On April 24th2013, the Symposium on the Wealth Management of Charity Foundations was held at the Crowne Plaza Beijing Sun Palace in Beijing. The symposium was co-organized by Center for International Business Ethics (CIBE) at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE), NGO Research Center at the Tsinghua University, Foundation Research Center of Central University of Finance and Economics, and Beijing Hengjiu Wealth Management Co.,Ltd. More than 160 executives and financial managers from about 90 different charity organizations attended the symposium, and UIBE’s President Prof. Shi Jianjun who gave a opening address.

President Shi stated that the symposium is the result of the rapid development of charity industry in China. By the end of 2012, the number of charity organizations totaled up to 2,961. Donations in 2011 were estimated to reach about 49.5billion RMB. At the end of 2010, charity foundations in China had more than 50billion RMB net assets. President Shi stressed that charity foundations had two responsibilities: one is to collect money in order to help those in need, acting as bridges to create harmony in society; the other is to manage the wealth they collected, which is a real global puzzle for charity foundations.

In the first year of Shi’s term at UIBE, he led to establish UIBE Education Foundation. Over three years, this foundation has received one hundred million RMB donations; this did support the research and logistic construction of UIBE. The symposium, therefore, focused on “how to manage the wealth of charity foundations, to maximize benefits, and minimize risks and provided a platform for experience sharing. “Although charity foundations are not perfect, we can see that they continue to play a important role in the development of society in China,” Shi said.

The morning activity, hosted by Professor Liu Baocheng who is the Director of CIBE, mostly consisted of keynote speeches given by various attendees regarding the regulation and management of charity foundations.

The Division Head of the Foundations Management Department of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Ms. Ma Xin, gave a speech on her view of regulation and supervision background of charity foundations. At the end of March 2013, a notice from the General Office of the State Council informed the Ministry of Civil Affairs to take effective of the Administration Regulation of Registration for the social organizations by the end of December 2013, which includes industry associations, charity organizations, etc.. Mr. Chen Guangbiao, Chairman of the Board at the Jiangsu Huangpu Recycling Co., shared his experience on charity practice, he believe that well regulated and transparency earn donations’ trustworthy. Likewise, Head of the NGO Research Center at the Tsinghua University, Professor Wang Ming stressed the need of assets manage of charity organizations from the point of view on charity and financial properties.

Professor Huang Zhen from the Foundation Research Center of Central University of Finance and Economics shared the history of wealth management in charity industry and future development. Mr. Peter Little, representative of Overseas Liaison Office at the Tsinghua University Education Foundation, showed how charity practice can change the world. Deputy Manager, Ms. Ma Haiyan from the Beijing Hengjiu Wealth Management Co. also shared her experience with assets management.

In the afternoon, attendees were divided into two panels to share their experiences on the wealth management of domestic and international charity foundations. Panel one took a macroscopic view, with topics focusing on operation and regulation environment, wealth management models of international charity foundation. Panelists included Professor Ye Wenlou, Secretary General of UIBE’s Education Foundation; Professor Jia Xijin, Vice Director of NGO Research Center at the Tsinghua University; Ms. Yao Qin, Director of China Charity Center of Bosch China; Mr. Peter Little, representative of Overseas Liaison Office at the Tsinghua University Education Foundation; Mr. Li Xiaosong, Assistant Research of CIBE. Panel two took a microscopic view, with topics such as forming the internal structure of charity foundations, the evaluation system and the effect of taxes, etc.. Panelists included Mr. He Zengqiang, Vice Chairman of China Financial Education Development Foundation; Mr. Zhang Houqi, Secretary General of Huaxiaren Foundation; Dr. Cao Can, Founder and CEO of American Shengya Capital Co.; Ms. Xiao Rong ,China Chief Representative of Given Asian Foundation. Panelists and Attendees interacted actively.

At the dinner forum, Chairman Chen Guangbiao, Mr. Peter Little, Director Wang Ming, Director Huang Zhen, and Director Liu Baocheng stressed the need to “Exert positive energy and invite more people to join in charity affairs.” Professor Liu Baocheng emphasized the dignity and happiness that result from doing charity and encouraged collegiate students to participate the Social Responsibility Alliance, to practice social responsibility.

After the day’s activities ended, attendees expressed their acknowledge on the platform the symposium provided, and hope the symposium could provide more information on the relationship between charities and wealth management, as well as the evaluation and incentive systems.