Durreen Shahnaz

Institutional philanthropy in Asia has so much potential!

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Proud to share two recent reports I co-authored with my The Bridgespan Group colleagues (Jeff Bradach Denise Chew Julia Finnerty Gwendolyn Lim Roger Thompson Pritha Venkatachalam) with the generous financial support of the Institute of Philanthropy! These reports capture months of research into how institutional philanthropies are evolving their approach to maximize impact, especially in Asia--a region where economic growth and urgent and pressing social and environmental needs exist side by side. To learn more, please join our webinar! https://lnkd.in/gcMXcweB Here's what you'll find in each report: 1️⃣ 𝙇𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙨 We identify the 20 largest institutional philanthropies globally and in Asia, peeking under the hood on their priorities and approaches 2️⃣ 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙮: 𝙂𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝘼𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝘼𝙨𝙞𝙖 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙒𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 The potential for philanthropy is immense, especially in Asia. This report highlights the five key practices leading philanthropies globally deploy to amplify their impact. 📝 Both reports offer actionable insights and strategies that can be adapted across diverse contexts, especially as philanthropy in Asia reaches a pivotal moment. As we continue to face global challenges, it’s inspiring to see how high-impact philanthropies can enable sustainable, large-scale change. 🔗 Explore the full reports here: Largest Asian and Global Institutional Philanthropies: https://lnkd.in/gqSUpGdk High-Impact Philanthropy: Giving Better Across Asia and the World: https://lnkd.in/gwVRhab2 Would love to hear your thoughts on how we can collectively advance philanthropic impact in today’s rapidly changing landscape! #Philanthropy #SocialImpact #Asia #InstitutionalGiving #BridgespanGroup

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The new kid on the block to PPP's is Philanthropy. Sorry, but this appeals to the development finance side and the dad-joke side of me :) However Philanthropy is a serious contender in this game with its full potential unrealised. If we use this gold dust more prudently, we can unlock not just additional funding but also support innovations with risk and patient capital that they are starved of. I am especially interested in understanding this continuum of capital can be deployed in the context of climate adaptation in agriculture. Comment with innovative models in agri you know that has brought Philanthropy together with Public or Private (commercial) or even DFI (concessionary) capital .

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I am excited to announce that Temasek Trust's Catalytic Capital for Climate & Health (C3H) has invested in Notpla, a leader in innovative, sustainable packaging and 2022 winner of The Earthshot Prize, of which we are a Founding Partner.     Since 2014, Notpla has replaced over 16 million single-use plastic items with its plastic-free, home-compostable packaging. Their innovative solutions are now used by major corporations across Europe, driven by the growing demand for eco-friendly alternatives.    We are proud to be part of Notpla's journey, alongside other investors such as Astanor, BroadWater, LLC, EIT Food’s AgriFoodInvest, Horizons Ventures, Kibo Invest, Ocean Born Foundation, Radicle Impact Partners, Rosebrook, The Schmidt Family Foundation, Trousdale Ventures, and United Bankers. Our collective £20M (over US$25M) investment will fuel Notpla's push into North America and propel the development of next-generation, seaweed-based packaging solutions.   Temasek Trust set up C3H, an impact-first vehicle, to provide catalytic capital to innovative, early-stage global companies in #Climate, #Health, and their intersection. Balancing both impact and financial goals, C3H focuses on companies that deliver tangible impact through bold, scalable solutions.    Through C3H and #TemasekTrust ecosystem entities such as Co-Axis and Temasek Foundation, we are committed to supporting impact innovators on their journeys to drive transformative change for a more #sustainable tomorrow. #CatalyticCapital #Partnerships 

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Freshwater species are still in freefall - 85% collapse in 50 years. This great oped by my colleagues Christopher Hallam & Akchousanh Rasphone shows the impact on communities in the Mekong of the loss of freshwater fisheries. And how we can tackle it. The WWF & Zoological Society of London (ZSL) Living Planet Report is alarming but this oped in the Mekong Eye shows that there are solutions - from the global Freshwater Challenge to local Community Fish Conservation Zones. It's time to urgently and drastically scale up investment in these solutions to protect, restore and sustainably manage our rivers, lakes and wetlands - in the Mekong basin and across the globe https://lnkd.in/ejAPee8a Richard Lee Alistair Monument Daudi Sumba Henk Ovink Mina Guli Christopher Hallam Thibault Ledecq Nicolas Tubbs

