About us

The Zimin Foundation is a philanthropic organization established by the entrepreneur and engineer Dr Dmitry Borisovich Zimin (1933–2021) and his son Boris Zimin, with the aim of advancing science and education for the benefit of humanity.

Dr Zimin was a founder and honorary president of Vimpelcom (the Beeline brand ), the first Russian company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, through an IPO back in 1996, and which has since become VEON group.

After retiring and selling his controlling stake in Vimpelcom, in 2001, Dr Zimin devoted himself to philanthropy,  transferring 90% of his wealth to an endowment. For over a decade starting in 2002, his philanthropic activities focused mainly on Russia and were facilitated through the Dynasty Foundation. The Dynasty Foundation was managed by an independent Board, on which the Zimin family was represented by Dr Zimin and his son Boris.

Throughout its existence, the Dynasty Foundation supported thousands of students, young scientists, and teachers; more than 100 popular science books were published, and a plethora of events aimed at popularizing science were organized and supported.

In 2015 the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation labelled the Dynasty Foundation as a “foreign agent”, and the Board and the Zimin family made the difficult decision to wrap up the Foundation’s activities. Since then, the Zimin Foundation has continued the Zimin family’s philanthropic activities. While the Zimin Foundation continues the legacy of the Dynasty Foundation, its programmes are not focused on Russia, and the Foundation operates globally.

After Dr Zimin’s death, on 22 December 2021, his son Boris became the leader of all of the Zimin Foundation’s philanthropic activities.

The Zimin Foundation seeks to empower and inspire scientists, educators, and students to make the world a better place. We support those with the potential to make outstanding contributions to scientific education and critical thinking about social and civic issues.

We value innovation, freedom of thought, and moral integrity in furthering this mission.

Dr Zimin started from scratch more than once in his life. He had successful careers both as a scientist and as a businessman. He brought his doctoral degree in technical sciences and his vast experience as an engineer with him when he founded the now-famous Beeline network. Although he was no longer a young man when he did this, he achieved success, taking his company to the New York Stock Exchange. Then he retired and established the Dynasty Foundation.

In 2013 the Carnegie Trust recognized the activities of Dr Zimin: he became the first and the only Russian philanthropist awarded the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. In 2015 Dr Zimin received an award for his commitment to science from the Ministry of Science and Education of thе Russian Federation.

Boris Zimin was born in Moscow on 24 November 1968 to Dmitry Zimin and Maya Zimina. Boris graduated from the Higher School of Economics.

In 2002 Boris became the president of BMT Management Ltd, which was responsible for managing investments funded of the endowment and the family. When the Dynasty Foundation was created, Boris supported his father in his philanthropic work first as a member of the Foundation’s Board and, from 2004, as its Chairman.

In early 2014 Boris initiated the establishment of the Sreda Foundation, a project aimed at supporting independent journalists and media in Russia.

Boris became the leader of all of the Zimin Foundation’s philanthropic activities following his father’s death, on 22 December 2021. After 24 February 2022 Boris initiated a number of Zimin Foundation support programmes for scientists, students and journalists escaping from Ukraine and Russia.

On 2 September 2022 the Ministry of Justice included Boris on its list of individuals acting as so-called foreign agents. On 9 January 2023 Russian Interior Ministry has placed philanthropist Boris Zimin on the wanted list. Zimin is charged with illegal alienation of common shares of BelkaCar, a Russian car sharing company. The Investigative Committee has demanded that the charity patron be arrested in absentia. Boris Zimin says the case filed for political reasons.