Rockefeller Foundation and The Bridgespan Group Collaborate to Catalyze High-Impact Philanthropy across Asia

New USD $100,000 grant supports the Bridgespan-led Funders Council’s efforts to help scale philanthropic resources to tackle development challenges and spur economic opportunity

BANGKOK, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Rockefeller Foundation announced a new grant with The Bridgespan Group to help strengthen Asia’s philanthropic sector. The two-year, US$100,000 grant will produce research and analysis of the region’s philanthropic landscape, clarify its challenges, and identify innovations needed to catalyze high-impact giving. In support of Bridgespan’s Funders’ Council, which builds partnerships, develops research, and amplifies philanthropic impact, the overarching aim is to deliver results for communities in Asia and the world by helping unlock the region’s untapped philanthropic potential.

“Philanthropy in Asia is at a defining moment, and with strategic, thoughtful giving, we can meet this moment and lift up the most underserved communities,” said Deepali Khanna, Head of Asia at The Rockefeller Foundation. “Through this grant, we will deepen our cooperation with Asian philanthropy leaders to deliver results for vulnerable people in the region. This support aligns with The Rockefeller Foundation’s commitment to mobilizing giving and empowering local leaders to advance the well-being of humanity.”

Asia is home to more than 233 million people who live on less than US$1.90 a day, according to the United Nations, while more than 370 million people are undernourished and 2.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Asian Development Bank, respectively. At the same time, the region is also home to more billionaires than any other part of the world, proving immense potential to dramatically increase philanthropic giving. If giving rates across Asian countries matched those in the United States, for example, research suggests that up to US$702 billion could be mobilized annually to address pressing regional and global challenges.

“Asia’s philanthropy is at an inflection point with a strong potential for greater impact,” said Pritha Venkatachalam, Partner and Co-Head, Asia and Africa at The Bridgespan Group. “This initiative aims to inspire domestic and regional funders to address urgent regional concerns with greater focus, collective purpose, bold action, and high impact. We are grateful for support of The Rockefeller Foundation and other funders for this important work.”

With Bridgespan’s Funders Council, a group of global, South Asian, and Southeast Asian philanthropic organizations, The Rockefeller Foundation’s support aims to strengthen the region’s philanthropic leadership, spur greater investment to solve a range of critical development issues, and promote prosperity, while protecting the planet in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Bridgespan’s Funders’ Council, which has already published two reports as part of the “High-Impact Philanthropy” series, will deliver two additional reports spotlighting best practices and identifying talent gaps and ecosystem needs, while offering actionable strategies to inspire more effective giving. The reports, which will be published under Creative Commons, an open-source license, will be showcased during key regional and global convenings to help scale philanthropic resources that will tackle a range of challenges and spur economic opportunity and hope across Asia.

About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.