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Give2Asia

Michael Rea, managing director of Give2Asia. Photos by Jennie Sue

Organization to increase philanthropy to Asia

By Ethen Lieser

Financial, social and community moguls in the Asian Pacific Islander American community gathered last week at Pier 33’s Lapis Restaurant in San Francisco to launch Give2Asia, a U.S. nonprofit organization providing everyone, from individuals to corporations, the necessary tools to fulfill their charitable goals in Asia.

“This is an organization founded by The Asia Foundation, which has been making grants in Asia for almost 50 years,” said Michael Rea, the managing director of Give2Asia. “We know what nonprofits are, we know best practices, we know what a good nonprofit is, and we know which ones are the not-so-good nonprofits.”

Through its partnership with The Asia Foundation, Give2Asia will be able to utilize the network of 15 offices in Asia.

“Having 15 offices in Asia is compelling for the donors because we have people on the ground in Asia,” said Tami Adachi, the associate director of marketing and communication of The Asia Foundation. “We can give people who are interested in giving back to Asia the expertise of the different kinds of programs.”

In addition, the donors can take advantage of Give2Asia’s professional services and perks. They include: professional grant-making, tax deductibility on grants, due diligence and accountability and access to educational and networking resources and special events, such as invitations to briefings and lectures by U.S. and Asian officials, dignitaries and scholars.

“We wanted to establish a service that would link donors interested in giving back to Asia,” said Bill Fuller, the president of The Asia Foundation. “We have made grants for many, many years in Asia and the Pacific. We manage money very well.

“So if you’re a donor and want to give to a charity of your choice in Asia, we’ll be very happy to manage that. But the whole effort is to increase philanthropy to Asia.”

Fuller called the changes in China “remarkable” in part to his organization’s works.

“The Asia Foundation has been supporting a number of Chinese reform efforts, including legal reform, local government reform, and have made some contributions to economic reform,” he said.

Rea said procedures have already been set to ease the minds of donors who might second guess international philanthropy. The due diligence and accountability measures ensure donors that their funds arrive at the charitable organizations they chose and are properly used.

“After we make a grant, we do a report,” Rea said. “And if anything is unusual, we can actually audit their books. All this is facilitated by offices in Asia.”

Joyce Hsu, retired biochemist-turned-playwright.

“We have been looking for an organization that is easier and more accountable,” she said. “They can check the people out before we put our money in, so this solves our problem.”

Reach Ethen Lieser at elieser@asianweek.com.