The Institute of Philanthropy (IoP) has announced the launch of the Leadership Excellence in Asian Philanthropy (LEAP) Fellowship, a pioneering fellowship programme designed to address one of the region’s most pressing needs: developing the next generation of visionary leaders for Asia’s rapidly evolving philanthropic sector, with a curriculum and design tailored specifically to the cultural, economic, and social realities of the region.
As Asia emerges as a global hub of wealth creation and social investment, philanthropic resources are also growing. Yet analysis by The Bridgespan Group shows that while Asia’s philanthropic organisations now steward tens of billions of dollars a significant gap remains between these resources and the expertise required to utilise them effectively.
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Brian San, Secretary-General, Institute of Philanthropy, delivers a speech on stage.
Professor Richard Wong, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong, delivers a speech on stage.
Brian San, Secretary-General, Institute of Philanthropy (right) and Professor Richard Wong, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong (left).
Brian San, Secretary-General, Institute of Philanthropy (left) and Guojun HE, Director of HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute (right).
Brian San, Secretary-General, Institute of Philanthropy, delivers a speech on stage.
The study identified Asia-specific needs for upskilling in areas such as impact measurement, adaptive leadership and cross-sector collaboration. Funders across the region consistently seek programmes rooted in Asian realities, with local case studies, culturally relevant frameworks and content that can be applied directly in their operating environments.
The Leadership Excellence in Asian Philanthropy (LEAP) Fellowship was created to bridge this gap through a structured, practitioner-led curriculum focused on strategy, impact and policy.The aim is to cultivate leaders who can build adaptive strategies, design interventions with embedded metrics, and form effective platforms that transform communities across Asia.
Professor Richard Wong, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong, delivers a speech on stage.
“Asia’s philanthropic sector stands at a pivotal moment, with the opportunity to maximise impact and accelerate change through visionary leadership and regionally grounded collaboration. The LEAP Fellowship was created to meet this need — equipping leaders with the skills, networks and tools to drive systemic change and shape the future of philanthropy in Asia,” said Lester Huang, Chairman of the IoP.
LEAP combines academic excellence with practice-based learning and peer collaboration by faculty members from The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Brian San, Secretary-General, Institute of Philanthropy (right) and Professor Richard Wong, Provost and Deputy Vice Chancellor, The University of Hong Kong (left).
“As Asia’s leading university, HKU is proud to have helped develop the LEAP Fellowship,” said Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Hong Kong. “The programme is built around experiential learning that draws from real philanthropic challenges in the region. By combining these insights with Asia’s unique cultural and social context, LEAP equips senior professionals with the confidence and practical tools to lead with impact. This is how we will nurture leaders who can translate vision into action and strengthen
philanthropy across Asia.”
Iqbal Dhaliwal, Global Executive Director of J-PAL and Scientific Director of J-PAL South Asia, commented: “If philanthropy is to rise to the scale of today’s social challenges, it is critical that we empower emerging leaders, those already managing programmes, budgets and teams, with the tools to effectively leverage evidence in their decision-making. Through LEAP, J-PAL brings practical frameworks and Asia-focused case studies that equip these leaders to measure and amplify their impact using rigorous data. This is how we will build the resilience and innovation capacity the sector will need in the next decade.”
Brian San, Secretary-General, Institute of Philanthropy (left) and Guojun HE, Director of HKU Jockey Club Enterprise Sustainability Global Research Institute (right).
"Philanthropy in Asia is growing rapidly in scale and importance. LSE is delighted to bring world-class faculty and a trusted peer network together with the region’s emerging leaders through the LEAP Fellowship. The most transformative philanthropy emerges at the intersection of rigorous thinking and practical expertise. With LEAP we will strengthen leadership capacity, foster collaboration and inspire innovation. We are excited to help catalyse a professional community that can drive systemic change and shape Asian philanthropy for the better for decades to come,” added Professor Larry Kramer, President and Vice Chancellor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.
The programme was formally introduced at a launch event streamed globally and attended by leading Asia-based foundations and charities as well as members of the international social impact community. Panellists from philanthropic organisations, including The Rockefeller Foundation and the Kasikornthai Foundation, underscored the importance of investing in the next generation of philanthropic leadership. Faculty members who designed the curriculum also highlighted how LEAP’s pedagogy translates theory into practice.
LEAP is the only fellowship in Asia to unite three world-renowned institutions and with a curriculum rooted in regional realities. Fellows will tackle their own “LEAP Challenge” — a pressing issue in their organisation — applying theory to practice with guidance from faculty and peers.
