Singapore
2022
- The Diabetes Reversal Program with the National Healthcare Group was launched in Singapore with the support of Tanoto Foundation.
- The Sustainable Youth Leadership Development Program and the Heartware-Tanoto Foundation Learning Together Program were launched in Singapore.
- Business China’s programs on developing business leadership and strengthening the talent pipeline were supported by Tanoto Foundation.
2023
- The Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund launched, to support medical research with the aim of improving population health in Singapore and beyond.
2024
- Tanoto Foundation Fellowship Program was launched.
- The Education Roadmap in Indonesia (2025 – 2045) was collaborated on by Tanoto Foundation and Bappenas.