Philanthropy is a culture. However, when fitted into the broader context of Eastern or Western cultures, it takes on different forms. While the act of giving has become a culture in the West, such efforts in the East have only recently become popular. According to research from the Harvard China Philanthropy Project, giving in the US accounted for 4% of GDP in 2014, while the figure in China was just 0.1%. In terms of absolute giving, there is a large gap. At the same time, there are similar trends in both cultures. Globally, there is an emergence of a new generation of social entrepreneurs and a trend towards wider public participation. With the help of technology, doing philanthropy has become easier and more inclusive. These similarities create opportunities for cross-learning and synergies.

This keynote dialogue seeks to show the similarities and differences in philanthropic giving around the world through discussions between leading figures in philanthropy from the East and West. Its aim is to uncover enlightening insights that can facilitate better co-operation.

Speaker

Pony MA
Chairman and CEO
Tencent

Rip RAPSON
President and CEO
The Kresge Foundation

Facilitator

Leong CHEUNG
Executive Director, Charities and Community
The Hong Kong Jockey Club