P.N.C. Menon

Giving Back: How Asia's Philanthropists Are Making an Impact

Heng Wing Chan, Andrew L. Cohen, Debra Black, Binod Chaudhary, P.N.C. Menon, Kris Wiluan, John Wood

The Milken Institute Center for Strategic Philanthropy hosted a panel featuring leaders from Room to Read, the Melanoma Research Foundation, and Indofood to advocate shifting philanthropy from simple checkbook donations to strategic, data-driven models focused on measurable social ROI. Moderator Jerome Cohen and panelists emphasized that addressing global challenges, such as Africa's impending infrastructure needs and widespread illiteracy, requires consolidating fragmented NGOs and leveraging private sector resources. The discussion concluded with a consensus that future impact depends on cross-sector collaboration, rigorous performance metrics, and a generational shift toward sustainable wealth distribution rather than accumulation.