Values, belief systems, moral codes, and faith doctrines shape much of philanthropy across the world, but these fundamental drivers often remain unspoken. As faith-aligned giving begins to adopt a bigger, more visible space in the global development ecosystem, there is an opportunity for knowledge exchange, partnership and strategic alignment within the social investment community, particularly in Asia. Asia is a region where the faith-aligned ecosystem has been active across generations and where vast resources, networks and deep-rooted values of stewardship and generosity have been central to social and environmental progress. By understanding how faith-aligned givers manage and deploy their philanthropic or social investment assets through a practice-led lens, AVPN seeks to facilitate better alignment of assets with needs, break down silos and accelerate impact across Asia.
Faith-aligned funders and investors, regardless of their religious affiliations, share a common objective, to contribute positively to society and aid those in need. This commitment is grounded in equitable development for people and the planet. When engaging in philanthropy, these individuals address urgent needs in the community while engaging in longer-term field-building endeavours. They are also aligning their strategies with global frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In recent years, there has been a formalisation of faith-aligned investing in this region, particularly within Islamic and Christian, including Catholic, traditions.
This brief aims to surface the existing practices around faith-aligned giving and investing and identify ways in which to bridge communities so that we achieve greater impact together. It serves as an introductory resource to highlight the various ways in which faith has influenced giving and social investment practices in Asia.
