[The following is issued on behalf of the Institute of Philanthropy]

Institute of Philanthropy and Beijing Normal University launch a three-year partnership to promote social betterment in the GBA

The Institute of Philanthropy (IoP) and the China Philanthropy Research Institute (CPRI) at Beijing Normal University are launching a three-year research initiative to better understand philanthropic innovations and identify opportunities for social service cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).  The research is supported by the Beijing Normal University Education Foundation (BNUEF) and will promote resource sharing, policy innovation and social governance capacity improvement in the region.

Funded by a RMB 9.1 million donation from IoP, this research will ultimately inform the integration of social resources to enhance the effectiveness of services across the GBA, including Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong Province. The study will include analysis of the current philanthropic landscape in the GBA, while combining joint research, multi‑stakeholder engagement and policy dialogue to explore effective mechanisms for cooperation in key areas such as elderly care, child development, health, emergency response and sustainable development.

The research team will conduct an in‑depth analysis of the GBA — one of China’s most economically dynamic regions — examining its diverse legal systems, funding channels and regulatory frameworks. Drawing on lessons from different philanthropic models, the initiative seeks to lay a solid foundation for high‑quality, coordinated development of philanthropy and policy innovation in the region.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to building knowledge and capacity for philanthropy in one of Asia’s most vibrant regions,” said Lester Huang, Chairman of the Institute of Philanthropy. “As the GBA continues to grow in strategic importance, it is essential to understand how collaborative philanthropy can contribute to shared social progress. This research will help unlock new models of cooperation and strengthen the region’s leading role in shaping the future of philanthropy.”

Professor Wang Zhenyao, Founding Dean of the China Philanthropy Research Institute (CPRI) and Professor Xu Xiaoxin, the current Dean, will jointly lead the research team, supported by a multidisciplinary group of scholars and practitioners. “The Greater Bay Area is a laboratory for collaborative actions,” said Professor Wang. “Through this cooperation, we hope to refine the effective mechanisms, partnerships and policy innovations that can help philanthropy play a more effective role in regional development.”

The collaboration builds on IoP’s broader strategy to commission action-oriented research with leading Chinese Mainland institutions to advance thought leadership in philanthropy.

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About the Institute of Philanthropy
The Institute of Philanthropy was established in September 2023 through a seed grant of HK$6.8 billion (US$870 million) from The Hong Kong Jockey Club and its Charities Trust. Established as an independent “think-fund-do” tank for China, Asia and beyond, IoP is dedicated to promoting philanthropic thought leadership and enhancing sector capabilities at local, regional and global levels in collaboration with fellow funders. It seeks to provide an Asia-based platform bringing global stakeholders together to promote the betterment of societies everywhere.

About the China Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University
Founded in 2010, the China Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University has made important contributions to the formulation, implementation evaluation and revision of the national Charity Law, created the urban and rural community children's director system under the guidance of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and popularized it nationwide, participated in the formulation of national grade standards for nursing home evaluation and created a model of unit community elderly care service consortium, and provided in-depth consultation on the combination of theory and practice in the fields of public welfare charity, social governance and social services such as children, the elderly, and the disabled. It is a professional think tank with extensive influence at home and abroad in the field of social policy.