Which way to a flourishing future?

BY LAURENCE LIENCO-FOUNDER AND CHAIRMAN, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE APC is evolving to contribute much more to the development of the philanthropy ecosystem, with our members as anchor and base. When we started APC eight years ago, our focus was on growing our membership, convening them so that we can learn from and inspire one another, and catalysing collaborative action. Our excellent team at APC has achieved a strong foundation for this. Part of our intent was also to contribute to thought leadership and ecosystem-building. This has taken a while longer to grow, and I think we are seeing a bumper…

Asia Community Foundation ready to (soft) launch!

BY ABBIE JUNG, ASIA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION After more than a year of incubation at APC, we are excited to announce the soft launch of Asia Community Foundation (ACF), the region’s first Asia-focused community foundation! Based in Singapore, ACF is designed to help individuals, families, foundations, and family offices with their philanthropy and advisory needs. With its expertise and resources, ACF aims to make it easier for donors to create a positive impact in Asia. Asia has a long history of charitable giving. However, giving across borders remains limited for many reasons; key challenges facing donors include a lack of understanding…

High-impact climate giving in Vietnam

BY SARAH TAM, PROGRAMME LEAD (APC CLIMATE COLLECTIVE), ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE Strap in for an adventure!  After a year of virtual meetings, APC Climate Collective members and friends from Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam were thrilled to finally gather in Ho Chi Minh City for two days of learning and exchange. The trip was packed with all sorts of exciting highlights! One of the most unforgettable experiences was discovering the amazing climate work that Climate Collective members are supporting in Vietnam, which brought us from stunning rice fields to a bustling university in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City….

Intergenerational Approaches to Philanthropy

BY CAROL TAN, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE How do family values shape the approach to philanthropy? Conversely, how could philanthropic endeavours shape family values? By 2030, it is expected that over 2.5 trillion dollars in Asia will be transferred from one generation to the next. As the currents in wealth shift and new generations come to the helm of family businesses and philanthropy, the time is ripe for a discussion on the role of giving in a family. How can current leaders meaningfully involve the next generation in a family’s existing philanthropic work? How can new generations balance…

The Future of Philanthropy in Asia: Insights from Singapore

BY SARAH TAM AND KOON PENG OOI, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE In March, Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC) and Bloomberg co-hosted the Singapore launch of APC’s Future of Asian Philanthropy, a two-part research study that explores how Asian society might look in 2050, and how philanthropy can fulfil its promise as a positive, impactful force in society. Using scenario planning, the report envisions four future scenarios based on three fundamental ‘Driving Forces” that are shaping society in Asia: The launch event brought together a diverse group of philanthropists, private wealth professionals, government, thought leaders, NGOs who reflected on the current society attitudes…

What does the future of philanthropy in Indonesia look like?

BY STACEY CHOE, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE In February 2023, APC convened a group of leading philanthropists, civil society leaders, and representatives from think-tanks and foundations in Jakarta to ponder such a question. Using our recent research publication, the Future of Asian Philanthropy, as a framework for discussion, the audience set about on a guided journey towards deciphering how the key drivers of state control, social inequality, and civil society cooperation will influence society, and what we should look into now to lead the country towards its best possible outcomes. It was an afternoon of deep, meaningful discussions…

Protecting our climate frontiers: The Oceans of Southeast Asia

BY RAFID A. SHIDQI, SENIOR EXECUTIVE, ASIA PHILANTHROPY CIRCLE The Coral Triangle Region in Southeast Asia is home to some of the most diverse marine life on the planet. Comprising countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Timor Leste, and several Pacific Island nations, the region boasts over 70% of the world’s coral reef species and 37% of all coral reef fish. Its marine resources are crucial to the survival of over 120 million people who depend on them for food, livelihoods, and protection from storms. Despite its importance, the Coral Triangle Region faces threats from unsustainable practices, such as…