$1.3 billion new philanthropic commitment to the Giving Pledge on its 15th anniversary from immigrant entrepreneurs Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi
Bharat Desai and Neerja Sethi, the billionaire co-founders of IT outsourcing giant Syntel, have joined the Giving Pledge, committing to donate the majority of their wealth to philanthropic causes.
Their announcement comes as the Giving Pledge marks its 15th anniversary and welcomes its largest group of new signatories since 2021.
The Giving Pledge, launched in 2010 by Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, and Warren Buffett, now includes more than 250 of the world’s wealthiest individuals and families from 30 countries.
The initiative encourages billionaires to publicly commit to giving away most of their fortunes to address society’s most pressing issues.
Desai and Sethi are among 11 new pledgers this year—eight couples and three individuals—according to the Giving Pledge’s 2025 cohort announcement.
The class includes philanthropists from the United States, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates, six of whom are with a combined net worth of approximately $9.3 billion.
Desai and Sethi launched Syntel in 1980 from their apartment, eventually turning it into a leading global IT consulting and outsourcing firm.
In 2018, Syntel was acquired by Atos for $3.4 billion. According to Forbes, Desai’s current estimated net worth is $1.6 billion, while Sethi’s is $1 billion.
Their philanthropic efforts have long focused on education, entrepreneurship, and economic mobility, particularly through their two major foundations—the Desai Sethi Foundation (DSF) and the Ds Foundation.
DSF primarily supports underserved youth in Michigan and Florida, aiming to create more equitable access to opportunity.
The couple also contributes millions annually through a donor-advised fund and supports a vast network of nonprofit organizations.
Desai was born in Mombasa, Kenya, and is a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
He later earned an MBA from the University of Michigan.
Sethi received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and her MBA from the University of Delhi, and went on to earn an M.S. in computer science from Oakland University.
In a joint statement shared on the Giving Pledge website, Desai and Sethi said their wealth represents “a responsibility to give back meaningfully.” They emphasized the role of philanthropy in creating long-term, systemic change, particularly in areas where young people face structural barriers to advancement.
As part of this week’s Giving Pledge annual gathering, new and existing members are convening to discuss strategies for turning their commitments into catalytic philanthropic action.
Bill Gates praised the 2025 cohort in a statement: “There’s never been a greater need for philanthropy—and never a greater opportunity to make a difference. I’m thrilled to welcome this newest group of pledgers who share our belief in giving back to society.”
Other new signatories in the 2025 cohort include Cameron Adams and Lisa Miller of Australia, Muna Easa Al Gurg of the United Arab Emirates, and several prominent American philanthropists such as Drew and Erin Houston, Jim and Anna McKelvey, and Jay and Michaela Hoag.