The Commission on Asian Philanthropy was officially launched at the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2024 in Hong Kong, bringing together prominent philanthropic organizations from across Asia with the vision, the commission says, “of accelerating the change in the trajectory of Asian philanthropy to unleash its full potential for social good”.

With Asia being home to 60% of the world’s population and facing formidable domestic and regional challenges, the commission argues, the need for impactful philanthropy has never been greater. The region’s wealth, it notes, is growing at a rate 1.7 times faster than the global average and now constitutes 36% of global wealth – a trend expected to persist.

While the new wealth has made Asian philanthropy increasingly active, a collaborative, sector-building effort is crucial for it to truly flourish, shares the commission, which aims to establish a framework that will enable this to happen.

To this end, the commission will champion multi-year research efforts, designed to define the scope and opportunity of Asian philanthropy and establish an “in Asia, for Asia” ecosystem. This work will advance the professionalization of the philanthropic sector in the region and broaden its influence across sectors.

The research efforts will culminate in a landmark report planned for release in 2027, featuring recommendations and calls for sustained action and transformation.

While acknowledging Asia’s inherent heterogeneity given its size and cultural diversity, the commission notes, “the founding commissioners firmly believe in the potential for philanthropic practitioners to learn from each other given the region’s many shared characteristics, and they are committed to jointly create an ecosystem tailored to the region’s needs. In this way, the commission seeks to drive lasting change by convening key stakeholders and spearheading collaborative efforts to address shared challenges and opportunities.”

Alongside co-convenors the Asia Philanthropy Congress and the Institute of Philanthropy, the commission comprises influential philanthropic organizations, including 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, who are all founding commissioners.

“Asian philanthropy has witnessed remarkable growth, but significant challenges remain, which may curtail the impact of existing programmes,” says Lester G Huang, chairman of the Institute of Philanthropy, and club steward at the Hong Kong Jockey Club. “Asia needs its own infrastructure to ensure that philanthropy has a recognized and valued role across its diverse contexts and to address the urgent social needs of the region.

“The commission will play a key role in building and sharing knowledge that is truly relevant to the Asian context, professionalizing the sector, driving scalable and sustainable solutions, and thereby amplifying Asia’s voice on the global stage.”