China Philanthropy News
May 3, 2006
Issue 002

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China Philanthropy News is produced by Grantmaker Without Borders (Gw/oB) as a service to grantmakers and donors interested in philanthropic engagement with China. For more information on Grantmakers Without Borders, visit www.gwob.net. To suggest a posting or to subscribe or unsubscribe to China Philanthropy News, send an email to jizhi@gwob.net.

CONTENTS

NEWS
1) Annual China Philanthropy List released
2) U.S.-China partnership on the environment has great potential
3) Chinese gay groups try to project their voices
4) Three deaths reveal disparity in price of life and trigger debate on Constitution

RESOURCES
5) Study: Growing into risk: emerging environment and security issues in China
6) Study: When in China: Encounters with Human Rights

AT GWOB
7) Gw/oB and the Clarence Foundation launch China Giving Circle Program in Chicago and San Francisco
8) Register now for "Just Giving", Gw/oB's annual conference on global social change grantmaking

CHINA GRANTMAKER PROFILE
9) Global Fund for Children

NEWS

1) Annual China Philanthropy List released
Hurun Report released its China Philanthropy List for 2005. The list is a ranking of 100 China's most generous individuals and corporate donors. In 2005, the largest individual donor was Mr. Yu Pengnian, President of Pengnian Industries, who donated US$250,000 to health and higher education. Former CCTV anchor and President of Sun Media Ms. Yang Lan ranked second. For the complete list and past rankings, go to http://www.hurun.net/listen34.aspx.

2) U.S.-China partnership on the environment has great potential
The U.S. has an increasing stake in China's environmental problems. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, on any given day almost 25 percent of the particulate matter in the smog above Los Angeles can be traced to China. Common concerns over global environmental issues have brought the two countries to a new partnership. Last year, the U.S. EPA and China's SEPA signed a memorandum of understanding, pledging to work together to develop strategies to reduce risks to human health and the environment caused by water pollution. As the Chinese government encourages local participation in addressing environmental problems, more than 2,000 environmental NGOs now form the backbone of China's environmental movement. Reported by Daniela Salaverry at Pacific Environment. For full-text article please go to http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/opinion/14356038.htm.

3) Chinese gay groups try to project their voices
Aibai Culture and Education Centre, a Beijing-based group serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, launched a Chinese language website (www.aibai.cn) at the end of March after access to a similar site, hosted on an overseas server, was blocked last year. The new Aibai site provides a mix of news, literature, legal and health information and some archives documenting the gay and lesbian movement in China. Relying primarily on volunteer service, Aibai is also supported by funding from the U.S. and U.K., which has enabled them to set up a gay youth center in Chengdu and Hangzhou. For detailed report, please go to http://www.chinadevelopmentbrief.com/node/536.

4) Three deaths reveal disparity in price of life and trigger debate on constitution
When He Qingzhi's teenage daughter Yuan died with her two schoolmates in the same traffic accident last year, her family received far less compensation from the accident than the other two families, because the He family is registered as migrant workers while the other two families are urban residents. Outraged by such disparity in the price of life, Mr. He and his lawyer are considering a lawsuit, saying that the decision was discriminatory and that the family was entitled to full compensation under the Chinese Constitution. Liberal reformers in China are using similar cases to advance the notion of constitutional law and. For full text article please go to http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20610FF3D5B0C778DDDAD0894DE404482 (free membership access required).

RESOURCES

5) Growing into risk: emerging environment and security issues in China
Published by International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), 2006 This paper discusses the security implications of China's economic growth and environmental challenges. It raises a number of important questions: How will China secure the resources it requires if it is to fulfill its ambition of becoming the world leading trading power? Can tensions be reduced between China and its neighbors through co-operation over shared resources and environmental concerns? And what, if anything, should the international community do to promote better environmental management in China? Full-text article available at http://www.eldis.org/cf/search/disp/DocDisplay.cfm?Doc=DOC12194&Resource=f1csr.

6) Study: When in China: Encounters with Human Rights
Published by Amnesty International, The Netherlands, 2006
This paper provides guidance for companies doing business in China on how they can best avoid human rights violations. It provides an overview of the Chinese economy as well as the most frequent human rights violations. It examines restrictions on the freedom of speech and information, torture as well as labor rights and conditions. Full-text article available at
http://www.eldis.org/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpcgi.exe?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/
exec/dbtwpcgi.exe&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.eldis.org%2Fsearch.htm&TN=
a1&SN=AUTO25378&SE=250&RN=18&MR=20&RF=s1&DF=f1&RL=0&DL=0&NP=3
&ID=&MF=countmsg.ini&MQ=&TI=0.

