ABSTRACT
Philanthropy in Asia presents a rich tapestry of old and new, of tradition and innovation, at a time of rapid change in the landscape for giving throughout the region and across the broader international community. Within their extraordinary diversity, Asian societies are tapping traditional sources of charitable giving while finding new ways to access the generosity that is present in each society. As Asia is too large and too diverse to cover – even in its philanthropic activities – in any comprehensive way in a single chapter, this chapter focuses on the changing nature of philanthropy in two of the region’s largest and most important countries: the People’s Republic of China and India. A number of the developments within these contexts symbolize and reflect changes in other parts of the region. The chapter then discusses various challenges for the development and expansion of philanthropy across the region.
