On 21 May 2026, the Li Foundation welcomed leaders from Asia Community Foundation (ACF) and Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) for a conversation on cross-border philanthropy and pathways to strengthen giving across Asia and China. The visiting delegation included ACF CEO Sue Toomey, ACF Deputy Executive Director Charles Tan, and CIFF Global Director for Organisation and Ecosystem Development, Vimmi Malhotra.
The discussion offered an opportunity to introduce our ongoing work, particularly the early childhood development (ECD) collaborative in China, and the Inspiring Asia Micro Film Festival, Li Foundation’s flagship initiative to promote impact storytelling, collaborative philanthropy, and showcase Asia’s diverse cultures.
Founded in Singapore, ACF facilitates purposeful giving and cross-border philanthropy across Asia, bringing donors and social impact partners together to catalyse funding for some of the most pressing socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing Asia. Meanwhile, CIFF is one of the world’s leading philanthropic foundations focused on improving children’s lives, with major portfolios spanning climate change, health and nutrition, and promoting opportunities and choice for women and girls. Today, nearly half of CIFF’s funding supports climate initiatives, grounded in the belief that children deserve to inherit a cleaner and more sustainable world.
The conversation also explored evolving approaches in philanthropy. CIFF shared how its work has expanded from supporting programmes to strengthening organisations and broader local ecosystems, particularly in regions such as Africa and Asia. With growing interest in China’s ECD landscape and social sector, we discussed the opportunities and practical realities of enabling international funding flows into China, including the importance of trusted local partnerships, regranting mechanisms, and an understanding of regulatory requirements.
The visit reflected a shared commitment among Li Foundation and regional and global philanthropic actors to deepen collaboration, strengthen enabling infrastructure for giving, and explore new pathways for supporting children and communities across Asia.
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.