Victor Kuo presented on emerging trends in philanthropy in Asia at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on October 8, 2013. He discussed that interest in philanthropy is rising in Asia due to growing wealth. However, developing nonprofit infrastructure remains a key challenge. He recommended actions like networking, experimentation, sharing results and learning to help enhance philanthropy in the region.

1. EMERGING TRENDS IN
PHILANTHROPY IN ASIA
Victor Kuo
October 8, 2013
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

2. MAIN POINTS
1.
Interest in philanthropy in Asia is on the rise. Growth in
wealth reveals a variety of motivations for giving and
philanthropic forms
2.
A key challenge to enhancing philanthropy in Asia is
nonprofit sector infrastructure – philanthropic funders and
NGO’s
3.
Recommended actions include networking, experimentation,
sharing results and learning

3. DRIVERS OF GIVING IN ASIA
•
In
Asia, affiliations, sector, imp
act, and pragmatism have
emerged as drivers
•
In Asia, second generation
and entrepreneurial wealth
tends towards
impact, results
•
Impact investing, a new
trend, seeks
financial, social, and
environmental returns
2011 UBS INSEAD Study on Family Philanthropy in
Asia, p. 24

4. TOWARDS EFFECTIVE PHILANTHROPY
•
Motivations/Values need to
be supported by practices,
organizations, and
infrastructure
•
Strategic philanthropy
requires measureable
results, feedback, and
attention to environment
•
Asian philanthropists may
also need to work
constructively with
government

5. HISTORY – U.S.
1974:
MDRC
Ford
Foundation
1996:
Evaluation
Handbook
Kellogg
Foundation
Measuring Program
Outcomes:
A Practical
Approach
United Way
1993:
1969:
Tax Reform Act
1998:
1986:
American
Evaluation
Association
Government
Performance
& Results Act
2002:
Grantmakers for
Effective
Organizations
2007:
Critical
Impact
Awards
Council on
Foundations
2013:
Goldman
Sachs, United
Way, MDRC
social impact
bond

6. Industry network
setting
milestones?
CHINA?
2008:
Sichuan
earthquake
2011
China Foundation
Center
Transparency Index
2013:
2011:
Guo Mei
scandal
2004:
Ministry of Civil Affairs
legislation encourages
private foundation
development,
new era
2010:
Gates and Buffet
Host dinner in China
2013:
Ministry of Civil Affairs
12th Five Year Plan
for charity
AVPN
Inaugural
Conference

7. ACTION: HAVING AN IMPACT
•
Consider the motives and
values that drive your giving
•
Build capacity for funding:
knowledge, professional
staff, networks and
associations
•
Start with what you have,
share what you are learning,
seek peers or advisors (to
families) for advice; resist
“going-it-alone”

8. QUESTIONS & DISCUSSION
1.
To what extent is there an interest in strategic
philanthropy? How do you know if you are having an
long-term impact?
2.
What challenges do you face, as philanthropic
funders, in your grantmaking practice?
3.
What factors in Vietnam create an enabling
environment for philanthropy? Consider
legal/regulatory, business, and social contexts.

9. CONTACT
Victor Kuo, PhD
VK Global Advising
victorkuo888@gmail.com
Seattle, Washington, USA
Kordant Philanthropy Advisors
www.kordant.com

10. TIPS ON EVALUATION
•
Evaluation:
•
•
Common Starting Points:
•
•
•
•
systematic study of the value of
a project
develop indicators
create a logic model
identify, hire an evaluator
Caution:
•
•
•
be clear on evaluation purpose
plan for sharing results
don’t be oversold

11. LOGIC MODEL SAMPLE
Mapping Change: Using a Theory of
Change to Guide Planning and Evaluation.
GrantCraft, 2012, translated in Chinese

12. EXAMPLE: US FOUNDATION “THEORY OF ACTION” OR LOGIC MODEL (2004)
3B
Change perceptions, promote new approaches, and promote supportive policy contexts (Policy and Advocacy)
1
Scale proven/
promising school
models
Foundation intermediate impact
 Improved college ready
graduation rates
 Proven, replicable, and
scalable models
 Strong school
developers
 Strong school networks
 Supportive policies
 Engaged communities
2
Develop highperforming
districts
 Improved college
ready grad rates
 Model schools
 Portfolio manager
approach
 Ideal district policy
set
 Engaged
communities
3A
Develop highperforming states
 Improved college ready
graduation rates
 Model schools
 High-performing districts
 Ideal state policy set
 Engaged communities
Foundation goals
Share evidence
of success
(Policy and
Advocacy)
Improved
student
graduation
and college
readiness
 Increased high
school
graduation rates
for low-income
and minority
students in
grantee schools
and districts
 Increased
college ready
graduation rates
in grantee
schools and
districts
Gather
evidence of
success
(Research &
Evaluation)
Capture
knowledge and
provide tools
Increased
demand in other
schools, states,
and districts
 Increased
awareness of
current failures
and of new
approaches to
schools and
districts
80% national
minority HS
grad rates
All students
graduate
from HS
ready for
college, work
, and
citizenship
Momentum in
schools, district
s, and states
nationally
Increased
capacity (supply)
in other
schools, states, a
nd districts
Improved
national HS
achieve-ment
and college
readiness
 Increased number of good
schools
 Increased awareness of
current failures and of new
approaches to schools and
districts
 Better policy context
 Increased field knowledge
of best practices
 Greater school developer
scale and capacity
4
Gather evidence of success, capture knowledge, and provide tools (Research and Evaluation)
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