International and Asia specific philanthropic investment is growing rapidly. Investors are responding to a world in which significant challenges are posed by health, demographics, housing, and crises in natural resources. The growing gap between rich and poor, along with other societal problems are all too apparent in our increasingly global, interdependent and interconnected world. It is a world in which many “domestic” issues have international roots and require a global perspective in order to be dealt with effectively. Increasingly, independent philanthropic funders, both long-established and new, recognise the significance of the impact they can have with even modest levels of investment. By targeting their funds strategically and applying the same best practices in terms of governance and sustainability they can generate even higher levels of return.

This portal has been developed in response to the growing interest and demand for practical sources of information and advice about how to undertake effective Philanthropic Investment in Asia. It aims to provide an overview and share key advice identified during our in depth interviews with existing philanthropic organisations. These organisations represented a cross section of experienced organisations, based in Hong Kong but active throughout Asia. Without exception our interviewees stated that, like any other investment, effective Philanthropic Investment requires good governance, sustainability and the ability to measure impact and return on that investment.