5 Steps to Developing a Successful Corporate Philanthropy Program Through my work, working with firms looking to develop “CSR” programs in China, more often than not the conversations I have revolved around donating money. For many firms, even those experienced in philanthropy, China can be a difficult place. The groups who are able to accept [...]

Over the last 2-3 years, one of the more interesting developments in China’s philanthropic landscape has been the explosion of foundations that have come onto the scene. Interesting because as the number of foundations, and the number of celebrities/ CEOs opening their own foundation, grew there was a general belief that this would improve the [...]

Last night, and this afternoon, I had a bit of a scare. A donor to one of the organizations I have been working with, a long time friend, sent me a message that she was pulling her donation because of an error I had made.  It was a simple error in failing to recognize her [...]

If there is one thing that the recent rash of scandals in China’s charities proves, it is that China has a long way to go with developing a credible and robust culture of philanthropy. A few weeks back there were the pictures of a woman named Guo Meimei caught posing with luxury cars and accessories, [...]

While reading the recent news that Shanghai based Social Venture Group (SVG) will be launching their most recent project, a website called China Charity Gift to facilitate donations to seven China based charities. It was a project that I know they have been working on for a while now and while taking a sneak peak [...]

In the above Charlie Rose interview, Jack Ma is asked – and speaks extensively – on CSR  and philanthropy in China.  Interviewed before the now famous Gates and Buffet dinner, the interview couldn’t have come at a better time.   Founder of Alibaba and Taobao (two of China’s most trafficked ecommerce platforms), Jack Ma holds a [...]

With the recent success of signing 40 billionaires to the Giving Pledge, it should not be any surprise that the recent news of Bill Gates and Warren Buffet coming to China would create headlines, and rumors that they were coming to convert.  It is an event, set for late September,  that was on the front [...]

With the recent rise in China’s philanthropic activities, and the increased questions of transparency, China has reached a critical stage in civil sector development and participation. Historically fueled by large corporate donation drives, during times of disaster or as part of government relationship building, the post 5.12 earthquake era has seen a seismic shift in [...]