New Report: Charity and Philanthropy in Russia, China, India and Brazil

Title: Charity and Philanthropy in Russia, China, India and Brazil

Author: Joan E. Spero, Senior Research Scholar Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs

Publishers: Foundation Center; Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS)

Publication Date: Mar 24, 2014

Format: Downloadable PDF, 27 pages

Abstract

This report, authored by Joan Spero and published in collaboration with WINGS builds greater awareness and understanding of the diversity and challenges of civil society in the so-called BRIC countries. In the absence of comprehensive data on philanthropy in these emerging market economies, the report identifies the cultural, economic, social, and political forces shaping giving in the BRIC countries and describes the growth and nature of their philanthropic activities. This report is an important first step in a broader conversation about the development of better systems for documenting and sharing the story of philanthropy in all its forms around the world. [by publisher]

Key Ideas

I find this report very interesting. First of all, it’s the first of a kind ( to my knowledge ) to discuss philanthropy of the four countries side by side. It outlines the context, current landscape and challenges of the philanthropy in BRIC countries in a crisp way.  I especially like how the author has drawn a line between charity and philanthropy in her discussion, which captures one of the major distinctions between developing countries and the developed countries.

There are four major forces that have shaped what the philanthropy of BRIC countries is today: traditional culture and religion have always encouraged giving, but they are often charity oriented; economic liberalization and the emergence of new business class have boosted the growth in philanthropy in the last two decades; growing inequality has heightened various social problems, and created both opportunity and challenge for philanthropic input; external influences, such as individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments in the U.S. and other developed market economies have promoted local philanthropy and civil society in these emerging countries.

Despite the diversity of geography, ethnicity, religion, and political-social systems, there are common characteristics and issues that emerge from a comparison of giving in these countries. This article from WINGS blog gave a good summary of these common themes.

I’ve picked some excerpts specifically related to Chinese philanthropy as follows:

• Confucianism includes concepts of altruism and treating others with humanity and, along with Buddhism and many other religions, has shaped the Chinese charitable tradition. In Hinduism and Buddhism, for example, the notion of almsgiving is associated with achieving salvation through self-effacement.8 Thus, charity in the newly wealthy countries and regions has most often been private, personal, informal, ad hoc, and family based and usually is not formalized, institutionalized, professional, or what Westerners would deem strategic.
• In China and India, as throughout Asia, the family plays a central role in culture and shapes charitable giving. According to one study of giving in Asia, the desire to instill family values, strengthen family ties, and promote knowledge and leadership in the family ranked with religion as a motivation for involvement in philanthropy.
• The Chinese Communist Party, which continues to dominate politics and the state, distrusts organized, autonomous nonprofit organizations. However, Chinese leaders have come to believe that they need support from the new private sector to address a variety of social needs. As a result, the government has begun to encourage private giving while watching carefully over and constraining its activities.
• In 2012, the Hurun Research Institute published its ninth Hurun Philanthropy List identifying one hundred Chinese donors who together contributed the equivalent of $1.6 billion between January 2011 and March 2012 to support charitable causes including healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and social welfare, as well as culture and sports. The vehicles for such contributions ranged from personal giving to foundations controlled by families or family-owned corporations.49 There has been only limited giving in more politically sensitive fields such as civil and human rights, environmental protection, or other advocacy causes.
• Some argue that in Communist China today there is no such thing as a civil society, since so many associations, including those calling themselves non-governmental organizations or NGOs, were created and/or are supported by the government. Nevertheless, in the last decade there has been a growth of unofficial grassroots NGOs and networks in China. These organizations have been formed, often spontaneously, to engage in issues that concern the public at large, including providing disaster relief and other emergency support to the needy and protecting the environment.Studies identify the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, which led to a mobilization of private support throughout China, as a “watershed” in the development of both giving and civil society in China.
• The legal system does not ensure transparency and disclosure of spending by and actions of NGOs and foundations, which undermines confidence in such entities.61 The China Foundation Center’s project on Foundation Transparency is one effort to overcome this lack of transparency and resulting lack of confidence in foundations and civil society organizations. Finally, China’s foreign exchange regulations and burdensome procedural requirements make it difficult for civil society organizations to receive foreign funding.