China-Europe philanthropy leadership program held in Shanghai

An eight-day peer-learning program brought 20 philanthropy professionals from China and Europe to Shanghai on Sept 13, where they explored the city's communities and charitable practices before gathering for an evening exchange on the Huangpu River.

The 2026 Philanthropic Leadership Platform: China-Europe focuses on resilience and long-term commitment in philanthropy, bringing together philanthropy practitioners from China and Europe.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Jing Ying, president of the Shanghai NGO Network for International Exchanges, said philanthropy transcends national borders, and that challenges involving philanthropic governance, social innovation, and sustainable development require organizations from different countries to learn from one another.

Also addressing the opening ceremony, Lars Grotewold, CEO of Stiftung Mercator, which funds the program, said it aims to build constructive long-term China-Europe relations. He identified climate change and digitalization as areas where organizations from the two sides could exchange experience and develop solutions together.

On the opening day, participants joined a cultural walk. Moving between commercial streets, historic lanes, and public spaces, they observed how different architectural styles, communities, and ways of life coexist in Shanghai.

They also visited the Shanghai Charity Culture Exhibition Hall, where they learned that the Shanghai Charity Foundation began moving toward a grant-making model in 2008 by funding social welfare projects. The exhibition also introduced China's Charity Law and programs covering music activities for people with autism, assistance for people with disabilities and their children, older adults, and women, as well as skills training for laid-off workers and people with disabilities.

Hazel Hennessy, head of philanthropy impact at Philanthropy Ireland, said she found many similarities between philanthropy in Ireland and China, including a strong willingness in both societies to give back. She was particularly interested in how Shanghai was turning its broader culture of giving into more structured charitable participation.

Catherine Schulter, a program manager at the adidas Foundation who had previously studied in China, said the program offered philanthropy professionals from China and Europe a unique opportunity to learn from one another.

The visit helped Schulter recognize that many informal acts of giving she had encountered in China were part of a broader philanthropic culture. "Philanthropy in China is very ingrained in the culture," she said.

Schulter also described Shanghai as a "melting pot" with "big momentum and a lot of energy", saying its mix of cultures and perspectives made it well suited to China-Europe exchanges.

Cecilia Mimbela, a regional manager at Action Against Hunger Foundation in Spain, was particularly interested in the level of public participation. She said many foundations in Europe relied on public funding, while the Shanghai visit showed how individuals could contribute directly through donations and other forms of support.

Xu Feiyi contributed to this story.