The Philanthropy Asia Summit has become one of the most important gatherings for global philanthropists, business executives, government leaders, and development experts working to address major social and environmental challenges in Asia. Launched in 2021 by Temasek Trust, the summit takes place annually in Singapore and serves as a platform to accelerate cooperation and funding for initiatives focused on health, climate, education, and inclusive development.
Hosted by Temasek Trust, the summit aims to strengthen regional collaboration and push forward shared goals aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Temasek Trust is a philanthropic arm of Temasek Holdings, Singapore’s state-owned investment company. Through the summit, Temasek Trust promotes a blended finance model that brings together public, private, and philanthropic capital to fund long-term development efforts across the Asia-Pacific region.
The Philanthropy Asia Summit emphasizes cross-sector partnerships and regional solutions to global problems. Each year, hundreds of participants gather to exchange ideas and build networks that lead to real-world impact. Attendees typically include leaders from foundations such as the Gates Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, and Wellcome Trust, as well as high-level government officials, business innovators, and climate experts.
In May 2024, the summit was held over two days in Singapore, with a strong focus on practical initiatives in the areas of health equity, clean energy, and digital inclusion. One of the headline moments was the attendance of Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and founder of the Gates Foundation and Breakthrough Energy. Gates used the platform to announce the opening of a new Gates Foundation regional office in Singapore, the foundation’s twelfth globally and its first in Southeast Asia. He emphasized that the new office will allow the foundation to work more closely with local communities and share innovations more effectively across the region.
The 2024 summit also featured discussions around the Philanthropy Asia Alliance, a multi-stakeholder initiative created to fund and scale high-impact projects across Asia. The alliance brings together various donors and partners in a collective approach to giving, offering shared resources, co-designed solutions, and results-driven collaboration. This model encourages funders to support solutions that are tailored to local needs, while ensuring accountability and progress tracking.
Climate change, one of the core themes of the summit, received significant attention with support from organizations like Breakthrough Energy. Clean energy startups, policy thinkers, and government representatives discussed opportunities to support Asia’s transition to renewable energy. Another major focus was on health and nutrition. Panels and briefings explored ways to enhance regional cooperation in pandemic preparedness, maternal health, and childhood nutrition—an area also championed by the Gates Foundation.
Digital inclusion was another area of interest, especially in the context of increasing access to education and financial services in remote or underserved communities. Summit participants shared insights on how technology can be used to reduce inequality and promote economic opportunity.
The Philanthropy Asia Summit is not just about raising awareness. It is known for producing tangible results, such as launching pilot projects, securing funding commitments, and forming new partnerships. It has become a space for launching real initiatives that address some of the toughest issues facing Asia today.
Through its multi-stakeholder approach, the summit reflects the growing belief that complex problems require coordinated action. The presence of top philanthropists and policymakers indicates strong interest in collaborative models that can go beyond traditional charity to produce long-term, measurable change. As the Philanthropy Asia Summit continues to grow, it is expected to play a larger role in driving innovation, funding, and leadership to support the sustainable development of the Asian region.
