Yousriya Loza-Sawiris, long regarded as a quiet force in Egypt’s philanthropic landscape, has been named to the TIME100 Philanthropy list for 2025, a recognition of her decades-long commitment to advancing social development across the region. As the philanthropic matriarch of one of Egypt’s most prominent families, Loza-Sawiris has championed transformative investments in education, healthcare, and community-building—establishing a legacy that now garners global recognition.
TIME Magazine recently named her to its 2025 TIME100 List of the Most Influential People in Philanthropy, the only Egyptian included. At 89, Loza-Sawiris remains active as chair of the foundation, her influence woven into its strategic direction.
Since 1984, she has worked tirelessly to channel that success into structured, evidence-based initiatives aimed at alleviating poverty and empowering underserved Egyptians. Her work culminated in the creation of the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development in 2001—a pioneering private philanthropic institution committed to economic and social justice.
That belief has been the bedrock of the foundation’s operations, which have reached over a million beneficiaries through over 150 projects nationwide, investing more than $65 million to date.
Under Loza-Sawiris’s stewardship, the foundation has become a cornerstone of Egypt’s civil society. Its focus areas are ambitious yet deeply rooted in local realities: job creation for youth and women, vocational and literacy training, university scholarships, and support for arts and culture. Programs such as Yalla Neshtaghal (“Let’s Work”), a job placement initiative in the garment sector, and the Yousriya Loza-Sawiris Scholarship, which offers full funding to top international universities, reflect her vision of empowerment through opportunity.
But Loza-Sawiris’s legacy is not just institutional—it’s familial. She raised her three sons, including telecom tycoons Naguib and Nassef Sawiris, with a profound awareness of Egypt’s social inequalities. From early childhood, she took them to Cairo’s slums, not as observers, but as participants—donating toys, engaging with communities, and learning to listen. Today, they serve alongside her on the foundation’s board, and continue to support its mission with significant resources and visibility.
In December 2024, the family’s philanthropy reached a milestone when they donated a record-breaking $30 million to the American University in Cairo (AUC), resulting in the renaming of its business school as the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, in honor of her late husband. The gift supports scholarships, academic research in AI and data science, and global exchange programs—illustrating how Loza-Sawiris’s commitment to education extends beyond borders.
