Chairman of Li Foundation, Lionel, had the pleasure of attending a session hosted by Asia Philanthropy Circle (APC) and Asia Community Foundation (ACF), featuring Andreas R. Kirchschlaeger, Founding Partner and CEO of the elea Foundation for Ethics in Globalisation.
Drawing on nearly two decades of experience at elea—during which the foundation has supported more than 55 social entrepreneurs worldwide—Andreas shared how the organisation approaches impact investing as a long-term, hands-on partnership. Rather than acting as distant funders, the elea team works alongside entrepreneurs as thought partners, helping them build “impact engines” that enable their solutions to grow and endure. At the heart of this approach is a belief that sustainable change is achieved not through short-term aid, but by empowering local leaders to create solutions from the ground up.
The conversation also offered a glimpse into the emerging Philanthropic Investing Collective, a three-year learning community of donors and collaborators who are exploring what a values-driven, strategic approach to impact investing could look like in Southeast Asia. The session surfaced shared questions around how capital, entrepreneurship, and ethical decision-making can come together to unlock solutions shaped by and for local communities.
Li Foundation looks forward to working with APC and ACF in shaping this Collective and contributing to strengthening Southeast Asia’s social entrepreneurship ecosystem through strategic, hands-on philanthropic investing.
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.