Founded by Sukanto Tanoto and his wife Tinah Bingei Tanoto in 1981, the Tanoto Foundation has grown to take on challenges in human capital development. It now looks at education as a complex intersecting issue of governance, wherein effective integrated implementation can effect transformative changes.
This involves the development of change agents to create positive externalities, cascading and multiplier effects, and virtuous cycles in the communities. In strengthening this governance, the Foundation actively engages governments, schools, teachers, parents, students and the wider community. Concurrently, scholarship programmes, while largely financial support mechanisms, now encompass development of character, communications and leadership skills.
In the wake of its rebranding in 2018, the Tanoto Foundation's renewed efforts are now driven by three key pillars: Building Learning Environments; Developing Future Leaders; and supporting Medical Research. It has a comprehensive yet robust programme aimed at the development of future leaders, with the launch of the TELADAN programme in Indonesia. It believes it to be crucial to structure a programme that maximises activation and positive impact on the community. The programme provides financial support for high potential students from less privileged families to pursue academic and vocational disciplines aligned with Indonesia’s economic priorities.