Redefining Value
Overview
Billions of dollars are given out every year in Hong Kong, but many NGOs and funders alike suffer incredible financial loss on both the back and front end of the application process. The systems we have to channel these funds are insufficient and are preventing organizations from reaching their potential impact.
Funders have a unique opportunity to transform how we invest in and support NGOs. By supporting more back-end resources, such as mentoring, impact assessment, capacity building and more, funders can leverage their grants to maximize NGO performance and uplift the sector as a whole.
In this session, we’ll hear from top funders on how they are promoting more effective philanthropy and a stronger impact ecosystem in Hong Kong.
Learnings
- COVID-19 has created a transformative moment for funders to help meet organizations’ needs. What challenges – new or old – do you believe the philanthropic sector is facing in Hong Kong and how have you helped to address these?
- How are you leveraging your grantmaking program to change the sector for the better? Please share some specific examples and stories that show why you took this approach.
- This type of philanthropy is still fairly new in Hong Kong. How did you get your team’s buy-in to adopt this new strategic direction? What common questions or criticisms have you had that you’ve needed to address?
- What is your vision for NGOs in Hong Kong and across the region? How are you as a funder helping to achieve this?
- In 1-2 sentences, what is your #1 piece of advice for other funders to help drive this type of effective philanthropy? Your advice for social impact organizations?
Post Event Actions
Look internally at your own programs:
- Look at the big picture for your impact; how your team can provide pro-bono support and skills training in addition to your philanthropic donation
- Be clear and simple with your application and reporting processes. How can you standardize your application to make it easier for NGOs to complete? What directions, tips, and examples can you provide to help NGO team members provide the information you need?
Seek out external advice and feedback, especially from your grantees:
- Ask the NGOs you support what operational challenges they have and evaluate how you might be able to help
- Talk with your peers about their grantmaking approach and try to share and compare data to inform your future grantmaking
Speakers
MODERATOR
Kait Sheridan
Founder & CEO
Runwell Global Consulting
Kait Sheridan
Founder & CEO
Runwell Global Consulting
Kait Sheridan is the founder and CEO of Runwell Global, a boutique social impact consulting agency, that specializes in helping organizations take big ideas and put them to action. She has over a decade of experience in program management, strategic planning, fundraising, marketing and content development, thought leadership and executive coaching, and digital campaigns, with a focus on developing global impact programs to scale.
Philo Alto
Founder
Asia Value Advisors
Philo Alto
Founder
Asia Value Advisors
Philo Alto (李家仁) is the founder of Asia Value Advisors (AVA), a purpose-driven philanthropic capital advisory firm based in Hong Kong. Through bespoke advisory services, convening, and research, AVA seeks to inform and inspire individuals and organisations to create sustainable impacts.
His work included advising The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust on program curation for its inaugural Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum in 2016 with 60 globally-renowned speakers and attracting over 1,300 delegates; convening an impact investing forum with the Rockefeller Foundation to grow impact investing in Asia; and, hosting a Foundation Philanthropy Roundtable to explore what’s next in creating sustainable value.
Philo has also co-authored two publications: Mind the Gap: Lessons and Findings from EngageHK and Adopting the London Principles: Policy Considerations to Grow Impact Investing in HK. His work has been cited in books such as Problem Solving: HBS Alumni Making a Difference in the World (2019) and The Power of Impact Investing.
Philo received his MBA and MPA from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School. He was an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and Citibank prior to founding AVA. Among his voluntary engagements include serving as a board chairman of the Harvard Club of Hong Kong Education Fund, an advisor to Sustainable Finance Initiative, Social Ventures Hong Kong and Shared Value Initiative Hong Kong, and an officer of the HBS Association of Hong Kong. He also serves as a global editor advisory board of Impact Entrepreneur magazine (US) and the Alliance magazine (UK).
Mariam Ashroff
Head of Sustainability Management, Asia
LGT Private Banking Asia Pacific
Mariam Ashroff
Head of Sustainability Management, Asia
LGT Private Banking Asia Pacific
Mariam Ashroff is a sustainability professional with 11 years of financial services experience. At LGT, she combines her financial services experience with her expertise in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues to embed sustainability concepts throughout the organization. Prior to this, Mariam was a consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she advised asset and wealth managers on ESG integration.
My Sustainability Goals for 2022:
My goals are to raise awareness on sustainable investing; beak down the complexity of the climate crisis and empower people with knowledge needed to act as a change agent; and continuously improve on my own sustainable lifestyle.
Speaking at:
Day 1
Getting It Right: Synergising Nature and Net-Zero StrategiesDay 2
Restoring the Climate One Meal at a Time
Liza Green
Head of Corporate Citizenship and Foundations APAC
Credit Suisse
Liza Green
Head of Corporate Citizenship and Foundations APAC
Credit Suisse
Liza is Head of Corporate Citizenship Asia Pacific at Credit Suisse and Executive Director of the Credit Suisse APAC Foundation, based in Hong Kong. She is responsible for overseeing regional grant-making and the management and impact assessment of the Credit Suisse philanthropy portfolio, working with local country management and foundations in multiple locations across Asia.
With thanks to
