Giving Compass' Take:

• The Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2018 will take place in China and have various thought leaders in global philanthropy there to discuss five thematic topics.

• How will this forum help strengthen global partnerships in philanthropy? How much focus will go into accomplishing the SDGs with philanthropic dollars? 

• Read more about Asia's philanthropic potential. 

Global urbanisation is creating new opportunities for cities —and serious challenges as well. Seeking winning solutions to help build better cities, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust is convening the Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum 2018. The Forum will provide a public platform to address pressing metropolitan social issues. It is about a wide range of issues in relation to philanthropy, including the ways to make philanthropy as effective and productive as possible.

Five thematic topics will be discussed at the Forum, namely: Leveraging the Market, Sustainable Development, Maximising Impact, Youth and Creativity, plus Health and Well-being.

The plenary session China's philanthropy: Will a new paradigm for philanthropy emerge? brings together a panel of speakers who are close to the unprecedented growth of philanthropy in China in recent years. Professor Wang Ming is not only the Dean of the Institute for Philanthropy in Beijing’s Tsinghui University but also the University’s Director of NGO Research Centre. The scholar will speak from his experience as a research professional, as well as Chief Editor of the publication China Nonprofit Review.

In the presence of Michael Berkowitz, President of the 100 Resilient Cities; Rip Rapson, President and CEO of The Kresge Foundation; Elizabeth Knup, Country Director of the Ford Foundation, stationing in China, and facilitator Professor Stephen Cheung, President and Chair Professor of Public Policy of The Education University of Hong Kong, the plenary session Risk Taking in Philanthropy: Should philanthropists be taking bigger risks? beckons a fascinating dialogue.

Urbanisation and globalisation contribute to the creation of new social issues which, in turn, require cohesive cross-stakeholder solutions. Yet, looking at the evidence, many in the know would argue that strong collaborative partnerships between the government, business and civil society sectors leave much to be desired.

Read the full article about philanthropy forum from South China Morning Post