APC co-hosts Effective Giving Seminar in Singapore: “Live modestly, give generously, and think vigorously”

By Taila Mueller Effective Altruists would not encourage a philanthropist to ask the question: what is a good thing I can do with my giving? They believe there is only one question to ask: What is the best thing I can do with my philanthropic dollars?   To do so, one must use evidence and reason to help as many people as possible. On 7th of October, APC members were invited to a seminar to learn more about Effective Altruism (EA). The event was co-hosted by APC Members together with Kellie Liket, the director of Effective Giving, a Dutch non-profit…

Growth through Fellowship: How can a fellowship programme help you to achieve more impact?

By Stacey Choe How can social sector leaders improve themselves and get even better at their work? Join a fellowship. Truly. Perhaps not exactly Lord of the Rings kind of fellowship, but within the wider social sector, there is a whole host of fellowship opportunities catering to different levels of development, some specialising in certain fields whilst others are generic on leadership growth and even cross-sectoral. Typically, the aim of such fellowship programmes is for aspiring social sector leaders to be able to step out from their organisations and work, and to be able to learn more on the intricacies…

Advocating for our Planet: Turn the Tide

By Bradley Wo and Kathlyn Tan One of the biggest hurdles for sharing information on environmental crises or solutions is a lack of awareness. As the severity of global environmental issues becomes clearer, more initiatives and innovations to make us better stewards of nature have been emerging. After watching the environmental films at the Turn the Tide Film Tour, APC left with a better understanding of some of the challenges we face – and ways that we can address them together. On September 14, APC attended an ocean film screening organised by Coastal Natives, an environmental conservation organisation founded by…

Inspiring Thailand to Give

by Stacey Choe It was the second edition of The Givers Network and it did not fail to disappoint and instead managed to surpass its inaugural one. The event’s main speakers were truly inspiring – from Thai stalwart, Dr. Mechai Viravaidya, Mr. Condom himself, to San Francisco grassroots philanthropist Bill Somerville, and 12 year old youth activist, Lilly Satidtanasarn, the audience was treated to an incredible mix of changemakers who truly embodied the spirit that “everyone can give”, and each truly in their own way. Whether you wanted to learn more about philanthropy from a strategic and intellectual approach, or…

Perspectives from the United States: Global to Grassroots Philanthropy the West Coast Way

by Taila Mueller From visiting the world’s largest foundation, to seeing the most highly regarded rehabilitative home for addicts and former convicts and to eating at Bruce Lee’s favourite Seattle restaurant, APC’s 2019 US Learning Journey was a packed and rich immersive experience that brought us to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle in just six days.  Members appreciated seeing both grassroots and global philanthropy initiatives and the contrast in perspectives.  Many said it was a transformative and thought provoking experience for evaluating their philanthropic approaches and activities. Philanthropy Exchange with Give2Asia, Tides and local philanthropists Here is an overview…

Collaborative Philanthropy in Early Childhood Development: Foundations partner in supporting OneSky to improve the standards of care for thousands of children in Vietnam

(Hong Kong, 10 June 2019) The Lorinet Foundation in partnership with the Octava Foundation, are providing vital funding to enable the rollout of a successful pilot led by OneSky, in supporting Early Childhood Development in the Hoa Khanh, Da Nang Industrial zone, in Vietnam. Vietnam is one of South-East Asia’s fastest growing economies and has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades.  However, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation has led to a shift within the societal fabric of families, where parents have no choice but to travel long distances to generate an income, and this impacts on the most vulnerable –…

The Promise of China’s Next-generation Philanthropists

by Yeo Qin-Liang On 21 May, APC hosted students of China Europe International Business School (CEIBS)’s Family Office Diploma Programme, who are next-gen’s learning how to best utilise their family assets and approach philanthropy. APC and CEIBS kicked-off the afternoon with an insightful panel discussion on family philanthropy in Asia at the Lien Villa with three distinguished speakers.  Mr Mahboob Mahmood, CEO of Knowledge Platform and former Adjunct Professor of Family Enterprise at INSEAD, gave an overview of family philanthropy in Asia.  Mr David Chong, Founder and President of Portcullis Group, offered a more technical perspective on how to set…

The Future of Philanthropy & Social Investment Infrastructure in Asia

by Yeo Qin-Liang Philanthropists often need support to fulfil their potential as catalysts of change and amplify the impact of every dollar they spend.  However, there is little understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the very institutions – like Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC) – that are backing these philanthropists. To better inform our practices, Synergos partnered five European foundations in commissioning Constellation for Change to study the landscape of Philanthropy and Social Investment Infrastructure (PSII) in Europe.  The report “More than the Sum of its Parts: Insights on the Future of European Philanthropy and Social Investment Infrastructure” was written…

Conversation with Hazel Paragua-Zuellig: The Epilepsy Manager Programme

by Mianmian Fei APC member, David Zuellig, trustee of the Zuellig Family Foundation, is a keen philanthropist in health enhancement in the Philippines.  One of the projects the foundation has been supporting since 2013 is the Epilepsy Manager Programme under the Philippine League Against Epilepsy (PLAE).  Leading this programme is David’s wife Hazel Paragua-Zuellig, an epilepsy specialist and the former president of PLAE.  She is currently on board of the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) and the chairman of its Access to Medicine Task Force.  Before a roundtable lunch in March, Hazel sat down with APC at Shangri-La Hotel Singapore…

APC members in the Philippines discuss working together on ECD

by Taila Mueller Philanthropy and public sector efforts to date in Asia tend to focus on K-12 and university education support with the intention to equalise opportunities and the playing field for the poor, vulnerable and marginalised.  Studies, however, increasingly point to the criticality of early childhood education (ECD) and development programmes, including nutrition, and their long term impact on the welfare of its beneficiaries. Put simply, children with a poor start suffer into adulthood.  With increasing momentum on this issue area, thanks to a newly launched regional Member Interested Group, APC engaged its Filipino members and guests working in…