Li Foundation Chairman Lionel and Director Candy attended the April edition of Temasek Foundation’s Let’s Lunch & Grow session, held in partnership with Wealth Management Institute‘s (WMI) Asia Centre for Changemakers. Titled Philanthropy in Greater China: Trends & Practice, the session gathered philanthropists, practitioners, and ecosystem partners for a timely exchange on how giving is evolving across Greater China, and how these approaches compare with Western philanthropic models.
The session featured Professor Tony Gao, Associate Dean of the Institute for Philanthropy Tsinghua University (IPTU), who is also a Visiting Professor at WMI. With deep experience spanning research, policy, and practice across family enterprise and philanthropy, Professor Gao shared grounded insights into the cultural and structural factors shaping philanthropy in the region. He also highlighted key considerations in philanthropic governance and decision-making in China, offering participants a practical lens on how trust and relationships influence giving.
As part of the event, Lionel was invited to share his experience collaborating with Chinese partners in projects such as the Early Childhood Development Collaborative and leadership development programs with the China Global Philanthropy Institute (CGPI) and Ginkgo Foundation. A key takeaway was the importance of cultural understanding when engaging with philanthropic partners in Greater China. Beyond systems and structures, values, relationships, and context play a central role in how philanthropy is shaped and sustained.
For Li Foundation, whose work in Greater China forms a significant proportion of our philanthropic portfolio, the session offered a valuable opportunity for reflection and exchange. It reinforced the importance of building understanding of the evolving philanthropic landscape in China and deepening collaboration across Asia’s giving 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.