Li Ka Shing Foundation
Li Ka Shing Foundation is a private Hong Kong charitable foundation established in 1980 by Li Ka-shing, funding healthcare, education, and anti-poverty programs through institutional partnerships across Greater China and 27+ countries, with cumulative grants exceeding HK$30 billion to date.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersCentral, Hong Kong SAR China
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Li Ka Shing Foundation does
Li Ka Shing Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 1980 by Hong Kong entrepreneur Li Ka-shing, incorporated as Li Ka Shing Foundation Limited and headquartered at Cheung Kong Center in Central, Hong Kong. The foundation operates as a grant-making vehicle in which Mr. Li has committed one-third of his personal assets, with cumulative giving reported at over HK$30 billion on the official website (one internal source cites HK$270 billion, or USD 34.8 billion, of personal contributions). Its mission concentrates on three pillars: fostering a culture of giving, advancing education reform, and supporting healthcare development, with more than 80 percent of projects located in mainland China and Hong Kong and additional programs spanning 27 or more countries.
The foundation's core operating model is partnership-based philanthropy rather than direct service delivery. It funds and co-develops programs through institutional partners: Shantou University as the cornerstone project (HK$12 billion to date, founded 1981 as China's only privately funded public university), the Hong Kong Hospital Authority and CUHK/HKU for the 'Love Can Help' medical assistance scheme, the China Disabled Persons' Federation for the 'Cheung Kong New Milestone' disability program, and international research institutions including Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, UC Berkeley, the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney. Flagship programs include the 'Human Touch of Care' (人間有情) National Hospice Care Program (32 hospice centers across 27 Chinese provinces plus 10 Hong Kong centers, serving 188,000+ terminally ill cancer patients), the 'Cheung Kong New Milestone' disability program (2+ million beneficiaries), and emergency relief initiatives such as the HK$1 billion Crunch Time Instant Relief Fund and HK$30 million for Tai Po fire-affected communities.
Revenue and distribution channels reflect the foundation's non-commercial nature. There is no pricing model, no customers, no proprietary technology product, and no commercial Go-To-Motion; resources flow as grants and co-funded research to hospitals, universities, and NGOs. The foundation communicates through its official website (lksf.org), press releases, and direct mail, and maintains a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary (Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation, established 2005) for jurisdiction-specific programs. It is privately controlled with no external ownership structure, and its growth is a function of Mr. Li's personal asset base and ongoing commitment, including a 2026 co-funded histotripsy clinical trial in Singapore with Temasek Trust that signals continued expansion into advanced interventional oncology.
Li Ka Shing Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Li Ka Shing Foundation
- Legal name
- Li Ka Shing Foundation Limited
- Website
- https://lksf.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Li Ka Shing Foundation is a private Hong Kong charitable foundation established in 1980 by Li Ka-shing, funding healthcare, education, and anti-poverty programs through institutional partnerships across Greater China and 27+ countries, with cumulative grants exceeding HK$30 billion to date.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Li Ka Shing Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation / Philanthropy
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where Li Ka Shing Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Central
- HQ country
- Hong Kong SAR China
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Li Ka Shing Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Others, Personnel, Operations
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Li Ka Shing Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Li Ka Shing Foundation is a charitable foundation that funds education reform, medical research, healthcare access programs, and anti-poverty initiatives through grants, donations, and institutional partnerships. The cornerstone project is Shantou University (HKD 12 billion invested), complemented by a nationwide hospice care program, disability rehabilitation services, medical assistance for under-served patients, and emergency relief funding. Total grants exceed HK$30 billion to date.
Product overview
Li Ka Shing Foundation is a charitable foundation established in 1980 by entrepreneur Li Ka-shing. Rather than a commercial product company, the foundation operates as a philanthropic organization focused on three core strategic areas: fostering a culture of giving, advancing education reform, and supporting healthcare development. The foundation does not offer commercial technology products or services; instead, it funds and supports various charitable initiatives including healthcare programs, educational institutions, and community projects across education, medical services, charity, and anti-poverty programs. Total grants exceed HK$30 billion to date, with more than 80% of projects located in Mainland China and Hong Kong.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Human Touch of Care (人間有情): National Hospice Medical Service Program providing free palliative care to terminally ill cancer patients
- Cheung Kong New Milestone (長江新里程)
- Love Can Help (愛能助)
- Crunch Time Instant Relief Fund
- Techcracker Lab (科技夾子營)
Products and services
- Human Touch of Care (人間有情) National Hospice Care Program Free palliative care, pain management, psychological counseling, and social support for terminally ill cancer patients from low-income families, delivered through hospital partnerships across mainland China and Hong Kong.
