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Asia’s philanthropic landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by generational wealth shifts, cultural traditions, and a new emphasis on systems change. At Oneworld Colab’s Cambodia Workshop in April 2024 and through our ongoing collaborations across the region, five key trends have emerged that are redefining the sector. Drawing on public data, real-world examples, and comparisons with Western models, here is what every funder, NGO, and policy partner needs to know.
According to Bain & Company (2023), 35% of Asia’s private wealth will be transferred to younger generations within the next decade. These millennial donors prioritise strategic, systems-focused giving over traditional charity. Unlike Western philanthropy, where giving is often tied to tax incentives or legacy, Asia’s new wealth holders view giving as an extension of identity, purpose, and regional responsibility.
Example: In Singapore and Indonesia, millennial-led family offices are increasingly supporting climate innovation and social enterprise incubation, rather than merely issuing grants.
While the Western philanthropic model emphasises institutional governance and secular values, Asian giving is deeply rooted in faith-based duty and family lineage. Zakat in Indonesia, Daan in India, and Parahita in Cambodia exemplify spiritual traditions driving giving. Family-controlled foundations still dominate philanthropic flows across much of South and Southeast Asia.
Example: The Li Ka-Shing Foundation has pledged over one-third of the founder’s wealth toward education and healthcare, anchored in values of Confucian stewardship and Buddhist compassion.
Source: AVPN 2024 Report and UBS-INSEAD Family Philanthropy Report 2023
Philanthropists in Asia tend to collaborate with governments, rather than operate independently or fill service gaps. This contrasts with the West, where many foundations substitute for state failure or support parallel service delivery. In Asia, the prevailing model is to co-finance public infrastructure, support policy innovation, or scale state-led programs.
Example: The Tanoto Foundation stunting prevention initiatives in Indonesia work hand-in-hand with national health agencies, building on government outreach systems.
Source: Tanoto Foundation Impact Report 2024
Across the region, funders are diversifying their philanthropic toolkits. Beyond grants, they are deploying risk capital for innovation, infrastructure capital for nonprofit scaling, and outcome-based funding to drive measurable change. This trend aligns with Asia’s entrepreneurial ethos and preference for “doing and building,” rather than just “giving.”
Example: Tencent‘s philanthropy in China includes product development support for social ventures and tech platforms that integrate community feedback mechanisms.
Source: Tencent CSR Report 2023
Newer philanthropic actors are embracing trust-based approaches—multi-year unrestricted funding, co-designed programs, and peer learning networks. Initiatives like the Asia Centre for Changemakers and the Philanthropy Asia Alliance are emerging as regional learning hubs. This reflects a growing shift from donor control to shared ownership and adaptive strategy.
Example: The Philanthropy Asia Summit 2025 introduced cross-border collaboratives focused on climate and ocean health, with shared impact frameworks co-created by funders and implementers.
Source: PAS 2025 Highlights
Philanthropy in Asia differs markedly from Western models. In Asia, giving is deeply anchored in faith, family, and community identity, often driven by values of legacy and place, whereas in the West it has evolved as a more secular and institutionalised practice. Donors in Asia typically work in close complement with government schemes and priorities, while in the West philanthropic institutions often operate independently, and at times act as substitutes for state roles. The tools of giving also vary: Asian philanthropists are increasingly experimenting with blended and entrepreneurial capital, mixing grants with investments and catalytic finance, while Western foundations have traditionally relied on structured grants and endowments. Leadership styles reflect this divergence: Asian philanthropy tends to be family-led and community-oriented, whereas Western foundations are generally professionalised, with boards and executive teams guiding strategy. Learning and collaboration also take different forms: in Asia, networks are often peer-driven, built around regional forums and shared practice, while in the West, philanthropy leans more on structured toolkits, research, and policy advocacy. Strategically, Asian philanthropy tends to remain pragmatic and context-specific, with a strong focus on livelihoods and community resilience, while Western counterparts emphasise systemic reforms, large-scale research, and policy influence.
For those investing in social change across Asia, these trends are both a roadmap and a call to adapt. Oneworld Colab is working alongside partners to build trust-based systems, pilot blended capital models, and strengthen collaborative governance in philanthropy. Together, we can shape an ecosystem that reflects Asia’s values and ambitions.
Let’s collaborate. Reach out to join our upcoming regional forums or co-develop a strategic giving initiative.
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