Asia is undergoing a quiet philanthropic revolution. Backed by more than 1,000 billionaires and a growing number of major foundations, giving is accelerating across the region — from Singapore’s state-supported funders to China’s massive digital donation platforms. Yet for many international NGOs and social enterprises, this funding can be hard to reach.
A new Devex Pro Funding insight brief looks at how some of Asia’s biggest and most influential foundations operate — including Tata Trusts, Tencent Foundation, Nippon Foundation, Temasek Foundation, Tote Board, and Tara Climate Foundation. It offers fresh insights for fundraising and partnerships teams navigating this complex and fast-evolving landscape.
By 2026, Asian billionaires are expected to hold $4.7 trillion in wealth. Alongside that, philanthropic giving is growing in both volume and ambition. But much of it doesn’t follow the patterns seen in the U.S. or Europe.
About the author
Raquel Alcega
Raquel Alcega leads the data research and analysis at Devex, providing advice to organizations on the latest funding and programmatic trends that shape the global development space. She also heads up the news business content strategy and designs internal knowledge management processes. Prior to joining Devex’s Barcelona office, she worked in business development in Washington, D.C., and as a researcher in Russia and Mexico.
