Building systems leadership to meet the region’s emerging complex societal issues

BY CAROL TANDEPUTY CEO, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE August marks 8 months since I’ve joined APC. Every day I am inspired by the creativity and tenacity of the diverse individuals and organisations of this vibrant community seeking to do good. Thank you members for welcoming me into the circle—first as Chief Strategy Officer, and now as Deputy CEO. APC also turned 8 years old in July. The world is vastly different from when APC was founded in 2015—a pandemic came and never really left, heatwaves and floods have become more intense and frequent, the era of Artificial Intelligence has begun, and whole…

Adding value to Singapore’s social sector

New and experienced funders convene to better understand the Singapore social sector, how they can add value, and how to leverage their resources most effectively. BY ABBIE JUNG, ASIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION In April 2023, APC convened a roundtable discussion to help APC members—many of whom are new to Singapore—to better understand the Singapore social sector, how they can add value, and where their resources can be most effectively channelled. APC member and National Council of Social Services (NCSS) President Anita Fam shared an overview of the social sector landscape. NCSS is an umbrella body for some 450 social sector organisations,…

Scaling New Heights: Insights from the India Learning Journey

Key takeaways and highlights from APC’s India Learning Journey in April 2023. BY CAROL TAN About APC Learning Journeys APC Learning Journeys are study trips that facilitate knowledge, exchanges, and deep dives into specific issue areas, geographies and philanthropy-related themes for members. One big highlight at APC last quarter was our Learning Journey to India, led by the indefatigable Stacey Choe! India has a long and storied history in social impact, with a vibrant non-profit sector (over three million non-profit organisations!) and social innovations with impact even beyond India’s shores. Yet it remains a hidden gem, despite some pretty audacious…

What We’re Reading: The Philanthropy Transformation Initiative Report

This latest report from WINGS, a global network of philanthropy support and development organisations, focuses on enabling change, walking the talk and creating the future. BY SUE TOOMEY While APC members support a variety of social impact areas, our shared value in building inclusive and sustainable communities binds us together and drives forward the work of collaborative philanthropy to address Asia’s challenges. A June 2023 report from WINGS makes the case that not only a strategic, but a transformational approach is needed to tackle the polycrisis facing society—multiple, interconnected global threats, from the climate emergency and global pandemics to geopolitical…

Notes from the Region: APC visits Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia

As travel roars back to life in the first half of 2022, APC catches up with members from and working in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. BY NATALIE KENNEDY AND STACEY CHOE Travel has roared back to life in 2022—this means that APC was able to (finally!) catch up with our members around the region—meeting our members in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia in person after a long time, and catch up on what everyone is working on. Vietnam APC’s first stop, as travel restrictions began to ease, was Vietnam. We caught up with members, friends, and partners—and met with new stakeholders…