- Cheung Kong New Milestone (長江新里程) Disability Program Provides prosthetic limbs, rehabilitation services, and employment assistance to persons with disabilities in mainland China, deployed via partnership with the China Disabled Persons' Federation.
- Love Can Help (愛能助) Medical Assistance Program Medical assistance subsidies for 'sandwich class' Hong Kong patients who fall between government assistance eligibility thresholds and need help paying for advanced medical treatments.
- Shantou University Cornerstone Initiative Comprehensive university funding in Guangdong Province focused on higher education reform, with cumulative HKD 12 billion invested to date across teaching, research, and medical facilities.
Quantifiable outcome
- 267,000+ patient service sessions for hospice care nationwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Li Ka Shing Foundation
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Li Ka Shing Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Li Ka Shing Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered major and minor.
- Temasek TrustmajorCo-funder of the $12 million HALT trial for histotripsy liver cancer treatment. Temasek Trust partnered with Li Ka Shing Foundation to fund the clinical trial at Singapore General Hospital and National Cancer Centre Singapore.
- Singapore General HospitalmajorClinical trial site for the HALT histotripsy trial for liver cancer treatment, the only such trial in Southeast Asia focused on Asian patients.
- National Cancer Centre SingaporemajorClinical trial site for the HALT histotripsy trial, addressing anatomical differences in liver and lung positioning unique to Asian populations.
- University of SydneymajorHKD 25 million donation to establish the 'Li Ka Shing Cell and Gene Therapy Initiative' at University of Sydney for Australia's first CAR T-cell immunotherapy trial for pancreatic cancer.
- Hong Kong Hospital AuthoritymajorPartnership with Hospital Authority (HA) covering 43 public hospitals and 121 outpatient clinics for the 'Love Can Help' medical assistance program targeting 'sandwich class' patients.
- University of Hong Kong (HKU) Li Ka Shing Medical SchoolmajorHK$1 billion donation in 2005 led to the naming of HKU's medical school as 'Li Ka Shing Medical School'. Foundation continues to support HKU medical research with HKD 17.5 million in the Love Can Help II program.
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Medical SchoolmajorFoundation supports CUHK medical school with HKD 17.5 million in the Love Can Help II program, supporting research and patient assistance in areas including cancer treatment, autoimmune diseases, and chronic pain management.
- 30+ Hospitals Nationwide (China)majorThe '人间有情' National Hospice Care Program partners with 30+ hospitals across 27 provinces in mainland China, providing free hospice care to terminally ill cancer patients.
- University of MelbournemajorHKD 23 million (USD 3 million) donation to the University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research (UMCCR) to support precision oncology research focusing on upper gastrointestinal cancers.
- China Organ Transplantation Development FoundationminorFoundation supports China's organ donation system reform and transparency initiatives, working with the foundation led by former Vice Minister of Health Dr. Huang Jiefu.
- Oxford UniversitymajorHKD 20 million (GBP 2 million) donation for the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery at Oxford University, the world's largest medical big data research institute. Opened Phase 2 in May 2017.
- University of AlbertamajorCAD 28 million (HKD 214 million) donation to establish the Li Ka Shing Virology Institute at University of Alberta, in partnership with Alberta government funding of CAD 52.5 million.
- Stanford UniversitymajorUSD 90 million donation for the Li Ka Shing Center for Learning and Knowledge at Stanford Medical School. Also supported big data research initiative with USD 3 million donation.
- Hong Kong Hospital Authority (Hospice Program)majorSince 2007, partnership with HA to operate the '人间有情' (Caring for Life) Hong Kong Hospice Service Program, establishing 10 hospice centers in public hospitals. Total donations exceed HK$620 million for this program.
- St. Michael's Hospital, TorontomajorCAD 25 million donation to establish the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute at St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto. Named 'Urban Angel' hospital serving Toronto's disadvantaged communities.
- University of California, BerkeleymajorHKD 312 million (USD 40 million) donation to establish the Li Ka Shing Center for Biomedical and Health Sciences at UC Berkeley. Additional USD 10 million for the Li Ka Shing Genomics Engineering Center.
