Hong Kong has taken a major step to strengthen philanthropic engagement among its affluent community, unveiling the Impact Link Online Portal today. Developed by the Hong Kong Academy for Wealth Legacy (HKAWL), the portal provides a centralised platform for wealthy families and family offices to discover, connect and collaborate with impactful charitable projects.
As reported by the South China Morning Post, the initiative aims to professionalise philanthropy and embed measurable social outcomes into the philanthropic efforts of the next generation of donors. Launched by Adrian Cheng Chi‑kong, chair of the HKAWL and former chief executive of New World Development, the portal is intended to satisfy growing demand from family office principals, asset owners and inheritors seeking guidance for purposeful giving.
“From our engagements with family office principals, asset owners and inheritors, we’ve observed a strong demand for guidance on setting up family foundations, identifying impactful projects, scaling philanthropic efforts through collaboration and measuring philanthropic outcomes,” said Cheng. “Families are also eager to learn from others’ experiences about effective practices in philanthropy.”
The Impact Link Online Portal fills a critical gap in Hong Kong’s philanthropic infrastructure. Wealthy families will have access to:
A comprehensive repository of vetted philanthropic projects
Insights and best practices from peer families and sector leaders
Networking opportunities to facilitate co-investment and knowledge-sharing
By moving beyond traditional ad hoc or anecdotal approaches, the portal allows families to adopt data-driven strategies and transparent frameworks, ensuring their philanthropy achieves clear and measurable outcomes.
At 45, Adrian Cheng is a key figure in Asia’s family office and wealth ecosystem. A scion of the Cheng family whose holdings include New World Development and Chow Tai Fook Jewellery he stepped down as CEO of NWD in September 2024 to focus on philanthropic and wealth legacy undertakings.
Since taking the reins of the HKAWL in November 2023, Cheng has leveraged his experience in business, art and culture to reimagine wealth stewardship in Hong Kong. The new portal aligns with broader policy efforts to bolster the city’s stature as a premier family office hub in Asia, alongside initiatives to attract wealth management talent and drive deepening of financial services.
Within the Mainland and Hong Kong Greater Bay Area, where family offices are increasingly prevalent, this digital initiative positions Hong Kong at the forefront of philanthropic innovation. Democratising strategic giving: The portal offers clarity and structure for families new to philanthropy.
Promoting intergenerational engagement: Tools for legacy planning help ensure family values endure across generations. Enhancing transparency: Families can track, analyse and report on the social impact of their investments.
Cultivating a philanthropic ecosystem: Shared best practices can support the development of reusable impact frameworks.
Enhanced integration with social enterprises, NGOs and public-sector bodies is expected. Launch plans for workshops, peer-to-peer learning groups and impact gatherings are reportedly underway. Over time, HKAWL intends to expand its database to include global opportunities and connect with international family office networks.
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