26/08/2026
๐๐ฎ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฃ๐ต๐ถ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ต๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ: ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต
As family philanthropy continues to evolve in Singapore and across Asia, philanthropic intermediaries are playing an increasingly important role in connecting private wealth with social needs, while helping donors navigate the increasingly complex landscape of giving.
On 14 August, Family Philanthropy Intermediaries in Singapore: Landscape and Future Prospects was launched at the Wealth Management Institute (WMI), bringing together philanthropists, practitioners, researchers, and social sector leaders to explore the development of Singapore's philanthropic intermediary ecosystem. The event was co-organised by the China Institute for Philanthropy and Social Innovation (CIPSI) at Renmin University of China, Asia Philanthropy Circle, and WMI's Asia Centre for Changemakers, with support from the Li Foundation.
Mapping Singapore's Philanthropic Infrastructure
The report is the result of a two-year study by CIPSI, supported by the Li Foundation. Through three rounds of fieldwork and interviews with 35 institutions and individuals, the research team examined Singapore's evolving family philanthropy intermediary ecosystem.
Through eight case studies, it offers a panoramic view of the sector, illustrating the different development paths, operating models, and services of philanthropic platforms. For individuals and families looking to engage in philanthropy in Singapore and the region, it provides a practical starting point for understanding the available pathways to giving and the different ways intermediaries can support their philanthropic journeys.
Interestingly, the research began with a broader question: how are Asian family offices and family foundations developing their own approaches to philanthropy, from the values that shape their giving, to how they make decisions and pursue social impact? However, through the fieldwork, the team found that Singapore's rapidly developing philanthropic advisory platforms offered a more useful and insightful lens to understand how wealth, professional services, and social needs are connected, leading to a change in the studyโs focus on this intermediary ecosystem.
From Practice to an Asian Model of Philanthropy
At the launch, Lionel Li, Founder and Chairman of the Li Foundation, reflected on the practical question that first inspired the research: as family offices and private wealth grow in Singapore, where should individuals and families begin if they want to turn their desire to give into meaningful social impact?
For Lionel, the answer requires a better understanding of the ecosystem itself โ the institutions, platforms, and pathways available to donors. This led to the idea of systematically mapping Singapore's family philanthropy landscape, which subsequently aligned with CIPSI's research direction in 2024.
Report author Prof. Wang Xiaoyun, Associate Director of CIPSI, shared that the research revealed a diverse yet complementary ecosystem shaped by organisations with different backgrounds, including philanthropist-initiated, government-initiated, Temasek-linked, private bank-initiated, and ground-up organisations. Drawing on various forms of economic, social, and symbolic capital, these platforms serve different donor types and have developed distinct approaches in terms of risk appetite, project selection, pathways to impact, and regional focus.
Prof. Wang also highlighted that Singapore's experience is notable not simply for adapting Western models of modern philanthropy, but for gradually developing a practice path with distinctly Asian characteristics. In particular, the collaborative relationship between government and civil society stands out: government policy, tax incentives, and institutional arrangements help mobilise private wealth towards philanthropy, while creating a relatively stable environment for charitable organisations and professional platforms to develop.
This experience, she noted, offers useful insights for China and other parts of Asia as they explore more mature philanthropic ecosystems.
From Mapping to Action
The report's findings also provided a foundation for two panel discussions on the practical challenges facing philanthropy today.
The first panel, Singapore's Social Sector: Emerging Needs and Opportunities, featured Paul Tan of Community Foundation of Singapore, Martin Tan of The Majurity Trust, and Edmund Twohill of ImpactSG. The discussion explored how Singapore's growing family office ecosystem can translate into deeper engagement with social issues, and how intermediaries can bridge the gap between financial capital and the needs of the social sector.
The second panel, Family Philanthropy and Intermediaries: Catalysing Impact in Asia, brought together Sue Toomey of Asia Community Foundation, Sana Kazi of AVPN, and Anthonia Hui of Clotho Family Office and Weavers of Change Foundation. Panellists examined the complexities of cross-border giving, highlighting the importance of due diligence, local knowledge, trusted networks, and shared infrastructure in helping donors navigate different markets. They also emphasised that philanthropic capital extends beyond financial resources to include expertise, relationships, and a willingness to learn.
Together, the research and discussions pointed to a common opportunity: strengthening the infrastructure and knowledge base that can help more private wealth move towards sustained social impact. As Asia enters a new cycle of intergenerational wealth transfer, the question is not only how wealth is preserved and passed on, but also how it can contribute to solving social challenges and creating long-term public value. In this context, family philanthropy has the potential to pass on more than wealth itself โ it can cultivate a sense of responsibility to society and create an impact that grows across generations.
The Li Foundation is grateful to CIPSI, Asia Philanthropy Circle, and WMI's Asia Centre for Changemakers for convening this timely exchange. We hope the research will contribute to greater knowledge-sharing between China, Singapore, and the wider Asian philanthropic community, and serve as a foundation for more professional, strategic, and sustainable philanthropy across the region.