Johnson Joins China Philanthropy Incubator Board

Paula Johnson, Vice President and Director of TPI’s Center for Global Philanthropy was recently invited to become a member of the International Advisory Board (IAB) of CiYuan, the China Philanthropy Incubator.  CiYuan is an initiative of Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), designed to expand the role of philanthropy and increase the value of social investments in the People’s Republic of China.  In working towards these goals, CiYuan intends to support the development of Chinese foundations, increase fundraising for NGOs and help foster corporate-NGO partnerships.

In recent years, the PRC has seen a significant rise in philanthropy with an increase in individual, foundation and corporate giving.  Much of this is due to the continued economic success and expanding affluent population of the country.  Despite this growth, many challenges still exist for the philanthropic sector in China. The policy environment in the PRC makes it difficult to create a foundation, fundraising laws complicate issues for NGOs and inexperience and a lack of strategy throughout the sector continue to hamper its growth and successful implementation.

BSR established CiYuan to address these issues and hopes that the IAB will serve to further its mission.  The International Advisory Board will be composed of experts in international policy and global philanthropy who can supply CiYuan with useful resources, case studies, current trends and network access to advance the program’s mission.  The IAB will be chaired by Peter Geithner, previously with the Ford Foundation for 28 years and currently an advisor to the Asia Center at Harvard University and consultant to the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium, Rockefeller Foundation, Sasakawa Peace Foundation and other organizations.

TPI has been working with local partners to actively promoting strategic philanthropy in China and the Asia region for many years.  In 2009 Johnson participated in the first China Private Philanthropy Forum in Beijing and helped lead a workshop on strategic giving for leaders from China’s government and private philanthropy sectors.  In partnership with the Hauser Center at Harvard University, TPI also designed and led a workshop on strategic philanthropy for a delegation of philanthropic leaders from China.  In Hong Kong, in partnership with a local family foundation, TPI designed and produced a three-day symposium for family donors seeking to increase the impact of their giving.  Working with both Harvard University and the Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium, TPI and Johnson  also have led several research studies on Asian philanthropy including work focused on high net worth giving and diaspora giving.

Ci Yuan’s first meeting scheduled for September 2010.