Give2Asia Giving Forum

Philanthropy in China: Part II

By Dien Yuen, Give2Asia Director of Philanhropy
reposted from the blog, Tactical Philanthropy

Philanthropy during the Sichuan (Wenchuan) Earthquake

Even before the Sichuan Earthquake, charitable giving was becoming a trend in China. Social needs, shifts in government policies and the existence of new private wealth contributed to the growing trend. During disasters, the outpouring of assistance from individuals and corporations were beginning to increase and the number of donors making large donations was rising. Newspapers report that more than 11 billion yuan (US$1.3 billion) was collected for philanthropic purposes during the Yangtze River’s catastrophic flood in 1998. In addition to domestic giving, Chinese donors were also interested in supporting disaster relief overseas. US$18.11 million was raised from individuals and corporations in China to support the Asian tsunami relief efforts.

In a report prepared by the China Charity & Donation Center for Give2Asia’s Beijing Philanthropy Forum, the amount of China’s charitable donations had sustained an annual growth rate above 65%. In 2007, the top 50 donations from individuals totaled RMB2.58 billion (US$377 million), representing 62% of total donations by individuals. Contributions that year supported education (37%); poverty alleviation (14%); disaster relief (12%); medical treatment and public health (9%); culture, sports and the arts (6%); and environmental protection, women and children (22%).

Philanthropy in China: Part I

By Dien Yuen, Give2Asia Director of Philanhropy
reposted from the blog, Tactical Philanthropy

China’s influence and power is undisputable and with its tremendous economic growth, millionaires are made daily. According to the 2009 Cap Gemini World Wealth Report, China’s high-net worth individual population became the fourth largest in world in 2008, surpassing the U.K. By 2018, this population is expected to more than triple in size. In addition to making money, many are also giving it away – and in significant amounts.

Those in the philanthropy field are fascinated by what is taking place in China. In a country where the government takes care of the social needs of its people, how did such an explosive number of social organizations come into being? Will a new group of Chinese philanthropy leaders soon shape the global philanthropy and social development field? Will the next wave of philanthropy flow from China to the U.S. – or has it already started? It is an exciting time for many of us in the field as we watch Chinese leaders search for philanthropic models around the world and adapt it to suit its own cultural and social context.

This is part one of a two part post on a brief overview of philanthropy in China. It is structured in three phases: pre-Sichuan earthquake, the response during the disaster, and post-Sichuan earthquake. The purpose is to provide an overview of the rapidly changing philanthropic landscape in China.

The State of Environmental Activism in China

PLEASE JOIN US:

Tuesday, October 20, 2009
5:30 pm Registration
6:00-7:30 pm Program followed by Reception
The Sierra Club
85 2nd Street, Suite 750
San Francisco, CA

$5 Asia Society/Co-Sponsor Members
$5 Students; $10 Non-Members
To register, please call 415-421-8707 or visit https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=215882

An Asia Society event

Co-Sponsors: China Dialogue, Give2Asia, Harvard Club of San Francisco, Pacific Environment, Sierra Club, UC Berkeley Institute of East Asian Studies, USF Center for the Pacific Rim

Three decades of double-digit economic growth has come at staggering cost to China’s environment. China’s cities are among the most polluted in the world, the country faces a severe shortage of clean water, and desertification has claimed a quarter of its landmass. In response to these crises, environmental NGOs have exploded in number and activity.

Who are these NGOs, and what are their biggest concerns? What role does the government play in regulating, and sometimes suppressing, these organizations? How are NGOs managing the often-conflicting tasks of both policing and partnering with government and business, as well as educating the public? Is the recent crackdown on foreign-funded NGOs like the Open Constitution Initiative the start of a longer-term trend, or is it part of the ebb and flow of government-NGO relations? What does the surge of environmental activism say about the state of China's civil society today? These are some of the questions our distinguished panel will address.

Food Insecurity in Asia

By Dien Yuen, Director of Philanthropy

Through 2007 and 2008, as the financial crisis was unfolding in the U.S., a food crisis was raging through most of the developing world - especially in Asia. Rapid increases and decreases in food prices across the developing world exacerbates the plight of communities that are already suffering from poverty and hunger. Hunger persists in Asia - even in China, India and Vietnam - countries that have already been experiencing unprecedented rapid economic growth over the past decade. 

As part of our philanthropic education initiative, Give2Asia presented a private gathering that brought together leaders from the Filipino community along with advisors from the local areas to discuss these issues. Dr. Bruce Tolentino, Director of Economic Reform and Development of The Asia Foundation, shared his perception of the food price crisis and how donors could help. The topic, "Food Insecurity in Asia" was hosted by Mr. Robbie Fabian, Resource Development Consultant and Mr. Joe Lumarda, Trustee of Give2Asia and SVP of Capital Group Companies. Held in the boardroom of the California Community Foundation (CCF), Ms. Carol Bradford, VP of External and Donor Relations of CCF opened the event with a brief introduction of the Foundation's work. 

Fujian Businessman Tops International Philanthropy Lists

Huang Rulun, who started his career in the era of reform, has become famous as a real estate magnate and an author of a book explaining his approach to combining China's traditional cultural theories with his personal experiences in business.

In recent years, he has earned another title: philanthropist.

Huang, 58, is the board chairman of China real estate giant Century Golden Resources Group, which has long been involved in real estate, hotels, shopping malls, mine exploration and finance industries in China.