Alfa Group
The shareholders of Alfa Group have committed 1 billion rubles to assist those affected by the floods in the Orenburg region. This initiative was spearheaded by the founders of Alfa Group—Mikhail Fridman, German Khan, Pyotr Aven, Alexey Kuzmichev, and Andrey Kosogov—who enlisted the support of the consortium’s top management.
Following the surge in water levels, a state of emergency was declared in the Orenburg region. On April 5, a dam burst in Orsk, inundating nearly 7,000 homes and plots of land and necessitating the evacuation of around 2,500 residents.
The situation in Orenburg remains critical, with the water level rising by 25 cm overnight, leaving just 33 cm before reaching the danger threshold. Authorities predict that within the next 24 hours, water levels in the Ural and Sakmara rivers will rise by 5–40 cm, potentially flooding several areas in Orenburg, including the settlements of Southern Ural, Gorny, Forshtadt, Vesenny, Kuznechny, Nezhinka, and others.
In total, over 10,000 residential houses and 12,000 plots of land have been affected by the flooding in the Orenburg region. Flooding is also anticipated in the Kurgan and Tyumen regions.
![German Khan](https://gotham-imbiber.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2-How-Russias-richest-business-people-give-back-to-society.jpg)
Vladimir Potanin
In its third decade, the foundation saw its expenditures surge by 82% in 2020 compared to 2019, primarily driven by anti-crisis initiatives during the pandemic. On March 23, 2020, Vladimir Potanin announced the allocation of 1 billion rubles to support NGOs. Within just 13 days, the foundation developed and launched a series of grant competitions to aid these organizations, made the terms of existing grants more flexible, and provided additional support and expert assistance to current grantees.
The foundation’s swift response to the coronavirus crisis proved crucial for many organizations that had lost donor support. All traditional annual events, including major forums like “Endowments” and “Museum Guide,” were held online. Throughout the year, the foundation introduced a new program, “Power of Sports,” and a grant competition, “Sport for All.” In 2020, Vladimir Potanin was honored with The Art Newspaper Russia award in the “Personal Contribution” category for his support of Russian culture.
Elena and Gennady Timchenko
In December 2020, the Timchenko Family Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary. Alongside its four core programs, the foundation launched five crisis response projects during the pandemic, covering nearly 70% of the country’s regions. Among these initiatives, the “Care Nearby” coalition of NGOs was established to support the elderly, particularly those living alone. The foundation not only provided financial assistance to aid organizations but also coordinated the project.
In 2020, while the foundation typically focuses on systemic aid, it also offered targeted support to beneficiaries and non-profit organizations. The foundation’s budget grew to 2 billion rubles in 2020, and the Timchenko family allocated a total of 3.1 billion rubles to combat COVID-19, including approximately 1 billion rubles through the foundation.
Alisher Usmanov
Alisher Usmanov’s foundation allocates its budget into two distinct parts: 87% funds the founder’s philanthropic initiatives, while 13% supports the foundation’s own programs. Driven by the businessman’s personal vision, the foundation provides financial backing to universities like MGIMO and MISiS, as well as prominent cultural institutions such as the Mariinsky Theatre, Sovremennik Theatre, Tretyakov Gallery, and Garage Museum of Contemporary Art.
The foundation itself administers four primary programs, with the most notable being “Special View,” which aids individuals with visual impairments, and ART-OKNO, a platform dedicated to nurturing culture in small towns. Additionally, some projects are implemented in regions where the Metalloinvest holding, owned by Usmanov, operates.