​Launch of Commission on Asian PhilanthropyThe Nippon Foundation joins initiative to create intra-Asia ecosystem

The launch of a Commission on Asian Philanthropy (CAP) was announced at a meeting of the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum on September 10, 2024. The CAP will bring together philanthropic organizations across Asia – from Saudi Arabia to Japan – to create an intra-Asia ecosystem for philanthropy across the region. For the CAP’s launch, The Nippon Foundation was represented in a panel discussion at the Forum by Executive Director Ichiro Kabasawa, together with representatives of the King Khalid Foundation (Saudi Arabia), the Hong Kong Jockey Club (Hong Kong), the IDEAS-Dompet Dhuafa Republika Foundation (Indonesia), the Piramal Foundation (India), and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (China).

Mr. Kabasawa explains that while in the United States and Europe, philanthropy is seen as having its roots in the Christian religious tradition, there is no common framework for philanthropy in Asian cultures. In Japan, for example, the Japanese language does not even have a native word for philanthropy. With a large number of philanthropic organizations being established in Asia over the past ten years, the CAP’s first task will therefore be to define “philanthropy” in an Asian context. The objective is to come up with a multifaceted, alternative framework for philanthropy that showcases the diverse cultures and values of this broad geographic region. This is not meant to repudiate or compete with the Western approach to philanthropy, but rather to offer alternatives that may be more suitable in an Asian context.

In the panel discussion, Mr. Kabasawa explained that The Nippon Foundation’s early activities began as charity in the form of providing direct relief to people with immediate needs, and over time evolved into philanthropy, which he defines as changing the systems that constitute the underlying causes behind those needs. This is a longer-term endeavor that will not produce immediate results, but is necessary to achieve sustainable outcomes. In Japan, as in other Asian countries, an aging and contracting population is putting pressure on public social security and welfare systems, and with limited public finances the government cannot be expected to address all issues on its own. Unlike in the United States and Europe, philanthropic organizations in Japan and many Asian countries tend to work closely with governments to complement government programs. In addition to these activities, he also sees a role for organizations like The Nippon Foundation in working with private-sector companies to address these issues from a long-term, sustainable perspective.

The CAP will meet over three years, after which it will issue a report and action plan for longer-term implementation. With the large number of Asia’s new, smaller philanthropic organizations, the emphasis will be on networking and coordination across organizations so that they can make the most effective use of the resources they have. The next meeting will be hosted by The Nippon Foundation in Tokyo on November 29 as the Asia Philanthropy Congress 2024.