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Choosing between Climate Action and Socio-Economic Development is a false choice for Asian countries. In simple terms we have to stop messing up our planet but while we do that we also need to ensure that these efforts converge with the investment needed to undo and adapt to the damage already done. The goal must be to integrate adaptation considerations into all efforts to secure the region’s climate transition and growth trajectory. To achieve this, potential funders need to understand how adaptation efforts link with socioeconomic development. Here is why investment in climate adaptation and resilience not only secures future growth but also safeguards current progress. 1. Minimising losses from climate-related extreme events, 2. Securing incomes and livelihoods, 3. Fortifying supply chains against climate risks, and 4. Unlocking new business opportunities. Read our opinion in the AVPN blog that has over 69,000 readers each year. For those of you following the efforts of the AVPN Climate Action platform you will know that we have been prioritizing holistic approaches that bring adaptation and co-benefits to the center of social and public investments to ensure the green transition is just and equitable. #AVPN2024 #OneAsiaOneFuture #AbuDhabi #ClimateAction #SustainableFuture #ResilientFuture Tristan Ace Patrick Chung-wing Yeung Naina Subberwal Batra Vikas Arora Moutushi Sengupta Elyas Tampubolon Hiral Sarvaiya Chauhan Kunal Walia Jagjeet Sareen Sarah Tam Laurence Lien

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💡 Insights from the recent Bridgespan report on Asian and Global Philanthropic Practices to Drive Impact, prepared with the support of the Institute of Philanthropy (#IoP), reveals significant developments in Asian institutional philanthropy.    Launched at the recent #PBC2024 Forum, the report underscores the current philanthropic landscape in the East and West.    Read the full article here from Alliance magazine 👇    #ImpactfulPhilanthropy #HKJC #HKJCCharitiesTrust #AsianPhilanthropy 

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📅 Only 2 days to go until the Collaborative Pathways to Effective Climate Adaptation convening! If you haven't registered yet, this is your last chance: https://lnkd.in/gHHG7sMU Join us for an in-person, invite-only event in New Delhi (India), where we'll engage in impactful discussions on the key themes driving climate adaptation efforts. Our lineup of incredible #speakers will lead dynamic panels on critical topics such as: 🌎 The Role and Challenges of CSOs in Climate Adaptation, exploring the significant contributions of civil society organizations, the hurdles they face, and how to form impactful partnerships. 🌎 Capacity Building for Effective Adaptation, focusing on how CSOs can enhance their efforts through better resource management, securing sustainable funding, and building strategic collaborations. Don't miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and co-create pathways for transformative change! #ClimateAsia #ClimateAdaptation #Sustainability #CapacityBuilding #climatefinance Featuring: Deepak Dogra (Climate Asia ), Dhruvi Shah (Axis Bank Foundation), Nidhi Bhasin (Digital Green Trust), Sudipto Dey (Outlook india), Siddharth Chaturvedi (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), Sarat Kannepalli (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH), Aniket Doegar (Haqdarshak), and Raisha Galib (Climate Asia).

