Qazaqstan Khalqyna and the Kulibayev Foundation: Leaders in Philanthropy. Who Else?
2024 proved to be a landmark year for philanthropy in Kazakhstan. Despite the country’s drop in the World Giving Index from 107th to 113th place, private and public initiatives continue to show steady development. Timur Kulibayev led in charitable contributions among businessmen, while the Qazaqstan Khalqyna Foundation, established at the initiative of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, led among public organizations.
Foundation “Kazakhstan Khalkyna” and its role
The public fund “Kazakhstan Halkyna” has collected more than 250 billion tenge in three years. These funds are directed to:
- construction of housing for families affected by natural disasters;
- allocation of educational grants for talented youth;
- healthcare development.
This initiative, with the participation of a number of public figures in the country, pooled private resources to address key social issues. The fund covered a wide range of areas to improve the lives of citizens.
The Kulibayevs’ Major Initiatives
Since the establishment of the Halyk Foundation, Timur and Dinara Kulibayev have donated more than 85 billion tenge to charity, supporting 120 social projects. This figure significantly exceeds the results of other individuals and businessmen in Kazakhstan.
In 2024, their efforts were focused on helping those in need, with key ones being:
- assistance to residents of Kulsary: more than 31 billion tenge was allocated for the restoration of housing and infrastructure after the floods.
- 400 apartments to the Akimat of Astana for families in need of support. The total area of residential premises exceeds 20 thousand square meters, and the cost of construction was about 6.9 billion tenge.
- construction of a kindergarten in the Kostanay region: a new kindergarten in the village of Auliekol has become an important step in the restoration of the region affected by the fires of 2022. 1.3 billion tenge was allocated for its construction.
The organization was awarded the prestigious “Kaiyrymdylyk Ushin” medal at the annual Philanthropists Forum in 2024.
Who else supports Kazakhstanis?
Private philanthropists and foundations play an important role in the development of charity:
- Aydin and Anara Rakhimbaev. Invested $20 million in the IQanat Endowment Fund to support rural schoolchildren.
- Kenes Rakishev and Asel Tasmagambetova. Their Sabi Foundation has allocated about 50 billion tenge for social projects over 22 years, including the construction of schools and children’s homes.
- Gulnar Dosayeva. Her foundation actively supports cultural initiatives and programs for talented youth.
- Bulat Utemuratov. His charitable foundation focuses on healthcare, including helping patients with rare diseases.
- Galymzhan Yesenov. Develops STEM education and supports young scientists through educational grants.
State recognition
In June 2024, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev awarded leading philanthropists of Kazakhstan and noted their contribution at his Akorda residence. Among those awarded were Timur Kulibayev, Bulat Utemuratov, Nurlan Smagulov and others. This event emphasized the importance of their work for social stability and sustainable development of society.
Despite individual scandals, such as the Perizat Kairat case, philanthropy in Kazakhstan continues to develop. The diversity of initiatives — ranging from large state funds to private projects — underscores the importance of charity as a tool for addressing social issues. However, further development of this sector requires not only increased funding but also greater transparency and trust. This will be a key factor in attracting new participants and strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in international rankings.
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