by Estrella D. Truong thi Kim Chuyen, Ivan Small & Diep Vuong
This paper aims to complement existing studies of diaspora philanthropy in Asia with new primary research on giving to Vietnam. The paper provides a broad overview of diaspora philanthropy and giving practices emerging among various segments of Vietnam’s 3.2 million global diaspora. However, given that the phenomenon of collective giving tends to become stronger over time as diaspora communities become successful in their countries of resettlement, focus is given to diaspora philanthropy coming from communities in the United States, where resettlement processes have been going on for over 30 years and where nearly half the Vietnamese diaspora resides. The paper examines a range of Vietnamese diaspora philanthropy projects and collaborative efforts.

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by Estrella D. Añonuevo and Augustus T. Añonuevo
This paper aims to: 1) discuss the current practices of Filipino diaspora philanthropy; 2) high- light some best practices in strategic giv- ing; 3) assess the current environment for diaspora giving, and 4) pinpoint challenges and offer recommendations to realize the development potential of Filipino diaspora philanthropy.

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by Zubair K. Bhatti
This study explores remittances, charitable giving, and – in particular – charitable giving that aims to foster sustainable development in pakistan.

• The first section provides an overview of the pakistani diaspora, including their migration and settlement patterns, their economic and social features, and the remittances returned to pakistan.
• The second section explores giving patterns of diaspora communities, and highlights the complex mosaic that influences these practices.
• The third section investigates the effectiveness of existing giving patterns and explores the pronounced trend towards more strategic philanthropy.
• The fourth section focuses on the legal and policy issues affecting overseas charitable contributions.
• The final section suggests opportunities for various players — NGOs, intermediary organizations, and government – to increase the volume and effectiveness of pakistani diaspora philanthropy.

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by Mark Sidel
This overview paper on diaspora philanthropy in the Asia Pacific region has four objectives, as defined by Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium. Based on the Terms of Reference provided by APPC, I seek to:

• Provide an overview of research on diaspora philanthropy over the past ten years, particularly research on diaspora philanthropy back to the Asia Pacific region, specifically in China, India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Pakistan.
• Identify innovative practices in social investment and social entrepreneurship through strategic philanthropy by migrants and discuss how these may have facilitated sustainable social change and development in the diasporas’ communities of origin.
• Analyze the enabling environment for diaspora philanthropy in the key countries of the region vis-à-vis its degree of conduciveness in allowing or encouraging the practice.
• Recommend collective follow up action to encourage effective diaspora giving and sustainable social development and change in migrants’ communities of origin.

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When APPC first held its conference on “Governance, Organizational Effectiveness and the Nonprofit Sector” in Manila on September 2003, we began an effort to set minimum financial accounting standards to guide Nonprofit organizations in the region. With this Accounting Guide, we mark the end of a process of consultation, dialogue and the exchange of ideas between and among the different societies who participated in it. We are proud to share the results of this process and the many learnings that it has brought to fore.

We started planning the 2003 APPC Conference with a decidedly philanthropic approach, and one that we had framed as a question: How do we improve nonprofit governance to ultimately bring in more philanthropic resources for nonprofit work in the region? How could NPOs be encouraged to look at strategic options in working together to respond to concerns of legitimacy, effectiveness, transparency and accountability within the sector? In the end, our goal was to build a more responsible NPO sector in the various societies, and in the region as a whole.

The post-conference project “Developing Financial Accounting Standards for NPOs in Asia” has shown us a concrete way forward in responding to these challenges. The project demonstrated how key actors in the seven participating societies (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Thailand. Hong Kong, SAR, China joined the first workshop-consultation, and contributed its knowledge of NPO accounting systems) worked together to sift through the accounting issues and practices in their respective societal contexts to determine how NPOs can best achieve the goals of accountability and transparency. At the end of the process, they were able to come up with this Accounting Guide, which participants recommended that APPC forward to the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), with a request to
begin a process of setting international standards for the NPO sector, a sector that has as yet not been seen as a sector by itself.

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