AT GW/OB

7) Gw/oB and the Clarence Foundation launch China Giving Circle Program in Chicago and San Francisco

In follow up to the one-day learning events held recently in Chicago, New York and San Francisco, Grantmakers Without Borders and The Clarence Foundation are partnering to catalyze new giving circles focused on philanthropic support to China, beginning in September 2006. A giving circle, which might best be described as the philanthropic equivalent of a book club, is a group of up to 15 donors who pool their time, talent and resources to learn and make international grants together.

The purpose of the giving circles is to build upon the momentum of the conferences organized by Gw/oB and to provide a path from learning and inspiration to active engagement and philanthropic support. The giving circle members will be part of a community of caring people who share an interest in the future of China and want to see that it develop in a sustainable way.

Participants will engage in an in-depth, hands-on process of learning, led by Gw/oB and Clarence staff and assisted by a range of expert guest speakers. Members will pool their funds together and consider a portfolio of grassroots organizations based in China that are addressing issues of the environment, HIV/AIDS, education, or other interests of the group. The giving circle will be a personally engaging process in which participants receive mutual support for their grant making while combining resources to make the greatest impact. For more information on how you can get involved, please contact Marc Manashil at (510) 384-7188 or marc@theclarencefoundation.org.

8) Register now for "Just Giving", Gw/oB's annual conference on global social change grantmaking

Globally minded foundations, individual donors and allies in philanthropy are warmly invited to attend Just Giving, Grantmakers Without Borders' Sixth Annual Conference on Global Social Change Philanthropy.

Conference participants will have more than 40 sessions to choose from, including:

• General sessions that tackle such challenging issues as global giving in light of the so-called "war on terrorism" and the meaning and practice of "social change philanthropy"
• Breakout workshops on good practices in evaluation, due diligence, program strategy and grantor/grantee relationships and on issues including women's rights and HIV/AIDS
• Special features like a trustee seminar, movie night, and learning journeys around the San Mateo area to explore local-to-global connections
• Ample time to network and build relationships with peers and allies in grantmaking.

China will be well represented at the conference. The program includes a session focused explicitly on grantmaking in China, while workshops on AIDS/HIV, US policy and other topics will be of relevance to China grantmakers. Institutional grantmakers both expert and novice will find abundant opportunities to build knowledge and improve practice. The conference will also offer special opportunities for individual donors with a significant commitment to philanthropy to learn about global giving. This three-day conference will be held at the San Mateo Marriott, conveniently located just eight miles from San Francisco International Airport and less than 30 minutes from downtown San Francisco. For more information or to register, visit www.gwob.net.

CHINA GRANTMAKER PROFILE

9) Global Fund for Children

What does GFC fund?

Founded in 1994, the Global Fund for Children (GFC) makes grants to support and strengthen small grassroots organizations that improve opportunities through education for children who would otherwise be left behind. Recognizing the tremendous need for basic education among the disadvantaged children and youth in China, GFC started to make grants to China since 2004 and currently supports two grassroots NGOs in Yunan and Qinghai provinces. Because of GFC's emphasis on community education, it funds organizations that share a commitment to enhancing the dignity of children and youth around the world.

How large is the grant?

Depending on the local needs, GFC's funding can be flexible. Grants may either go to general support of the organization's operation, or specific projects. The size of the grant ranges from $5,000 to $15,000 over a period of 3 to 6 years. GFC believes that the strength of an organization is critical to the services they deliver to communities. Thus, support to enhancing the capacity of an organization is as important as support to their programs.

What does GFC's future grantmaking to China look like?

In the future, GFC is planning to expand its funding to China to address the increasing needs of children in most deprived regions of China. Among its funding support, GFC also maintains a multicultural book venture, as well as offering value-added services such as knowledge exchange workshops, bringing grantees in the same region together, networking opportunities, and organizational development initiatives. All these serve to enhance the institutional capacity of grantee partners. These will gradually be extended to the different regions GFC works in, including China.

How does GFC choose a local partner to fund?

