Inner Mongolia Lao Niu Foundation(hereinafter referred to as “Lao Niu Foundation”) is a foundation engaged in public welfare and philanthropy, which was established in late 2004 by Mr. Niu Gensheng and his family. Mr. Niu (the founder, former chairman, and president of Mengniu Dairy Group) and his family donated their Mengniu Dairy Group corporate shares and the majority of their dividends to create the foundation. The Foundation is registered with the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region’s Department of Civil Affairs and supervised by the Financial Affairs Office.
The vision of the Lao Niu Foundation is to “have grateful hearts and improve oneself by helping others,” and to “be responsible for the earth under heaven by nurturing both people and nature.” The Foundation’s mission is founded on the belief that “education is fundamental to the nation, the environment is fundamental to life, and philanthropy is fundamental to society.” The three primary focuses of the Foundation are environmental protection, cultural education, and championing the development of China’s philanthropic sector.
Through cooperation with 184 institutions and organizations in both China and foreign countries, the Foundation has undertaken 267 public welfare and charity projects in 31 provinces (autonomous regions/municipality/special administrative region) in China and the regions of the United States, Canada, France, Denmark Nepal, and Africa by the end of 2020, with the philanthropic expenditure of CNY1.56 billion.
Besides, The Foundation ranked the first in China Charity Transparency Report and China Charity Transparency Index for a Sixth consecutive year , and it topped the list of “China’s Non-Public Offering Foundation Donation” for four years in a row, and honored as the prizes of Top Ten Family Foundations, Wise Giving Promoter and Top Ten China–European Green Foundations. It was awarded the titles of National Advanced Social Organization by the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Class 5A Social Organization by the Department of Civil Affairs of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Prize for the Outstanding Contribution to Philanthropy by Hohhot Government. It also honored as the advanced basic-level party organization by the Social Organization of Inner Mongolia Autonomous region.
Its flagship project in environmental protection - “Inner Mongolia Shengle International Ecological Demonstration Zone” once won China Charity Prize “The Most Influential Project” of Ministry of Civil Affairs of China. The “Vision Recovery”Social Public Welfare Activity has been honored as the activity of the Most influential project of China Charity Prize, the sixth “Touching the Inner Mongolia Character” and also has been awarded as “The Only Special Award” in Asia by The Asian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness. “Lao Niu Children’s Discovery Museum of China National Children's Center (CNCC)” and Lao Niu Winter Olympic Forest Carbon Project all once earned one of “Top Ten Philanthropy Project”.
The Lao Niu Foundation’s board of directors consists of 9 members and 1 supervisor who come from different sectors and areas throughout China but share an enthusiasm for philanthropy. Niu Gensheng, the founder and honorary president of the foundation, is also the vice chairman of China Charity Alliance, a member of the China Entrepreneur Club, the vice chairman of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Great China Council, and a trustee of The Paradise International Foundation.
