Those who enjoy the fruits should remember the tree; those who drink the water should remember its source.
The year 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the Class of 1986’s enrolment at Renmin University of China (RUC), as well as the 10th anniversary of the founding of the China Institute for Philanthropy and Social Innovation (CIPSI) at RUC. On this occasion of special significance, distinguished Class of 1986 alumnus Mr. Lionel Li committed an additional donation of USD 1.2 million, designated to support academic research and talent development at CIPSI. This generous contribution follows Mr. Li’s USD 1.5 million donation in 2016, which supported the establishment of CIPSI. To date, Mr. Li has donated a cumulative total of USD 2.7 million to the Institute, making a significant and lasting contribution to the development of philanthropy and nonprofit studies at his alma mater.
CIPSI was officially established at RUC on 26 July 2016, evolving from the Nonprofit Organization Research Institute founded in April 2007. At the time of CIPSI’s establishment, Mr. Li made a dedicated donation of USD 1.5 million and successfully mobilized an additional USD 0.9 million in matching funds, laying a solid foundation for the Institute’s early development.
Since its inception, CIPSI has brought together RUC’s strong research capabilities and leading scholars from China and abroad. Focusing on key research areas such as philanthropic culture, cross-sector collaboration, and governance of the philanthropic sector, the Institute is committed to academic research, talent cultivation, practice-based consultancy, social advocacy, and policy engagement. It has since become a leading research and education hub, shaping philanthropic thought, advancing academic frontiers, and promoting social innovation, as well as being a think tank for the people.
Mr. Li’s latest USD 1.2 million donation is fully designated to support CIPSI’s flagship initiative, the China Third Sector Observation Report: 2026–2036 (hereafter referred to as the Observation Report).
Since its inception in 2011, the Observation Report has been published continuously and stands as CIPSI’s core academic endeavor. Grounded in a commitment to uncovering and nurturing the autonomy, vitality, and order of Chinese society, the Report upholds a China-rooted cultural perspective, integrates theory and practice, and adopts a bottom-up analytical lens to systematically examine trends in the development of China’s third sector.
Distinguished by its intellectual leadership, critical depth, and practical influence, the Observation Report contributes to the healthy evolution of state–society relations in China. It combines strong real-world relevance with rigorous academic insight, serving as an essential guide for understanding, tracking, and interpreting the landscape and trajectory of China’s third sector, while being an open platform for dialogue among practitioners, researchers, and government stakeholders in philanthropy, governance, and social innovation.
Mr. Li’s renewed donation is not only a strong affirmation of past collaboration but also a forward-looking commitment. It will provide sustained momentum for CIPSI as it enters a new phase—enabling deeper research on critical issues, richer academic inquiry, more compelling narratives of China’s philanthropic development, and expanded influence across both domestic and international scholarly communities.
The book showcases how the participants challenged their limits and conquered the World Marathon Challenge and North Pole Marathon to inspire people to challenge their own limits and pursue their dreams boldly.
The book tells the stories behind the event which saw the largest number of people in history running 1045km round Taiwan in 19 days.