Philanthropy in Asia: Shifting Models, Shared Opportunity - Part 1

Following several conversations with clients across Australia and Asia, I’ve been reflecting on how quickly philanthropy is evolving across our region. Not in theory, but in practice.

Over the past year, I’ve worked with two organisations navigating growth beyond their home markets. One based in Asia seeking to raise funds in Australia. The other is based in Australia and looking to raise funds globally, where much of its donor market already exists.

Different starting points, but a shared challenge: cross-border fundraising is not straightforward.

We often talk about philanthropy as global. In reality, it remains shaped by local regulation, tax systems, culture, trust, and internal capability. In both cases, the opportunity to grow was clear, but the pathway was not.

Both organisations initially considered establishing standalone charitable structures, including formal 501(c)(3) entities in the United States, as part of their long-term fundraising ambitions. However, the governance, compliance, reporting, and operational requirements associated with managing independent cross-border entities can be substantial, particularly for organisations still building international fundraising capability.

One organisation ultimately established cross-border giving pathways through platforms such as MyriadUSA and MyriadAustralia. The other is now exploring similar structures as part of its international fundraising strategy. These are practical operational solutions on the surface, yet together they reflect a broader shift across the sector.

Increasingly, organisations are not simply asking how to fundraise. They are asking how to operate across borders with limited resources while still building capability, credibility, and donor trust.

Recent insights, including the Global Philanthropy Environment Index 2025, reinforce what many of us are already seeing on the ground. Globally, around 61% of economies report a favourable philanthropic environment. However, the more telling insight is that cross-border philanthropic flows are becoming more complex and, in some cases, more restricted.

At the same time, digital giving continues to expand, expectations around transparency and measurable impact are rising, and the sector itself is becoming more professionalised. For organisations operating across Australia and Asia, these shifts are no longer abstract trends. They are operational realities.

Across the work I’m involved in, there remains strong alignment in philanthropic priorities. Education, health and medical research, community and social impact, and conservation continue to attract significant philanthropic investment. What is changing is not the causes themselves, but the expectations surrounding them.

Donors increasingly want clearer outcomes, stronger alignment with purpose, confidence in leadership, and evidence that their contribution will create meaningful long-term impact rather than simply support isolated activity. This is particularly evident in areas such as health and medical research and conservation, where philanthropy is increasingly driving system-level change, innovation, and long-term capability building.

One of the most consistent challenges is not a lack of opportunity, but a gap in organisational capability. Fundraising across borders requires sustained investment in systems, governance, people, partnerships, and strategy. Many organisations are still building this capacity while simultaneously expanding internationally.

This creates a tension. The donor market may be global, but the operational capabilities required to support it often remain highly local. Bridging that gap is where much of the real work now sits.

Asia Pacific is not “catching up”

There remains a tendency, particularly from a Western perspective, to describe philanthropy in Asia as “emerging.”

I’m increasingly convinced that framing no longer reflects the reality of what is taking place across the region.

What I’m seeing is something more nuanced and, in several respects, moving faster than many realise.

In many parts of Asia, philanthropy is deeply ingrained in culture. Relationships often matter more than transactions, reputation and trust carry significant weight, and there is frequently closer alignment between philanthropic activity, business interests, and government priorities than is typically seen in Western markets.

At the same time, the region is experiencing rapid digital adoption, significant intergenerational wealth transfer, the emergence of new philanthropic actors, and increasing professionalisation across the sector.

It is not a matter of Asia Pacific “catching up.” In many respects, it is evolving differently, and in some areas, evolving faster.

That shift matters because it changes how the region should be understood globally. Asia Pacific is no longer simply a place to raise funds for. It is increasingly becoming a place to raise funds with. That distinction signals a growing level of participation, influence, leadership, and confidence in shaping the future direction of global philanthropy.

Cross-border fundraising requires far more than ambition. It requires structure, governance, compliance capability, long-term relationship building, and institutional investment. Platforms and partnerships are becoming essential enablers of international philanthropy, particularly for organisations seeking to operate efficiently across multiple jurisdictions.

Equally, there is no single philanthropic model that works consistently across the region. Approaches that succeed in one country or cultural context may not translate effectively into another. Organisations that approach Asia Pacific with overly simplified assumptions about “the market” risk misunderstanding the diversity, complexity, and maturity that already exists across the region.

Perhaps most importantly, capability building is no longer optional. Organisations that invest in leadership, systems, donor stewardship, partnerships, and organisational readiness will be significantly better positioned to navigate the next phase of philanthropy’s evolution across the Asia Pacific.

Those that do not may find that the opportunity exists, but the infrastructure required to realise it does not. 

Closing reflection

Philanthropy across the Asia Pacific is evolving quickly. The opportunity is significant, but so is the complexity. Success will depend less on where funding comes from and more on how effectively organisations build trust, capability, and long-term relationships across borders. 

In Part 2, I’ll explore one increasingly important mechanism supporting cross-border philanthropy in Asia: Hong Kong Section 88 structures and their growing role in enabling international giving.

References

• Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Global Philanthropy Environment Index 2025 
• Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society (CAPS), regional philanthropy insights and reports
• OECD, development and philanthropy reports
• Myriad USA cross-border giving insights

Note: This article is intended as general sector commentary and does not constitute legal, taxation, or financial advice. Organisations considering cross-border fundraising structures should seek appropriate professional advice relevant to their jurisdiction and circumstances.