Angel Chiang, CAPS Director, Research and Advisor, Greater China, was interviewed for 더버터(The Butter) about our “Building Age-Friendly Societies in Asia: Philanthropy and Private Social Investment for the Elderly” report, which highlights 80+ initiatives across Asia that are empowering older adults.
Read the article here.
In the recent report report, “Building Age-Friendly Societies in Asia: Philanthropy and Private Social Investment for the Elderly,” in 더버터(The Butter)’s summary of the 2025 Asian Longevity Forum (ALF), which took place in Seoul earlier this month on November 10th. CAPS’ original research, which highlights 80+ initiatives across Asia that are empowering older adults, was presented and discussed at the event.
Read the article here.
As more Asian economies enter super-aged status, there is heightened interest in the role of private capital and resources to support the region through this transition.
The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society’s latest report, “Building Age-Friendly Societies in Asia,” examines how philanthropy and other forms of private social investment are complementing public systems and accelerating the rollout of much-needed solutions in the diverse economies of Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand.
Drawing on insights from over 100 leaders, experts, and practitioners, it examines how government efforts, philanthropy, corporate initiatives, and impact capital are already advancing solutions — from enabling older adults to age safely in their homes and communities, to strengthening caregiver capacity, catalysing inclusive silver markets, and deploying technology that enhances autonomy and connection.
The report identifies strategic priorities and lessons for philanthropists and private social investors seeking insights on how to approach this timely issue.
The Doing Good Index (DGI) is measured in collaboration with the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), with the participation of 17 Asian countries.
As a partner in Korea, Center on Philanthropy at The Beautiful Foundation has been involved in the index measurement since its inception, analyzing the current state of Korea’s philanthropic environment. On February 13th, 2025, a workshop was held where all partners gathered to prepare for the upcoming 2026 survey. A representative from Center on Philanthropy attended the workshop, engaging in discussions about the latest donation trends and issues in different countries while sharing insights on Korea’s standing.
Our DECODED series unpacks, explains, and crystallizes issues critical for social investment in Asia. It draws upon our expertise in research and access to an extensive network of sector experts and philanthropists in 18 Asian economies, enabling us to identify emerging trends in the region. Through DECODED, we translate these concepts into digestible insights.
This edition of DECODED looks at the unique landscape of collaborative giving in Asia. In recent years, the global call for more collaboration to tackle significant societal challenges has grown louder. There is strong recognition that collaboration is critical in driving meaningful change at scale, and private sources of wealth have become an increasingly important source of capital that can be mobilized swiftly. However, the discourse around collaborative giving has been dominated by models and approaches emanating from the West, often neglecting the contributions of similar efforts in Asia. This oversight ignores the characteristics and nuances that distinguish Asian philanthropy. In Asia, we find that while interest in collaboration is high, actual attempts to create these mechanisms are more limited. Despite this, given the enormity of our shared challenges, we need to find ways to carry out more collaborative efforts.
수학시험의 주관식 문제는 답을 틀려도 풀이 과정이 맞으면 부분 점수를 받는다. 결과만큼 결과를 끌어낸 과정이 중요하다는 뜻이다. 기부도 마찬가지다. 매년 한국의 기부 순위가 발표되고 기부가 저조하다는 말들이 오가지만, 정작 그 이유는 알쏭달쏭하다.
아시아 필란트로피 소사이어티 센터(Center for Asian Philanthropy and Society, 이하 캡스)가 기부 환경에 대한 연구 과정에서 ‘왜’에 집중하며, 기부 통계 이면의 ‘맥락’을 짚어내는 이유다. 범위도 아시아로 좁혔다. 미국이나 유럽 같은 서구 사회와는 기부 문화가 다르기 때문이다.
Read the full interview here.
The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society(CAPS),a uniquely Asia, independent, action-oriented research and advisory organization, released the 2024 edition of its flagship study, the Doing Good Index. The study finds that despite the rapid digitalization of the Asian social sector, social delivery organizations (SDOs) are struggling to keep up with technological changes due to inadequate access to digital infrastructure, lack of capacity, and insufficient donor support. As technology continues to advance, a new type of digital divide is being created that hampers the ability of the social sector to deliver products and services to the most vulnerable communities.
Read the full article here.
The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), a uniquely Asia, independent, action-oriented research and advisory organization, released the 2024 edition of its flagship study, the Doing Good Index. The study finds that despite the rapid digitalization of the Asian social sector, social delivery organizations (SDOs) are struggling to keep up with technological changes due to inadequate access to digital infrastructure, lack of capacity, and insufficient donor support. As technology continues to advance, a new type of digital divide is being created that hampers the ability of the social sector to deliver products and services to the most vulnerable communities.
Read the full article here.
CAPS’ biannual Doing Good Index identifies the factors that drive or hinder the giving and receiving of private social investment to address social needs.
Now in its fourth iteration, the Doing Good Index 2024 looks at how the four components of the Index—regulations, tax and fiscal policy, ecosystem and procurement—have changed in the last two years. The findings are evidence-based, derived from original data from surveying 2,183 nonprofits and social enterprises and interviewing 140 experts across 17 Asian economies. This iteration of the report also includes a special thematic section on the impact of digital technology on Asia’s social sector.
Against the backdrop of the tumultuous Covid-19 years, the 2024 Index shows a continuation of the status quo with few major changes. However, the lack of change is not necessarily bad, as stability lays the groundwork for the social sector to thrive. The report also finds that Asia’s social sector is insufficiently prepared for the technological future, held back by inadequate access to digital infrastructure, capacity constraints and insufficient donor support.
The Index offers a blueprint of the policies and practices that can unleash private social capital and how the public, private and social sectors can work together to build a stronger and more equitable Asia.
Our interactive microsite lets you explore and compare our Index data using visual and digestible graphics. The economy profile pages present a deep dive into each economy and provide a longitudinal overview of select data points. The data dashboard allows you to compare economies with each other, the Asian average and over time.
The Doing Good Index is published every two years. Read the inaugural edition from 2018, our 2020 edition, and our 2022 edition.
Government procurement of goods and services from the social sector is mutually beneficial. It helps the government leverage the social sector’s subject expertise and community links to deliver more efficient and cost-effective social services while also providing legitimacy and a sustainable source of income to social delivery organizations. However, the potential benefits are contingent on the ease and accessibility of government procurement and broader factors contributing to an SDO’s capacity to fulfill needs.
This policy brief provides an assessment of the policy landscape of government procurement from the social sector in Asia and highlights four key findings:
Based on these findings, the policy brief identifies bottlenecks that limit the potential benefits of government procurement from the social sector and introduces recommendations for governments and SDOs to address specific issues.