Asian Philanthropy Forum

Asian philanthropy news digest - 03/10/10

*  Robert R. Calingo was named Interim Chief Executive of the Asian Pacific Philanthropy Consortium. Bobby was previously the Executive Director of TeamEnergy Foundation Philippines and served on APPC's board since 2005. Bobby will lead APPC while the organization determines their direction.

*  The Arts and Culture Development Office of the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts in Singapore has set up a new portal, give2arts.sg, to promote cultural philanthropy and by enabling on-line donations and volunteerism. There are 78 arts and cultural organizations listed so far.

* Duan Yongping and his wife, Liu Xin raised $30 million for their alma mater, Renmin University of China. The billionaire created his empire in electronic appliances. In 2006, Duan donated $37 million to China's Zhejiang University, where he studied and in 2008, he contributed $3 million to the Sichuan earthquake for disaster relief. In 2006, Duan won the online auction run by eBay Inc for a chance to dine with Warren Buffett with the winning bid of $620,100.

*  The English version of Charitarian is now available. The Chinese language edition has been around for three years in China, cultivating a circulation of over one million. The magazine aims to encourage Chinese enterprises to act responsibly as they globalize and to help foreign companies improve their social responsibility programs in China.

Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship looking for social entrepreneurs in Asia

The Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship is searching for outstanding social entrepreneurs in Asian countries where we do not currently have national competitions.  Schwab Foundation is looking for social entrepreneurs who are innovators implementing practical and sustainable solutions on the ground to address problems in a wide variety of areas, including (but not limited to) health, education, poverty alleviation, the environment, financial inclusion and enterprise development.

In terms of benefits, the winner(s) will join the Schwab Foundation’s community of accomplished social entrepreneurs around the world – a community that shares knowledge and experience while exchanging best practices. The Schwab Foundation seeks to help social entrepreneurs showcase their innovative, market-based social impact initiatives, thus, enhancing opportunities for business growth. Our social entrepreneurs have access to the meetings of the World Economic Forum (our sister organization) and are provided with an unparalleled platform to connect with government, corporate, intellectual and media leaders.

Candidates working in the following countries are encouraged to apply: China, South Korea, Taiwan, Mongolia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

To apply or to view the criteria, selection process and benefits, please visit: http://www.schwabfoundseoy.org/asia.  Competition closes on 31 March 2010.

Photo courtesy of oleg.kellerhof

2010 Asia JusticeMakers competition - become a JusticeMaker fellow!

Last year, the International Bridges to Justice hosted the JusticeMakers competition and we were excited to help promote their work.  This year, we are even more excited because the competition is focused on Asia!  The 2010 Asia JusticeMakers Competition is supported by the Lien Institute for Social Innovations and the purpose is to search for and fund grassroots initiatives in Asian communities to promote criminal justice and ensure the legal rights of all men, women, and children. 

How it works.  A panel of eight judges will evaluate proposals based on a set of Judging Criteria, looking for those that demonstrate the most innovation, efficacy, practicability and sustainability. 

Benefits of winning proposals.  Eight competitors will be awarded $5,000 fellowships, seven by the judges, and one through a public rating process that will allow people to cast votes on final projects.

2010 JusticeMakers Fellows will be flown to the Singapore Criminal Justice Training Center (SJTC) to receive initial training from the JusticeMaker panel of judges prior to the beginning of their project. In addition, during the implementation of their project, IBJ will provide Fellows with documentary photojournalists to record and raise the profile of their efforts.

Timeline.  The 2010 JusticeMakers Competition is tentatively scheduled to begin in January 2010 and conclude in May 2010.

Stay tuned and we will provide you with more info on how you can get involved or let others know about the competition!

Community foundations in Asia

Community foundations are well known in the U.S. for raising charitable funds from the community and distributing the money back to the area’s non-profit organizations. In the U.S., we have approximately 780 community foundations. Globally, there are 1,441 community foundations in 51 countries.  In Asia, community foundations exist in India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and the Philippines.

