Climate change and environmental degradation are increasingly impacting our society and have highlighted the necessity for collective action by individuals, governments, and the private sector. However, in a region where most economies are still emerging, striking a balance between ambitious environmental efforts and development goals adds a layer of complexity.

This report examines the ways in which Asian private capital—from corporations, investors and philanthropists—is being brought to bear on environmental challenges. Drawing insights from interviews with 163 individuals and experts from companies, foundations, and nonprofits across 10 Asian economies (Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand) we look at what actions local companies and organizations are taking to adapt to and mitigate environmental challenges. It provides unique Asian perspectives on climate action and offers recommendations for public and private sectors.

The report identifies four characteristics of the ways in which funders push resources towards environmental challenges, identifies the challenges companies and organizations face when doing so and presents recommendations and next steps for funders in this space.

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 emergence of donor-advised funds (DAFs) in the Asia-Pacific and identifies the different models and motivations for setting up this type of fund in the region. While yet to become mainstream in most Asia-Pacific economies, donors, sponsoring organizations and social innovators have a strong and growing interest in the potential of DAFs to facilitate strategic philanthropic giving in the region.

我们的解码系列（DECODED）旨在深入探讨亚太地区的私人社会投资领域，为您提供清晰、全面和系统的分析。凭借我们在研究领域的专业能力和广泛的行业专家和慈善家网络，我们能够捕捉到该地区的新兴趋势。通过解码系列，我们将这些概念转化为易于理解的见解，助您做出明智的决策。

本期的解码报告聚焦于亚太地区捐赠者建议基金（DAF）的兴起，并分析了在该地区设立这类基金的不同模式和动机。虽然在大多数亚太经济体中，DAF还未成为主流，但捐赠者、运营机构和社会创新者对DAF在该地区推动战略性慈善捐赠的潜力表现出浓厚兴趣，并且这种兴趣还在不断增长。

루쓰 싸피로(Ruth Shapiro) CAPS(아시아자선사회센터) 공동의장이 서울 대한상공회의소에서 3일 열린 ‘2023 탄소중립과 에너지정책 국제세미나’(이하 세미나)에서 축사를 진행했다. More here.

[메트로신문] 대한상의가 탄소중립을 위해 세미나를 개최하고 100대 정책 과제를 담은 전략 보고서를 발표했다. 대한상공회의소는 3일’Innovation Solutions for Net Zero’를 주제로 ‘제5회 탄소중립과 에너지정책 국제세미나’를 개최했다. More here.

Giving Korea is an annual report produced by CAPS’ partner, The Beautiful Foundation, measuring the scope and size of giving across the economy. The 2022 edition includes an overview of domestic data accumulated over 20 years, tracking changes in the scale of donations in Korea, as well as an analysis of giving behaviors by gender, generation, and donation type. The report also considers perceptions of and trust in nonprofit organizations, and attitudes toward social giving and participation.

Key findings include:

• Motives for giving are generally in the order of compassion, social responsibility, personal happiness and religious belief, followed by tax benefits.
• Individual and corporate giving were both impacted by the economic slowdown during the pandemic.
• Public-interest corporations that engage in fundraising attract, on average, 39% of funds from corporations, 35% from individuals, 9% from foundations, and the rest from other sources.

Read the report here.

“국내 공익활동을 활성화하려면 세 가지 부분에서 변화가 필요합니다. 정부 규제 완화, 지역 내 지원 활용, 신뢰 부족 문제 해결이 선행돼야 합니다.”

지난 12일 아름다운재단이 비영리 연구·자문기구인 ‘아시아 필란트로피 소사이어티센터'(CAPS)와 공익활동 환경평가지수 ‘두잉 굿 인덱스(Doing Good Index, DGI) 2022’ 조사 결과 발표회를 온라인으로 개최했다. DGI는 아시아 각국의 ▲정부 규제 ▲세금과 재정 정책 ▲정부 조달 ▲공익 생태계 등 공익활동에 영향을 주는 요인을 파악해 평가한다. 지난 2018년 첫 분석 결과를 내놓은 이후 2년 주기로 발표되며, 이번이 세 번째다. Read here.

COVID-19 has exacerbated income inequalities and social disparities across Asia, serving as a force multiplier for trends already in place. Assessing performance across four sub-indexes – Regulations, Tax and Fiscal Policy, Ecosystem, and Procurement – CAPS’ biennial flagship study, the Doing Good Index 2022, examines the social investment landscape in Asia. Read here.

According to the Doing Good Index 2022, which analyses the social investment landscape in Asia, Covid-19 has exacerbated social disparities and income inequalities and across the region. We talk to Dr. Ruth Shapiro, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive of the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), which conducts the study biennially, about the pandemic’s impact on people in Asia, her work and improving Hong Kong’s social sector. Read here.

Almost half of Asia’s social delivery organisations have reported a decline in funding in the last 12 months, some as much as 50 percent, according to new research. The Hong Kong-based Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) surveyed more than 2,000 entities and some 120 experts across 17 Asian economies, including India, Pakistan, China, and Singapore. Read here.

Covid-19 has exacerbated income inequalities and social disparities across Asia, serving as a force multiplier for trends already in place. A new social impact study released today by the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS) shows how to maximize philanthropic and policy responses to cope with these post-Covid challenges. Read here.