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By Astrid Zweynert
HONG KONG (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Philanthropy is growing fast, not only where it has a centuries-old tradition but also in the East where the notion of giving money through a charity has only recently become more commonplace.
Combine that with the global growth of social enterprises - set up to combine business with social impact - and the trend towards wider public giving through technological advances and it's clear that giving has become easier and is more than just the domain of the rich, experts agreed at the Philanthropy For Better Cities Forum, the first conference of its kind in Asia focusing on metropolitan social issues and what part philanthropy can play to address the many challenges cities face from mushrooming populations.
One example of how technology plays a big part was the announcement of Chinese billionaire Pony Ma Huateng, the founder of internet group Tencent, during the forum that his company would donate 2 percent of its annual profit to charity.
Ma's pledge follows China's introduction of new laws in September that provided a legal framework for approved internet companies to raise and manage funds for charity.
Ma's own journey to philanthropy started more than 10 years ago at a convening on how to invest in philanthropy, he said during a session at the forum.His involvement evolved over time on children-related NGOs and on environmental protection.
"I'm still learning," he said, acknowledging that giving away money is complicated - despite China's efforts in introducing the new law.
Ma said technology had boosted the pace in which philanthropy had been developing in China, especially through the mobile Internet. By combining Tencent's technology platform with the intention of giving the company had achieved significant scale in its philanthropy, he said.
Rip Rapson, president and chief executive of U.S.-based The Kresge Foundation, said a common thread in his life had been that he wanted to make an impact on communities and their lives.
Rapson said he was fascinated by the rapid development of China's philanthropic sector and in creating structures and regulations that had taken more than 100 years to evolve in the United States since Scottish-American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie published his "Gospel on Wealth" in 1889.
He noted a significant development in American philanthropy in its growing interest to understand root causes and striving for systemic changes rather than just giving money to good causes.
Kresge’s own philanthropy mirrored this development and has only in the last decade transformed its approach, he added.
Both panelists agreed on the need to share best practices across cities and across regions. Ma said charitable giving was a process of social wealth and resource redistribution involving government, businesses and individuals.
Rapson said people should not be deterred by philanthropy's image that it's just about big dollars, stressing that even small amounts and efforts can make a real difference.
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