Community foundations exist in various forms but they are basically a charitable entity used to encourage philanthropy and build communities of giving and sharing.  The first community foundation was formed in the U.S. and since then the concept has been exported around the world.  In 2006, The Global Fund for Community Foundations was formed.  It is a joint initiative of the World Bank, Ford Foundation and Mott Foundation as a mechanism to broad the development of community foundations.  The Fund is a project of WINGS and it is hosted by the European Foundation Centre in Brussels.  Since their launch, the Fund has made grants amounting to almost US $1.5 million to 83 organizations in 33 countries.

Jet Li on cover of TIME Asia again

Chinese movie star Jet Li reappears on the cover of TIME's latest edition in Asia. He was also invited by Former U.S. President Bill Clinton to attend the Clinton Global Initiative meeting in Hong Kong on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008.

TIME magazine writes, "It is difficult to name any other A-list celebrity, not even Bono, who has made such a total commitment. There are plenty who touch down in Africa between albums or movies, but none has actually walked off the job as Li has done, at the top of his game."

Jet Li said, in the past few years, he has learned from his Buddhist masters that people can reach their ultimate happiness only if they substantially lower their material desires.

Clinton, Jet Li, and Philanthropy Events in Asia

Upcoming events

As part of the international movement Global Entrepreneurship Week, one of the upcoming events for the Singapore chapter will see the NUS Business School’s Center for Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy and the NUS Business School Alumni Association brings us a forum on social entrepreneurship.  The event takes place on November 20, 2008 in Singapore.

The Clinton Global Initiatice Asia Meeting will be held in Hong Kong on December 2 - 3, 2008.  It will be the first CGI meeting held outside the U.S.  This new membership opportunity will engage business, government, civil society, and philanthropic leaders across Asia.  It is a chance for Asia's most influential leaders to come together and take action to solve the region's most pressing issues.  The meeting will focus on three primary areas of discussion: education, energy & climate change, and public health.

Past events

Jet Li spoke at the China Global Philanthropy Forum, jointly hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia and the Red Cross Sociey of China Jet Li One Foundation.  Philanthropy Through Global Partnerships was the main theme at the November 1, 2008, Beijing event.  Mr. Li shared his own story with the participants and called on every individual to do something for philanthropy, the "cumulative effect of many small efforts being to make an enormous difference."  He is interested in "creating a 21st century philanthropic business model centered on professionalism, transparancey, impact and sustainability."  Besides donating money, Mr. Li stressed that government should continuously improve laws and regulations to guarantee a sound legal environment; enterprises, besides donating money, can also provide intellectual and information resources for philanthropic organizations; and every world citizen has the duty to put something back into society in a spirit of gratitude and love, for the sake of humanity.  In addition, Mr. Li added that "globalization requires the integration of philanthropic information, and One Foundation is willing to exert all necessary effort on this task."

In the third annual New Ventures India Investor Forum in Mumbai, sustainable entrepreneurs connected with investors to network, build partnerships and find opportunities for growth. Participants in the two-day forum found that sustainable businesses can still flourish, even in today’s uncertain economic times.  New Ventures India helps sustainable business entrepreneurs overcome business challenges and spark economic development–as well as environmental improvement–in India.

Photo courtesy of China.org.cn

Philanthropy advisory services growing in Asia

 

Philanthropic services at wealth management firms are growing in Asia. RBS Coutts launched their philanthropic services in Asia this week in Singapore.  Mark Evans, head of Family Business and Philanthropy at Coutts & Co., says that philanthropy, seen as long term structured giving, will not be affected by the credit crunch.  

As part of its philanthropy advisory services, RBS Coutts will create networking opportunities for clients with potential beneficiaries and experts, and provide research and advice.  They have also created a panel of experts that will be available to offer clients pro-bono advice on philanthropic strategies.

For more information, please visit Altruism still very much alive and kicking

Photo courtesy of El Fotopakismo