Philanthropy and microblogs

The free lunch program aims to provide nutrition to children who live in remote areas who would otherwise miss lunch because their school lacks a cafeteria. Luo Guojia/CFP Photo

 

By Li Zhixin

A public welfare project called Hongshan School Love Lunch Program is helping buy lunch for students in remote mountainous areas.

Last Thursday CCTV reported on a group of students in Hongshan Primary School in Qianxi County, Guizhou Province who were unable to eat lunch because it takes them two hours to get to school every day. There were reportedly about 120 students – two-thirds of the school – who never ate lunch.

Cha-gang.com promises to donate rice to remote areas according to its number of visitors and blog posts.

The charity Weijihua (Micro-plan) immediately launched an initiative on its blog called “Danshengwanwu Charity Shop: Hongshan School Love Lunch Program” to buy lunches for these students. “Spend 5 yuan for a meal, you can help more children have a warm lunch,” read its slogan.

An hour after the post, nearly 800 meals were purchased through loveegg.taobao.com. In a week, the site collected 25,000 meals.

The charity plans to keep everyone updated on the situation through its site.

Microblogs have become a platform for many charities recently. Cha-gang.com, a microblog founded last year, began a “Love Rice Project” on its site to donate rice to those in need.

For each new member it attracts and each new post that member writes, it will donate 10 grains of rice.

“We keep up-to-the-minute numbers of the amount of rice we’ve donated,” said Yang Ming, the website’s founder.

Onlne free lunch champaign for countryside children

The website has more than 14,000 registered members and has donated more than 500 kilograms of rice for poor children in Shanghai and in Jiangsu Province.

Liang Shuxin, a young man who works in new media marketing, is another person who has used the microblog to do good.

Last year, he wrote on his site, “I have received three used pencils from students at Fodingcun Primary School in Guangxi Province (his alma mater). I will trade them for something of greater value, and continue trading until I obtain something worth 150,000 yuan, which I will auction off for the benefit of the school.”

Less than a month later, Liang got what he needed, and Fodingcun got the funds it needed.

How to get involved in meal donations

1. Purchase lunch for students at Hongshan Primary School through loveegg.taobao.com.
2. Register at Cha-gang.com and write a blog post. The more you write, the more the website will donate.

Is China Ready for Online Donation Platforms?

(Beijing Today website’s blog section does not represent any view of Beijing Today or its reporter. Anyone interested about the story can find the original text from the link above the article. The Blogger column aims to introducing foreign media’s interesting stories and expat blogs in China to more Chinese readers, as 50 percent of Beijing Today readership remain young Chinese who have experience of living abroad, white colors or school students. Authors who does not want his or her story linked at Beijing Today’s website, please email to info@beijingtoday.com.cn to take down the stories.)

http://collectiveresponsibility.org/en/china-ready-online-donation-platforms

While reading the recent news that Shanghai based Social Venture Group (SVG) will be launching their most recent project, a website called China Charity Gift to facilitate donations to seven China based charities. It was a project that I know they have been working on for a while now and while taking a sneak peak at the Beta site, I thought that site was really well done, and had the potential to grow into a really nice platform for SVG (and its partners).

For a couple of days following that, I while thinking of the potential of the site, I found the question “Is China ready for online donations?” stayed with me.

It was not a question that was linked (directly or indirectly) to the site itself. It was wider than that. That, while China certainly has the people (it is the largest online market in the world), the resources (it is one of the few cash flush countries in the world), and the issues in need (pick an issue.. any issue), it is also a country whose history with a short history of what I like to call “engaged” philanthropy (see: The Genesis and Impact of Poor NGO Transparency in China for more on this).

This short history of “engaged” philanthropy, in the context of online donation platforms becomes important from three perspectives: donor, benefactor. and platform.

From the donor’s perspective, the issue I see what will donor expectations be when they arrive at the site, and what can sites do to most effectively meet those expectations. Keeping in mind the fact that “engage” philanthropy is still relatively new, and that the average donor was previously only able to channel their money through a handful of organizations (usually through an envelope) or a drop box, this platforms (and the others that are sure to follow) could present a new problem to the donor. The problem of too much choice.

It is an issue that I find on a regular basis now when speaking to individuals who are looking to donate time and money to a “cause”. They want to help, are often at a loss for where to start, and when asked “what is an issue you are passionate about”, a common reasons is the shrug of a shoulders… and that goes double for some of the wealthy who have dumped millions of RMB into some very public funds.

So, what was once a problem of having little or no choice at all, with less than ideal impact, is not a problem of having too much choice and an uncertainty of how to measure impact. It is a set of conditions that has created a new gap where donor expectations are growing in ways that are not necessarily in line with the realities of the market. That, in their search for firm ground, they are in some ways taking steps in the wrong direction and failing to understand the true purpose/ needs of the organization or issue they are looking to engage themselves in which, can at time, lead to a bad investment, investment experience, or both

So, the first hurdle I see for these sites (which I don’t think the SVG will have a problem with) will be to understand this gap, and build their infrastructure in such a way that the gap reduces in size to a what becomes baby step. Infrastructures that provide information on an issue, highlight the role of the partner, show a donor how far their money goes, and then (over time) releases project specific reports that close the loop for donors.

