Smart Philanthropy
Naveen Jain’s PhilanthropyAs a philanthropist, Naveen Jain is certainly an achiever at least in Washington, where his company, Intelius.com, is recognized as one of the biggest corporate philanthropic entities. No less than the Puget Sound Business Journal alleged that. Under Naveen Jain’s direction, Intelius inspired an internal culture of corporate activism. To their boss, Intelius employees are not just workers per se; they are also tangible components of the community.Intelius’ corporate culture perpetuates volunteerism. Naveen Jain guides the company in making charitable pledges in cash. He also helps in bolstering human resources in nonprofit groups — by offering the services of Intelius employees no less. Naveen Jain pays for his employees to take leaves every year, not to holiday in the Caribbean, but to volunteer in such charitable organizations. In more conventional philanthropy, Intelius is never the spendthrift. With his wife Anu, Naveen Jain personally gave $480,000 to various nonprofits by the end of 2008. In the same year too, Intelius topped earlier donation records by donating almost $210,000 to groups in and out of Washington. Naveen is enamored with nonprofit motives like children, India, education, and health. He is a magnanimous benefactor to Mumbai, India-based Child Rights and You as well as many Washington-based charities. In the state, Jain has pledged financial support to the Seattle Children’s Hospital, Indian American Education Foundation, Bellevue Boys & Girls Club, Kindering Center, Eastside Domestic Violence Program, Hopelink, Bellevue School Foundation, Treehouse, and United Way.Jain memorably funded an endowment at the University of Washington. His money duly went to the school’s programs in engineering, computer science, and business. Naveen Jain holds a degree in engineering and an MBA, both earned when he was still living in India.
