Buffet’s leson in charity for China – Can Buffet and Gates persuade China’s rich to give back?

The third eye: Philanthropy in China

When Jeff Bass arrived in Beijing as a visiting scholar three years ago, he wanted to find a charity to get involved with. But he found the task exceedingly difficult, and not just because he was an American who barely spoke Chinese at that time.

During his first winter here, Bass, who specializes in Chinese culture and history, found a way to donate. He kept small bills and change and gave them to street beggars. “They had a beautiful smile and were always gracious for the change I put in their tin,” he said.

But Bass noticed he was the only one giving. Most people just walked past or ignored the street beggars as if they didn’t exist.

Many say they don’t give anything to anyone because there are just too many street beggars, including some who are fake.

But looking deeper, Bass said there are inherent problems within China’s charitable industry.

First, there is no tradition of philanthropy in Chinese culture.

Second, the country is engaged in an economic transition. People are on the quest for bigger and better materialistic things and ignore any search for deeper meaning in life.

“Wealthy Chinese know just the most primitive and practical way of achieving self-worth,” Bass said.

And third, China lacks a government support system for establishing charities. There are loopholes in some commercial and economic laws to support charities, but there are very few foundations or non-profit social organizations to independently operate their way.

Currently, if you want to operate charities in the country, you have to first find an organization that is approved by the government, then do the charities through them.

“In China, the concept is far from being realized,” Bass said.