Give2Asia Giving Forum

China's Evolving Philanthropic Landscape

In the last ten years, an increasing amount of philanthropic dollars have been directed toward community issues in China. Volunteerism and the growth of international and grassroots NGOs are also on the rise. In 2008 alone, as a reaction to the Sichuan Earthquake, the amount of charitable donations to China was 3.5 times greater than in 2007. The philanthropic sector of China has seen a meteoric rise.

On August 12, Give2Asia and Social Venture Group, a Shanghai-based philanthropic advisory, held a 60 minute conference call discuss grantmaking to China and changes in the "grassroots NGO" landscape given recent growth. The issues discussed by Jennifer Lofing, Vice President of Programs for Give2Asia, and Grace Chiang, Co-founder and Managing Director of Social Venture Group, helped to identify challenges and opportunities for philanthropists and their advisors.

Give2Asia launches the Pakistan Humanitarian Relief Fund

Conflict between the Pakistan military and Taliban insurgents has displaced over two million people from their homes in the Swat, Malakand, Buner and Dir regions of Pakistan. The fighting has compelled millions of Pakistani men and women to leave their homes, belongings, livelihood, and even their identities behind. These internally displaced people are in dire need of food, water, supplies, shelter, and medical care. The majority of those displaced have moved to the cities of Mardan, Nowshera, Peshawar, Charsada and Swabi. Some have relocated with relatives or host families; a majority are in camps, while others have taken refuge in different parts of the country.

This is the worst displacement of people globally since the Rwandan genocide in 1994; and the largest in Pakistan since the historic partition of the South Asian subcontinent in 1947. Day by day, the number of displaced Pakistanis continues to mount and the current funds and assistance are insufficient to meet their needs. The camps have become over-crowded, and lack proper medical facilities and sanitation.

There is something you can do.

Lessons for Fundraising in the New Year

By Birger Stamperdahl and Kalsang Y. Tashi, Give2Asia

The start of a new year for many is a time for making plans, setting goals and declaring resolutions. For those of us in the nonprofit world, it also is a time to assess the success of the past year and our efforts to move the needle on the social issues we care about. Perhaps this year more than most, our success and ability to meet future goals depends on effective fundraising.

With that in mind, we’ve taken a step back to consider some of the successful fundraising efforts that have been employed by the hundreds of organizations in Give2Asia’s network. These efforts range from simply putting up a donation button on a website to carrying out large gala events. Different strategies make sense depending on the organization, their resources, and their base of support.

Several groups this past fall were quite successful raising money. In fact, Q4 2008 was the busiest Q4 of any year we’ve had since our founding in 2001 – despite the economy. This success was based partly on the ability of our network to fundraise within their own communities, and we want to share a couple of examples of what groups did in 2008 to raise money. These are not examples of multi-million dollar fundraising efforts. However, they do stand out as good efforts and examples for how to make U.S. fundraising successful.

Both have these basic similarities:

• They appeal to a very specific, predefined audience
• Before the campaign, they leverage people within their target audience to lead the fundraising and build interest 
• The fundraising itself helps to create ongoing ties within the donors’ community so that giving also has an immediate reward, in these examples there was either an event or a matching gift

Laos Struggling for Something More than “Least Developed”

By Charles Ostertag, Give2Asia

Landlocked and littered with nearly nine million pieces of unexploded ordnance  from the Indochina Wars, Laos faces a host of challenges in achieving its goal of exiting the list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by the year 2020. The human development figures indicate how much is yet to be done for Laos to reach its goal: the infant mortality rate stands second highest in Asia with nearly 80 deaths in every 1000 live births; 40% of children under five suffer from malnutrition; and an average of 394 people die each year from accidental detonation of dormant ordnance. Laos, however, has a more immediate date on its development itinerary than that for exiting the list of LDCs—the country also plans to join the World Trade Organization by 2010. Approaching these two distinct yet inextricably linked goals, Laos faces the paramount challenge of ensuring that human development keeps pace with economic development.

No clearly defined model has ever existed that neatly balances economic growth and social, human development. Nor does a burgeoning Lao economy, which has averaged an annual growth rate of 7.26% since 2003, ensure the enrichment of the Laotian people (an exceptionally diverse population comprising more than 70 ethnic groups). Cheap labor and the rich, untapped resources embedded within the country entice multinationals to fund development projects, such as the 1,080-megawatt Nam Theun 2 Hydropower Dam (Laos’ largest to date) and private ventures in ore mining. As the government improves the environment for trade and investment, multinational corporations and foreign investors are eagerly investing in Laos, though who will ultimately benefit from these investments is tenuous and indeterminate.

Behind the ostensibly laudable practice of national investment and trade improvements, the Lao government is borrowing heavily in this process and has earned itself a place on the list of Highly Indebted Poor Countries as well. With the Lao government planning to use the profits from hydropower and other development projects to fight poverty within the country, it remains to be seen if Laos can accomplish this goal in addition to paying off mounting debt. 

With Eye Toward Helping Children, Apl Foundation Launches with November Concert

by Suzanne Toro, Apl Foundation

"All things are possible until they are proved impossible - and even the impossible may only be so, as of now." -Pearl S. Buck

Allan Pineda, also known as Apl de Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, journeyed from the Philippines to the United States to fulfill a dream for his family and for his future. He has always held a deep desire to give back to children that have similar stories like his from his homeland and throughout Asia. His vision is simply stated through the actions of giving and reminding oneself and the world that there is no separation between race, class or gender. Ultimately, Allan reminds others that all children deserve a home, food, education and healthcare. With this sentiment that Allan wears as a badge of conviction, he is committed to giving back to his homeland through his Apl Foundation Fund administered by Give2Asia.

 

With the fund being in its first year of creation and fully accepting the Apl Foundation will grow and morph into the financial means needed to support his homeland, Apl has decided on the mission and focus of the foundation for remainder of 2008 and 2009.

 

Mission: The Apl Foundation is committed to giving back to communities and children within the Philippines and throughout Asia. The foundation will start by raising funds to support immediate need projects within the Philippines. Each year Apl and his team will evaluate and select a project(s) that needs support. Each project will be provided with financial aid and awareness generated within the local and global communities. In addition, a portion of the dollars raised will be reserved for distribution to organizations supporting disaster relief in the event of natural and man made disasters impact the Philippines and other Asian communities.

 

Apl will start raising funds for his foundation on November 18, 2008 at the Vanguard in Los Angeles. The evening will be focused on bringing awareness to the issues in the Philippines and the celebration of his 34th Birthday. He has decided to share his new solo music with everyone at the party.

 

For more information, visit aplfoundation.org or apldeap.com.