Institute of Philanthropy launches LEAP Fellowship to strengthen philanthropy leadership across Asia

As Asia emerges as a global hub of wealth creation and social investment, philanthropic resources are also growing. However, analysis by The Bridgespan Group has identified Asia‑specific upskilling needs — particularly in impact measurement, adaptive leadership, and cross-sector collaboration — that are essential to bridging the significant gap between these financial resources and the expertise required to utilise them effectively.

The Institute of Philanthropy (IoP), established by The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust, recently announced the launch of the Leadership Excellence in Asian Philanthropy (LEAP) Fellowship, a pioneering fellowship designed to bridge this gap through a structured, practitioner-led curriculum focused on strategy, impact, and policy. The aim is to cultivate the next generation of visionary leaders who can build adaptive strategies, design interventions with embedded metrics, and form effective platforms that transform communities across Asia.

Lester Huang, Chairman of the IoP, said: “Asia’s philanthropic sector stands at a pivotal moment, with the opportunity to maximise impact and accelerate change through visionary leadership and regionally grounded collaboration. The LEAP Fellowship was created to meet this need — equipping leaders with the skills, networks, and tools to drive systemic change and shape the future of philanthropy in Asia.”

LEAP combines academic excellence with practice-based learning and peer collaboration by faculty members from The University of Hong Kong, the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the London School of Economics and Political Science. It is the only fellowship in Asia that brings together three world-renowned institutions through a curriculum rooted in regional realities.

The programme was formally introduced at a launch event streamed globally and attended by leading Asia-based foundations and charities as well as members of the international social impact community. Panellists from philanthropic organisations, including The Rockefeller Foundation and the Kasikornthai Foundation, underscored the importance of investing in the next generation of philanthropic leadership.