About the foundation
Mission and values
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ALL
COMMITMENT TO THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
OPENNESS TO THE NEW AND CREATIVE FREEDOM
COLLABORATION AND COMMUNITY
HIGH QUALITY, WIDE-RANGING AND VERSATILE KNOWLEDGE
The Andrey Melnichenko Foundation is a private foundation with a mission to develop educational infrastructure projects in Russia’s regions, and enable science-based sustainable development. Its scope of work includes projects that take action for the sustainable development goals, with a focus on zero hunger, quality education and climate action.
Andrey Melnichenko
Andrey Melnichenko, a major Russian industrialist and philanthropist, is a self-made man. Over the last 25 years he created multi-billion-dollar corporations based on the highest international standards of management, accounting, financial transparency, and employee safety.
Andrey Melnichenko is a self-made Russian industrialist and philanthropist
During the economic crisis that followed the breakup of the USSR, Andrey was a talented physics student in Moscow. While studying, Andrey and two fellow students got involved in untapped market segments which became the foundation of his business empire. It began with currency exchange offices which evolved into the internationally recognized MDM Bank, garnering awards from respected publications like The Banker and Euromoney.
At the start of the new millennium Andrey began to expand his business to the natural resources sector, specifically mineral fertilizers and coal – which he understood to be key elements of the renaissance of the Russian economy. These sectors were ignored by other investors, fraught with risk and not considered at all “strategic” by the government. This situation allowed the assets to be managed and grown without requiring the kind of political support and state interdependence characteristic of other market segments officially deemed critical.
Over the last 15 years companies created by Andrey invested more than $21 billion in developing facilities, infrastructure and human capital, helping to transform the Russian economy as well as playing a significant role in international food security and energy access
More than 92,000 people work in the companies Andrey founded. These assets not only play important roles in local economies, but also maintain the highest standards of CSR and environmental protection. Over th years the companies have invested about $500 million in charitable programs, which are regularly recognized for their social contribution at the “Leaders of Corporate Charity” competition in Russia.
Nearly US $ 500 million has been spent on social and charitable programs
The Andrey Melnichenko Foundation supports gifted & talented children in their STEM ambitions, including an intricate system of educational support for youth living in the regions where his companies are present. Andrey’s vision is that talented young people in Russia have the chance to become next-generation billionaires – as he himself was labeled by Forbes when he was only 32. In this way, Andrey is giving back to the country that made him who he is today.
The Andrey Melnichenko Foundation supports talented children in science and education
In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the Andrey Melnichenko Foundation aims to pursue opportunities to solve societal challenges through innovation and collaboration. The unfolding global food crisis encouraged the Foundation to advance food security – especially projects that are related to facilitating agricultural production, crops market and fertilizer distribution.
The Foundation promotes projects that boost food security and add to the zero hunger sustainable development goal
Accelerating climate change is the most significant challenge for humanity. The Foundation cannot turn the blind eye to the terrifying effects climate change may inflict on the most vulnerable populations and aims to promote nature-based solutions within the global climate agenda.
Tackling global climate crisis via scientifically sound nature-based solutions is one of the Foundation’s principal goals

The Management Team
Tatyana Zhuravleva
Director General
Ilya Tipunin
Deputy Director General for Education and Science
Elena Chernyshkova
Executive Director
Natalya Avetisyan
Director, Affiliate of the "Heirs of Polzunov" Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Rubtsovsk
Nadezhda Zinina
Director, Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Kisselyovsk
Yulia Lozhkova
Director, Affiliate of the "Heirs of Polzunov" Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Biysk
Tatyana Mamzina
Director, "UnicUm" Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Kuzbass State Technical University, Kemerovo
Elena Patrakova
Director, Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Kingisepp
Tatiana Chilkhachoyan
Director, Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Nevinnomyssk
Anna Shevchenko
Director, "Quantum" Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Novomoskovsk
Yuri Shenknekht
Director, "Heirs of Polzunov" Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Barnaul
Tatyana Yakushina
Director, "Tramplin" Centre for the Development of Children's Creativity in Science and Engineering, Leninsk-Kuznetsky
Annual reports