Commission on Asian Philanthropy launched at fourth Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum

The Commission on Asian Philanthropy was officially launched at the fourth Philanthropy for Better Cities (PBC) Forum 2024 last week, which brought together influential philanthropic organisations from across Asia for discussions on ways to advance professionalisation of the sector in the region and unleash Asian philanthropy’s full potential for social good.

Convened by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in association with the Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), the PBC Forum was attended by nearly 100 eminent speakers and more than 2,000 delegates from 40 countries and regions, including representatives of over 200 local, regional and global foundations.

As a three-year initiative co-convened by IoP and the Asia Philanthropy Congress, the new commission will define the scope of and opportunities for Asian philanthropy, and establish an “in Asia, for Asia” ecosystem. The founding commissioners comprise the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, IDEAS Dompet Dhuafa Republika, King Khalid Foundation, The Nippon Foundation, Piramal Foundation, Rainmatter Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, Tata Consultancy Services and Tencent Charity Foundation.

In his welcome speech at the opening ceremony of the PBC Forum, Jockey Club Chairman Michael Lee said: “Asia is experiencing rapid growth in philanthropic giving commensurate with the region’s rising prosperity through development. However, Asian philanthropy requires properly contextualised models and solutions to account for varied political, economic and cultural contexts that are different from established, largely Western models. Unlocking its full potential will be crucial in addressing shared social and environmental challenges most effectively.”

 Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, the Club’s CEO and IoP Director, delivered the forum’s closing address, underlining the importance of the Commission on Asian Philanthropy. “To fully leverage the collaborative power of philanthropy in Asia, it aims to build an ‘in Asia, for Asia’ ecosystem and to expand the capacity of Asian practitioners,” he said. “Crucially, it is committed to staying plural. There will be no one-size-fits-all. Rather, the intention is to learn from, and share, the rich diversity of Asian philanthropy.”

The Club’s support for the PBC Forum, like all its charity donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and wagering generate tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for the community.