Second to that, there is the risk of these platforms to the benefactor, a risk position where there are two areas of exposure. The first, directly faces the donor and is related to the shifting expectations that donors will have from their online “engaged” experience, and more specifically that “engaged” donors are now expecting a lot more from those they are donating their money from: higher levels of transparency, reporting, impact, and scale.

New, and at times immature, expectations that place strings on the donations. As a recent survey by China Charity & Donation Information Center highlighted, when they found 90% of public was not satisfied with current levels of NGO transparency. That unlike before where a donor may not have necessarily cared about the benefactors follow through on the donation, or the impact of the donation itself, donors these days are more than happy to express their frustrations in various forms.

It is a risk that translates into more work for the NGOs who participate as (1) they will have to build a level of trust and credibility with site users and that will translate into (2) benefactors having to do more administrative work to open up to a level that meets the market needs. Two facets that are themselves manageable in the most mature markets, but in China where online discussions can quickly heat up, these two things can become a major handicap for an unprepared organization.

Finally, from the issue of the platform, where I see a couple of interesting gaps is how these the platforms themselves will grow, develop followings, develop stable sources of credible projects, and how they will serve to education and retain their donors. And with online donations having the potential to become the most valuable tool for NGOs looking to raise funds from China’s 200+ million online users, the major risk here is that the tool’s shine wears off and donors once again fail to engage at any sustainable level.

For me, it is quite clear that while this uncharted niche that real potential in China to develop into a trusted platform where donors and benefactors meet, it will be important to make sure that these platforms are able to provide the information, projects, and transparency that donors need to make decisions they are comfortable with.. and return to the next time they are looked to be an engaged citizen.

I wish the SVG team all the best in their launch next month, and I look forward to seeing how this platform (and others like it) will play apart of (or change) the philanthropy landscape in China.

Chinese Philanthropy Comes of Age

Mr. Yu, shown in Shanghai last month, was once so poor he operated a rickshaw to earn money. AFP Photo

HONG KONG—A real-estate and hotel tycoon’s billion-dollar giveaway is the latest sign that Chinese philanthropy has come of age.

Last month, Yu Pengnian said he is transferring his remaining fortune, estimated at $470 million in cash and property, to the charity he founded.

Mr. Yu’s gift brings to $1.2 billion the total of his donations to the Yu Pengnian Founation. Hurun Report, a group that ranks China’s wealthiest people, calls him the first philanthropist in mainland China to give away more than $1 billion. While Mr. Yu made his fortune in Hong Kong, he is now based in Shenzhen.

“I will not leave my fortune to my children,” Mr. Yu said in an interview. “If my children are more capable than me, it’s not necessary to leave a lot of money to them. If they are incompetent, a lot of money will only be harmful to them.”

Philanthropy in mainland China has been on a tear, rising in line with the country’s overall wealth, and the net worth of its richest individuals. According to Hurun, the top 50 most generous people in China donated 8.21 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) in 2009, more than double the 3.89 billion yuan the top 50 donated in 2008.

By comparison, American charitable donations fell 75% last year as a result of the financial crisis. The 50 most-generous donors in the U.S. gave $4.1 billion to charity in 2009, down from $15.5 billion the previous year, according to data compiled by the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

Outside the mainland, philanthropy among wealthy Chinese has had a longer track record. Li Ka-shing, the chairman of Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. and one of Asia’s wealthiest people, has already donated a sizable portion of his wealth to his charitable foundations and has pledged to leave them a third of his fortune.

For mainland China, the earthquake that hit Sichuan province two years ago was a catalyst for philanthropy. Donations from the public in 2008 hit an all-time high of 107 billion yuan, of which 77% was for the earthquake relief, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703612804575221880681800788.html

Talk microfinance, philanthropy over drinks

Wokai regularly holds similar events. Photos provided by Wokai.org

By Annie Wei

Some 50 people gathered at D-Lounge in Sanlitun, Tuesday to discuss microfinance, philanthropy, and corporate social responsibility over drinks. The event was hosted by Wokai, a US-based microfinance organization that provides small loans to impoverished Chinese citizens.

Some of the attendees wanted to join Wokai’s roster of volunteers; others were curious about theorganization that has attracted media attention both in China and the US. Many were inspired by Muhammad Yunus, a Bangladeshi economist, who established a bank that provided small loans to the poor on safe terms so they could help themselves. Yunus was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

At the gathering, Sara Jane Ho, Wokai’s Asia business development associate, compared the development of microfinance in China to thatin countries like India and Bangladesh. She also talked about how Wokai helps farmers in Inner Mongolia and Sichuan, and the challenges of running a foreign nongovernment organization in China.

Calvin Chin, founder of Qifang, an organization that provides student loans, was a guest speaker and fielded questions about the trust issue between students and loan givers. Chin said Qifang does background check and verifies personal information through the borrower’s school, and that the loans are given directly to the school to prevent misappropriation of funds.

