Collaboration is a powerful catalyst for impact, especially in Asia, where diversity and complexity shape both challenges and opportunities.
On 17 and 18 November 2025, Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA) and the Sustainable Social Value (SSV) Collaborative welcomed 22 representatives from leading corporates and corporate philanthropies from China to Singapore. Over two days, delegates shared perspectives, built relationships, and explored how corporate giving and collaborative philanthropy can tackle Asia’s biggest social and environmental challenges.
This visit marks an important milestone in the partnership between PAA and the SSV Collaborative. In September, PAA signed an MOU with Tencent Sustainable Social Value (SSV) and Yili Group at the inaugural Corporate for Good Summit in Shenzhen. The agreement formalised a shared commitment to strengthen collaborative philanthropy in China and across Asia.
Under the MOU, PAA became a strategic partner of the SSV Collaborative, co-chaired by Tencent, Yili, and Lenovo. The Collaborative now brings together 45 companies and social organisations to exchange knowledge, co-develop initiatives, and build a more resilient corporate philanthropy ecosystem.
Learning through shared experiences
The Singapore programme brought this partnership to life. Delegates engaged with the Temasek Trust ecosystem, learning how impact-driven capital, philanthropy, and innovation connect in practice. Sessions with Temasek Foundation, the Centre for Impact Investing and Practices, and ABC Impact highlighted how grants, catalytic capital, and strategic investment unlock change in climate resilience, global and public health, and inclusive development.
Day 1 featured two anchor sessions at the newly expanded Temasek Shophouse. A panel (pictured above) hosted by PAA, together with AVPN and The Majurity Trust, explored collaborative philanthropy models across Asia. Speakers — Ms Patsian Low, Deputy CEO, AVPN, and Ms Jen Goh, Head of Advancement (Strategic Giving), The Majurity Trust — emphasised shared ambition, transparent governance, and intentional design. They highlighted that successful collaboration requires clarity, trust, and a willingness to learn from both successes and challenges.
The day continued with a closed-door roundtable with PAA members, including DBS Foundation, SHEIN, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Macquarie Group Foundation, and TPC. The discussion covered best practices in corporate philanthropy, emerging challenges, and the growing trend for companies to embed impact into business strategy. Participants highlighted the influence of regulation, local needs, and stakeholder expectations, especially when operating across different markets like China and Southeast Asia.
Day 2 brought more opportunities to explore Singapore’s philanthropy and sustainable finance landscape. Sessions with Tote Board, Convergence Blended Finance, and Temasek Holdings’ Community Stewardship and Impact Investing teams showcased approaches to social investment and innovation. Delegates recognised that strategic philanthropy is now integral to long-term business and social outcomes.
“Cross-border collaboration unlocks ideas and innovation that no single organisation can achieve alone. Through this exchange and future initiatives by PAA and the SSV Collaborative, we aim to learn, co-create, and strengthen corporate philanthropy in China and across Asia.”
— Xiao Liming, Vice President, Tencent SSV (pictured below, right)
Looking ahead
The visit ended with discussions on how PAA and the SSV Collaborative will continue to strengthen corporate philanthropy in China and the region. As companies increasingly recognise their role in addressing complex challenges, the potential for collaboration has never been greater.
Reflecting on the learning journey, participant Ms Wang Yuechun, Deputy Director, China Philanthropist Magazine and Dean, Impact Philanthropy Academy, shared: “During the Singapore visit, the word we heard most often was impact. It appeared in every organisation’s sharing, and almost all speakers spoke about having their own impact frameworks, reflecting a high degree of alignment in thinking. This shared foundation is what enables alliance platforms such as PAA and AVPN to exist and to support cross-sector and cross-issue collaboration.”
“Here, impact is both the goal and the outcome — the profound change created through philanthropic action, and what we often describe as social value. It is this focus on outcomes that drives organisational strategy, from issue selection and needs identification to project design, piloting solutions, impact evaluation, and the mobilisation of additional capital for scale or policy advocacy, forming a complete chain of action,” she added.
This first learning journey has laid a strong foundation. PAA is grateful to the SSV Collaborative, Tencent SSV, and all partners, speakers, and members who contributed their time and expertise.
Asia’s challenges are shared — and so must be the solutions. With collaboration at the centre, PAA looks forward to advancing philanthropy that is bold, collective, and focused on impact. This is just the beginning of a long-term partnership to strengthen corporate philanthropy across China and beyond
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