When choosing a partner to fund, GFC examines the local needs and assesses the capacity of the organization in implementing programs. It gives priority to regions and areas that have poor access to basic infrastructure and that have been left out by the reaches of the government. In the selection process, GFC normally liaises with other donors and maintains local contacts and networks to gather referrals and resources. GFC does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Field trips are also very important at all stages, including the screening stage, with GFC staff traveling to the target site to get a better sense of the local needs.

How much does GFC engage with the grantee?

Normally, GFC engages with the funded organization for a period of 3-6 years. The size of the grant may start with a small amount and increase over time as the partnership grows and mutual trust develops. GFC is not directly involved with the implementation of the program. It believes that the local partner knows the needs best and knows how to address these needs most effectively. Thus, GFC lets grantees take the lead on implementation, and only makes sure the priority matches the priority of GFC. There is consistent monitoring and evaluation of the programs, and it requires the grantee partners to submit two progress reports a year, together with the financial reports.

Does remote grantmaking pose a challenge?

Yes. Since GFC has limited staff in Washington DC that manage GFC's Asia portfolio, and no field offices in China, it recognizes the challenges of grantmaking in this context. It tries to bridge that gap by consistently making field trips, communicating extensively with other donors and local contacts to identify potential grantees, maintaining a close relationship with grantee partners, and building a strong network of resources. These are some of the ways that a responsible grantmaker can address the challenges of remote grantmaking.

How does GFC try to enhance the capacity of grassroots NGOs?

In many areas, there is an amazing amount of social capital and people demonstrate a high level of commitment and capacity. What they lack most is infrastructure and continuous support of their operation. Aside from providing direct funding, GFC also seeks ways to strengthen the development of local civil society, through the forum of knowledge exchange workshops. Both in India and Africa, GFC's knowledge exchange workshops brings together a number of small NGOs, introduce them to different knowledge and skills in organizational development and provide a forum to share experiences. Such efforts have been instrumental in nurturing a civil society network and in the future, GFC will look to extend these services to other regions, including China.

What are the most difficult challenges when making grants to China?

Every country has specific social context, and there will be similar challenges across the board. In China, the language barrier can sometimes be an issue. In other parts of Asia, where English is more widely used, this is more difficult to find among small to medium sized local NGOs in China, and knowing the local language is an asset to reaching these groups. The experience of GFC has shown that language is extremely important and its current staff speaks and reads Chinese. Second, China has many government funded NGOs (GONGOs), which are a unique arrangement. It sometimes may cause confusion to new grantmakers who may not be familiar with the national landscape, nor understand the difference between GONGOs and grassroots NGOs. Thus far, GFC's support in China has been to local NGOs, though it does not exclude cooperation with GONGOs, and encourages grantee partners to cooperate with local government institutions.

Any advice to first time grantmakers to China?

First, do the research and get to know the country. China is a transitional and dynamic place, and each region or city has its distinctive characters, cultures and needs. Grantmakers should familiarize themselves with the local culture and people before making decision on grants. Second, take field trips. Field trips are crucial to getting a better sense of how China is developing, and where their roles as a grantmaker can best be leveraged. It will help to dispel stereotypes and get a better sense of where support is needed, and how grantmakers can fill those gaps. Third, grantmakers should try to build up its local contacts or contacts in the donor's community and solicit their advice in choosing the right candidate to fund. Fourth, grants should start with small size and only grow bigger until you build up sufficient familiarity working with the partner and develop a trust in the partner.

Contact Information:
Global Fund for Children
Elsa Fan, Program Officer for Asia
1101 14th Street NW, Ste. 420
Washington, DC 20005
www.globalfundforchildren.org
fan@globalfundforchildren.org
(202) 331-9003

ABOUT GRANTMAKERS WITHOUT BORDERS

Grantmakers Without Borders is a philanthropic network dedicated to increasing funding for international social justice and environmental sustainability. Our members, presently numbering more than 400 individuals, include trustees and staff of private and public foundations, individual donors, and other allies in philanthropy. Grantmakers Without Borders taps into this wealth of resources to encourage globally minded grantmaking and provide learning opportunities for global donors. For those new to the field, we provide peer-to-peer guidance on international grantmaking. For current international funders, we offer a space for continued learning and community. In all our efforts, Grantmakers Without Borders is committed to the ideals of justice, equity, peace, democracy, and respect for the environment. We value and respect the wisdom and experience of local communities in all their diversity, and we are dedicated to amplifying the voice of the global South in international philanthropy. Founded in 2000, Grantmakers Without Borders is a project of the Tides Center.

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