Philanthropic giving across nine major Asian jurisdictions is expected to reach approximately US$1.5 trillion over the next decade, highlighting the significant potential for charitable contributions to address the region’s socio-economic and environmental challenges. This projection was outlined by the Commission on Asian Philanthropy, an initiative launched two years ago during the Philanthropy for Better Cities forum organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
At the 2026 forum, held in Hong Kong and attended by around 2,000 delegates from philanthropy, government, business, sports, and academia, Martin Lao Cheung-kong, chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, emphasized the growing role of philanthropy alongside governments in tackling complex global issues such as demographic shifts, technological disruption, and climate change. Speaking at the event, Lao described the gathering as an opportunity for Hong Kong to reinforce its position as a global hub and a bridge between East and West.
The Commission on Asian Philanthropy incorporates 13 charitable organizations from 10 jurisdictions—including Hong Kong, mainland China, Singapore, Japan, and Saudi Arabia—that collectively represent 70 percent of Asia’s population and 80 percent of its gross domestic product. While the commission’s interim report excludes data from the United Arab Emirates due to unavailability, it noted that philanthropic giving amounted to US$109 billion across the other nine economies in 2024. The commission’s goal is to develop strategies to professionalize philanthropic efforts on a regional level, moving beyond traditional and transactional approaches.
In a recent report that referenced an independent study by KPMG Advisory, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust was credited with generating about HK$55.4 billion in economic value for Hong Kong during the 2024-25 financial year. Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu described the club’s “value creation model” as a significant complement to the city’s expanding role as a wealth management center for family offices.
Experts and sector leaders at the forum stressed that deploying philanthropic capital effectively requires more than just large sums of money. They called for a shift toward flexible giving models that embrace risk and innovation, in contrast to the historically risk-averse, short-term transactional approaches prevalent across the region. Research from the Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society supports this perspective, noting that flexible philanthropic risk capital can serve as a critical bridge supporting system-wide public solutions.
Hong Kong, with its established financial and philanthropic infrastructure, exemplifies this evolving landscape. For example, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust’s contributions accounted for roughly 1.8 percent of Hong Kong’s GDP in 2024-25, underscoring the impact of institutional philanthropy in the city’s broader giving ecosystem. When major institutions and family offices deploy resources with flexibility and conviction, they may act as catalysts for cross-border collaboration and structural innovation.
As wealth continues to grow across Asia, philanthropic leaders and policymakers are encouraged to adopt flexible, strategic approaches to maximize the catalytic impact of their capital. Such efforts will be essential to fostering resilient, equitable, and sustainable societies in the decades ahead.