The Tanoto Centre for Asian Family Business and Entrepreneurship Studies at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) was established in 2012 through a gift of US$0.5 million from the Tanoto Foundation, an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981. The centre aims to bridge the knowledge gap between academics and practitioners as well as policymakers through its program and activities. In 2017, Tanoto Foundation renewed its strong support for the centre with a new gift of US$1 million.

Tanoto Foundation, an independent family philanthropy organisation founded by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, supports the Asia Global Fellows Program (AGFP) run by the Asia Global Institute (AGI) at the University of Hong Kong through a gift of HK$10 million. The AGFP is an interdisciplinary global leadership development initiative to nurture future leaders and influencers with a deep understanding of global policy issues from Asian perspectives. In recognition of the gift, selected fellows by AGI are named as Tanoto Foundation AsiaGlobal Fellows during the program period from 2019 to 2023

Tanoto Foundation and UNDP have been collaborating since February 2016, with a pilot project of integrating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into sub-national development agenda in Riau province. The partnership pioneered a multi-stakeholder engagement approach in SDGs implementation in Indonesia among different stakeholders, namely government, United Nations, private sector and philanthropy; emphasizing key messages about the purpose of SDGs – leaving no one behind and improving quality of life.

The project aims to develop an enabling policy and regulatory environment and provide support to mainstreaming the SDGs into the Riau province development plan.  It covers multiple components including the policy framework, inclusive government, implementation, monitoring and tracking, and advocacy, capacity building and knowledge sharing. The Phase I of partnership start from February 2016-February 2018 by implementing the program into three district (Pelalawan, Indragiri Hilir and Meranti). The Phase II of the partnership was renewed for another two years until May 2020 with the addition of four new districts (Pekanbaru City, Kuantan Singingi, Indragiri Hulu, and Rokan Hulu) and activities to setup SDG action plans on the ground level through village/district pilots.

In addition to engaging government on planning processes, since August 2016, the Foundation has supported the Sustainable Palm Oil Initiative (SPOI) project with UNDP to assist independent and plasma smallholders to be able to manage palm oil plantations in a sustainable manner, improve their quality of life, and assist smallholders to get Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification. The project was concluded in December 2018. A significant milestone was achieved when Asosiasi Amanah obtained ISPO certification in April 2017, the first independent smallholder cooperative in Indonesia to be ISPO certified. In December 2018, KUD Bukit Potalo received the ISPO certificate. Out of 9 smallholders cooperatives obtaining ISPO certification thus far, three are in Riau province, and two of them (Asosiasi Amanah and KUD Bukit Potalo) are under the SPOI project. A Smallholders Centre of Excellence was inaugurated by Vice Regent of Pelalawan, Bapak Zardewan on 24 April 2019, as a forum for information sharing and knowledge on good and sustainable agricultural and management practices, and introduction to ISPO certification process.