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After an illuminating day of insights from Ecosperity and the Philanthropy Asia Alliance’s Summit, I wrapped up the Ecosperity Welcome Dinner with these reflections: 🌎 Planetary health and climate issues are inextricably linked with human lives and livelihoods. We will need our best minds, collective will, and ability to mass-mobilise in a holistic and integrated way; bridging across geographies, sectors, communities, wealth and asset classes, to bring about the technology and financing innovations for systems change and impact, at speed and at a global level. 🤝 Public-private-philanthropic partnerships will pave the way in tackling our interconnected challenges. At COP28, with ClimateWorks Foundation and World Economic Forum, we produced an Asia-focused climate #philanthropy report – which found that the regional climate and nature funding gap is not for lack of issue awareness, but due to the lack of technical understanding, practical solutions, structured data, and measurable indicators. Public-private-philanthropic #partnerships are vital to build the capacity, systems, knowledge, narratives, and most importantly, the inspired leadership at all levels and across sectors to drive change.   🌟We have reason to be optimistic. Momentum is gathering in our investing and philanthropy landscape. Within the decade, more than one-third of global wealth is projected to be in the hands of Asian millennials. Between investment and philanthropy, there is a blurring of lines.  More businesses want to go beyond profit to achieving impact and purpose. More investors are keen to use their portfolio as a platform to spur social and environmental change. Shareholders, consumers and customers are more discerning with their choices. Philanthropists are seeking to leverage their giving in a way that can generate financial returns that can be recycled. They are moving from cheque-book to catalytic philanthropy to amplify and accelerate impact. Whether in investing or giving, in the vital areas of Planet, People, Peace and Progress, the greatest risk is that our generation does nothing. The highest return is in co-creating a positive future so that every generation can thrive and prosper.   May we all forge new #partnerships for action and blaze pathways for a better and brighter future for generations to come. #Ecosperity2024 #PhilanthropyAsiaSummit #PhilanthropyAsiaAlliance #TemasekTrust

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Last week, I participated in Asia Society's event for the launch of the report “Asia’s Climate Finance Needs & Opportunities: Advancing a Shared Vision”, supported by The Rockefeller Foundation. Ambassador Chantale Wong, Dr. Mari Elka Pangestu, and Rachel Kyte joined the launch event and the discussion focused on identifying priority actions for how global financial architecture reform could address Asia’s unique climate and development needs, and the opportunities and challenges for climate finance to concurrently enhance Asia’s economic and social development.   The report takes stock of current financial flows, assesses how global financial reforms could enhance these flows, and offers recommendations for moving forward from an Asian perspective.   Key recommendations include adopting a “whole-of-economy” approach, repurposing fossil fuel subsidies, and increasing finance for adaptation efforts by tapping into the private sector. These strategies aim to address the unique climate and development needs of Asia and support its transition towards sustainable growth.   Read the full report here and share your views in the comments section: https://lnkd.in/gDw66kKw   P.S. - I was absolutely thrilled to see an all-women lineup!   Meera Gopal Kate Logan Jing Qian Rajiv J. Shah Elizabeth Yee Eileen O'Connor Eason Jordan Eric Arndt

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As I move into Philanthropy Consultancy, I have always wondered the role of private stakeholders in this. They have become very important players and almost deciding the agenda in a lot of spaces. It was interesting to read this Book on Corporate Capture by Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) and the excellent case studies provided from countries in global region. These case studies wont be great material for discussions and dialogues. https://lnkd.in/et2yY85U Gopika Bashi Kavitha Devadas Ishita Dutta more fodder to chew :) #feministfunding #PPP

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Yet another reason we were beyond thrilled to have Jamie Resor join Encore Renewable Energy's Board of Directors last year. A career of service and commitment to #conservation, #environmentalism, #decarbonization and using #business as a #forceforgood is exemplified in his work 30+ years ago to help establish the Bhutan Trust Fund for Environmental Conservation. The BTFEC was the first long-term conservation fund in the world and led to #Bhutan becoming the first carbon negative country on the planet. Highly recommend that anyone and everyone involved in #climate, #conservation and #politics watch the 6min video here for inspiration as to what's possible when long term gains are put ahead of short term economic considerations, and what can happen when communities, states and countries work together to generate louder and more powerful voices for change. Showed it to my 10yo this morning who said "wouldn't it be great if our little state of #Vermont could do something like this?" Felt good to tell him that we are. 👍💪 Renewable Energy Vermont Vermont Natural Resources Council VPIRG The Nature Conservancy Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) #climatesuperfund #renewableenergy #solar #sustainability #leadership

