Plenary 1: What is Impact? Launching a new, systematic assessment of Asian giving​
(co-presented by Institute of Philanthropy and The Bridgespan Group)

Moderator William Foster began by highlighting Asia’s rich philanthropic history and pointing out that the region's distinct approach to giving has evolved alongside its economic development. There are three defining key characteristics of Asian philanthropy, he said: it is highly oriented around national development, prioritises government collaborations, and constantly adapts and innovates. Foster shared insights from a study of Asia’s 20 largest structured foundations, which identified five critical themes for high impact: put impact first, set ambitious goals, give resources appropriately, embed data-driven learning, and engage and partner with other actors. The panel shared their insights from different regions and perspectives.

Jagannatha Kumar stressed that high-impact philanthropy is about achieving intergenerational, long-term outcomes. He shared how the formalisation of philanthropy in India would help address larger-scale issues such as the consequences of climate change on agriculture, a sector that employs 50% of the Indian workforce. He also discussed the importance of using digital technology to gather data and scale solutions. 

Mattie Bekink introduced the Ford Foundation’s commitment to tackling inequality and driving social justice across the globe, including Asia. She emphasised that shared learning is essential among grant-makers and grantees for driving impact and continually improving programme strategies and the effectiveness of philanthropic efforts. 

Ichiro Kabasawa highlighted The Nippon Foundation’s focus on systemic change, sharing examples of their long-term commitment to social issues, including efforts to eliminate leprosy in Southeast Asian countries. Their strategy involves developing small-scale models that can be upscaled for broader impact, ensuring sustainable solutions that can transform communities. 

Benny Lee talked about the Tanoto Foundation’s work in Indonesia, where they address stunting, i.e., the impaired growth of children, through multi-stakeholder partnerships. He highlighted the importance of creating a common language around impact to align stakeholders and measure progress effectively, and the need to build internal capabilities for measuring impact. 

Jennifer Stout outlined Gates Foundation’s approach of setting ambitious goals and data-driven strategies. She underscored the importance of collaboration, with governments and other philanthropists, in scaling solutions, and shared examples of their global health partnerships, such as leveraging Chinese agricultural experts to support sustainable seed programmes in Africa.

When discussing data and measurement, Lee highlighted the challenges of aligning stakeholder expectations, particularly in high-risk, high-impact projects. Bekink emphasised the value of qualitative insights and shared learning across the sector, encouraging foundations to challenge assumptions and lead with humility. 
Foster concluded by noting the importance of and interest in collective learning and collaboration in driving philanthropy’s future success, citing models like the Institute of Philanthropy as examples for advancing shared goals.

Two full reports and an Executive Summary by The Bridgespan Group were launched. Download the reports below:

Executive Summary
High-Impact Philanthropy: Giving Better Across Asia and the World 

Full Reports
Largest Asian and Global Institutional Philanthropies
High-Impact Philanthropy: Five Practices That Lead to Lasting Change