- Institut PasteurmajorHKD 30 million (EUR 3 million) donation to support collaboration between Pasteur Institute and the Shantou University-HKU Joint Influenza Research Centre for avian flu research.
- Cambridge UniversitymajorHKD 53 million (GBP 5.3 million) donation for cancer research center at Cambridge University, later expanded with a HKD 50 million (GBP 5 million) additional contribution for Phase 2.
- China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF)majorLong-standing partnership since 1984 for the 'Cheung Kong New Milestone' program. Over HKD 400 million donated to support prosthetic services, rehabilitation, and employment assistance for disabled persons in mainland China.
- Shantou University Medical College First Affiliated HospitalmajorEstablished China's first free hospice care center at Shantou University Medical College First Affiliated Hospital in 1998, launching the national hospice care program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Li Ka Shing Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Rockefeller Foundation: One of the oldest US foundations, historically focused on public health and medical research. Comparable in century-scale accumulated giving, named-university relationships, and global health grantmaking focus areas overlapping with LKSF's cancer and infectious disease work.
- Bloomberg Philanthropies: Major private foundation focused on public health, education, and urban development. Comparable in deploying founder wealth at high-discretion scale, with a similar mix of direct program operation and grantmaking to top-tier institutional partners.
- Tata Trusts: India's largest philanthropic conglomerate, funding education, healthcare, and rural development. Comparable as an Asia-based, founder-family-controlled philanthropic vehicle with cornerstone university partnerships (Tata Institute, IISc) and a multi-decade giving history.
- Ford Foundation: Major US foundation focused on social justice, education, and global development. Comparable as a globally-operating grantmaking institution with diversified program areas, university partnerships, and a long track record of large-scale, multi-decade program commitments.
- Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable foundations, focused on health research with a diversified endowment model. Comparable in scale of biomedical research funding (cancer, infectious disease, genomics) and global university partnership footprint (including a major Sanger Institute investment).
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The largest private philanthropic foundation globally, focused on global health, education, and poverty. Directly comparable as a mega-scale, family-founder-led grantmaking institution with multi-billion-dollar annual outlays and global university/hospital partnership networks.
- Fondation de France: France's largest philanthropic network, distributing funds across health, education, research, and social welfare. Comparable as a multi-domain grantmaking foundation with strong relationships to hospitals, universities, and NGOs across multiple countries.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute: Large US biomedical research organization operating its own research institutes and investigator programs. Comparable in its focus on fundamental medical research funding, university partnerships, and emphasis on investigator-driven science (e.g., genomics, cell biology) overlapping with LKSF's Berkeley and Stanford centers.
Direct peers
- Temasek Trust: Singapore-based philanthropic trust co-founded by Temasek Holdings. Directly comparable as a recently-actualized co-funder of the HALT histotripsy trial with LKSF, focused on Asia-region health and education grantmaking, and similar in deploying sovereign-linked capital for social impact.
- Chan Zuckerberg Initiative: Founder-led philanthropic LLC funded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan. Comparable as a recently-established, founder-wealth-funded foundation with a strong focus on biomedical research (CZI Biohub) and education, and similar challenges around institutionalization beyond the founder.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Li Ka Shing Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceLi Ka Shing Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Li Ka Shing Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Li Ka Shing Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Li Ka Shing Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Li Ka Shing Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
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Frequently asked questions about Li Ka Shing Foundation
What does Li Ka Shing Foundation do?
Li Ka Shing Foundation is a charitable foundation that funds education reform, medical research, healthcare access programs, and anti-poverty initiatives through grants, donations, and institutional partnerships. The cornerstone project is Shantou University (HKD 12 billion invested), complemented by a nationwide hospice care program, disability rehabilitation services, medical assistance for under-served patients, and emergency relief funding. Total grants exceed HK$30 billion to date.
Is Li Ka Shing Foundation a public or private company?
Li Ka Shing Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Li Ka Shing Foundation founded?
Li Ka Shing Foundation was founded in 1980. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Li Ka Shing Foundation based?
Li Ka Shing Foundation is headquartered in Central, Hong Kong SAR China, in the Asia region.
Who are Li Ka Shing Foundation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Rockefeller Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Tata Trusts, Ford Foundation, Wellcome Trust, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Fondation de France and Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Direct peers are Temasek Trust and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.
Does Li Ka Shing Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for Li Ka Shing Foundation.
What industry is Li Ka Shing Foundation in?
Li Ka Shing Foundation's product category is Charitable Foundation / Philanthropy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAL, Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.