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The quest for impact-driven work is a rising priority across Southeast Asia. The question is how can someone unfulfilled in their current role transition into impactful, values-aligned work? We have a few advice on this. #diinsiderlife https://lnkd.in/gSqfDu4F

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Family Offices is one of the fastest-growing segments within AVPN’s network. As one of the registered intermediaries of the Philanthropy Tax Incentive Scheme in Singapore, we’re excited to empower family offices to maximise their philanthropic impact while leveraging tax benefits. Singapore’s position as a leading #philanthropy hub strengthens AVPN and our members’ ability to mobilise impact capital across the Asia-Pacific region. This creates a powerful ecosystem where financial resources meet social and environmental needs. Through strategic collaborations like this, we can unlock a wave of positive change in Asia. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) #familyoffices #socialinvestment #socialimpact

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Is philanthropy evolving to create greater impact through collaboration and systems thinking? We caught up with Mr. Benedict Cheong, Chief Systems Integration Officer at Temasek Trust, to explore how these principles are reshaping sustainable development. Mr. Cheong shared insights into how Asian philanthropy has shifted towards outcomes-based giving, with a focus on measurable impact. Systems thinking can be the natural next iteration. Using education as an example, he explained how systems thinking connects individual interventions – such as teacher training, curriculum development, and policy advocacy – into a cohesive strategy for long-term success. By addressing the root causes of complex issues and fostering collaboration across sectors, this approach amplifies collective impact for communities worldwide. Watch the full video below to discover why systems thinking is crucial for transforming philanthropy in Asia and driving sustainable, large-scale change. 🌏💡 The Philanthropy Asia Alliance is a Temasek Trust initiative to drive collaborative philanthropy. Read more about tackling complex issues through a systems lens: https://p-aa.org/3YR1lwx #PAAChats #TemasekTrust #Philanthropy #SystemsThinking #SustainableDevelopment #CollectiveImpact #Collaboration #Innovation

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Debrah Jiang, Chief of Staff at AVPN, was at the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum in Hong Kong last month. Drawing on Dompet Dhuafa’s innovative mobilization of Zakat funding, Debrah reflects on the diverse models of #Asianphilanthropy that arise from the unique contexts and rich philanthropic traditions in each region. To name just a few, Asian philanthropy comes from diverse sources such as: ✅ Faith-aligned giving ✅ Corporate philanthropy ✅ State-led giving ✅ Family foundations Each Asian social investor is unique, often informed by a combination of these backgrounds. That is why, as Debrah says, it is so valuable to discover different models of Asian philanthropy by observing how philanthropists operate on the ground today. What is a model of Asian philanthropy in action that you are inspired by?

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Great new report from The Bridgespan Group. Its list of the "20 largest funders in Asia" adds to the depressingly small but slowly growing library of philanthropic research available to fund raisers in Asia. To understand the challenges philanthropic fund raisers in Asia face you only have to read Methodology section: "We relied on publicly available information, either annual reports or reports submitted to the government for compliance purposes ... In addition, we reached out to institutions known for their generous giving, but which do not publish data, to request information on their annual giving. These funders declined to share information with us ... Institutional philanthropies that do not publicly report expenditures were excluded ..." It continues: "We recognise that the annual giving reported for institutional funders likely underestimates the total giving from a source of wealth, as individuals, families, and corporates give through multiple avenues including personal gifts, CSR, other corporate foundations and/or private foundations, for which they might only publicly disclose giving for one or a few entities. After identifying a short list of the largest funders, we reached out to each of them to confirm their annual giving information. Not all institutions replied" Oh well, at least they tried. #philanthropy #fundraising #Asia #philanthropists

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Asia is home to more billionaires than any other part of the world, according to The Economist. And at the same time, more than 233 million people live there on less than US$1.90 a day. Against this background of accelerating health and unmet need, the role of philanthropy in Asia has never been more crucial. New research from my Bridgespan colleagues: 5 high-impact practices for philanthropies looking to achieve meaningful and enduring impact with their giving.

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