Wokai was established in 2008 by two American women who studied in China and wanted to help the country’s 200 million citizens who live on less than 7 yuan a day. For more information about Wokai and Qifang, visit wokai.org and qifang.cn.

The business of philanthropy – Charity stores assist, lift up impoverished communities

By Wang Yu

Who says you need tons of money to become a philanthropist?

The key factors needed do not come with a price tag: the desire to help others, a good idea and the will to make your plan happen. This has been demonstrated by some people who run charity stores and charity events in local communities.

The community shops sell at a low price items such as brand-name clothes and bags donated by the owners’ friends, residents or complete strangers. Profits are then given to charity organizations that work with impoverished rural communities. In this way, the businesses serve s a bridge between charity organizations and people who want to share their resources.

At the charity events, the organizers do not simply pass around a box where you throw in a few bills: they display handicrafts made by women in poor rural areas to help the manufacturers expand their market.

A painting exhibition of Wang Hongfeng, a 36-year-old mentally disabled student at Beijing Huiling Community Services, was held at Saffron restaurant last September. The event turned out to be the most successful in the school's history. From left: Wang Hongfeng, Saffron's owner Li Yang, the event's co-organizer Xiangzi.

Brand Nü idea of charity work

One warm afternoon in September, people gathered at Saffron restaurant in the Wudaoying Hutong for the opening ceremony of an extraordinary painting exhibition. Hanging on the walls of the restaurant’s basement bar were 20 paintings made by Wang Hongfeng, a 36-year-old mentally disabled student at Beijing Huiling Community Services, an rganization for people with learning disabilities.

Wang sat in one corner of the room accented with candlelight, staring at the guests ?mostly friends of Saffron’s owner Li Yang and the co-organizer Xiangzi – but strgers to him.

“It was Huiling’s third exhibition of Wang’s works and was the most successful. Ten paintings were sold, which earned about 8,000 yuan,” Xiangzi said of the show that lasted a month. Sales were turned oto Wang and Huiling to be used in their future projects.

Back in Wudaoying Hutong, not far from Saffron, is Brand N? the first charity store in downtown Beijing owned by Xiangzi.

Born in the northeast, the 37-year-old shop owner moved to Canada in 1999 where he worked as a company executive, became a Canadian citizen and married a local. He returned to China with his family last year after his wife received a scholarship from a Beijing university. He found a job here as a TV fashion program producer.

“I felt so lucky to have found a good job, to have a happy family and tohave had the opportunity to live abroad for about 10 years. So as a Buddhist, I thought maybe it was time that I do something for others,” Xiangzi said.

However it was not until Xiangzi’s wife heard a speech in April given by Wu Qing, the head of Rural Women School, a Beijing-based NGO tht assists women in impoverished rural communities, that he decided to make a move.

“I was planning to open a charity store at that time and spoke to Wu about my desire for cooperation,” Xiangzi said.

Three months later, a second-hand clothing and handicraft store called Brand N?was born. Most of the clothes were donated by Xiangzi’s friends, while hand-made items such as traditional baby shoes, cushions and wallets were made b students at The Rural Women School.

The price of tops ranged from 10 to 80 yuan; jeans were sold for 50 yuan no matter the brand. Besides money for the store’s upkeep and 1,500 yuan, Xiangzi donates all the profits to the NGO.

Philanthropy or tax evasion?

Chinese billionaire to set up charity modeled after Gates Foundation

By Huang Daohen

What do you think of tycoons giving their wealth to charity? This is common in the West and is a subject of admiration; in China, however, many people still doubt the motives of individuals with an open hand.

Chen Fashu became the latest target of skepticism when the billionaire declared this week he was setting up an 8-billion-yuan charity fund. Some believe he is merely trying to win public favor to avoid tax fraud charges.

Chen Fashu came under the public spotlight after he hired Tang Jun, the former president of Microsoft China.

Chen Fashu, the president of New Huadu Industrial Group, plans to create a charity foundation with 90 percent of the shares he holds – worth some 8 billion yuan, the Beijing Youth Daily reported Monday.

Chen, 48, says he hopes to model the fund after the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a huge charity fund established by the founder of software giant Microsoft, the paper said.

New Huadu’s CEO Tang Jun said the fund will account for 45 percent of Chen’s personal assets and will become the country’s largest evcivil charity foundation.

Chen, who holds large stakes in listed companies like Tsingtao Brewery and Yunnan Baiyao, on top of New Huadu Industrial Group, was this month ranked number 25 on the Hurun list of China’s richst people, the newspaper report said.

However, the paper reported that Chen was under investigation for possible tax evasion, and said there were speculations his charity fund was a tactic to save himself from charges.

But in an interview with the Beijing News, Chen denied the accusations and said he was not the subject of any government probe.

“It’s taken two years to get approval from the Fujian provincial government to set up theund,” he said. “In the past 20 years, I benefited from China’s economic development opportunities and gained social recognition as well as accumulated some wealth. In the future, what I plan to do is repay the countryd society.”