CASS: Private enterprises drive Chinese philanthropy

China’s private enterprises were the country’s principal charitable donors in 2009, state media reported. Privately run firms donated around US$812 million last year, 41.35% of the national total, according to a report on philanthropy development released by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). In volume terms, 282 private firms each donated more than US$150,000, accounting for 62.9% of the total number of enterprises involved in charity. Altogether, Chinese organizations received US$4.9 billion in donations in 2009, up 3.5% on the previous year. However, donations to charity made by individuals amounted to less than those made by businesses. This balance was reversed for the first time in 2008 following the Sichuan earthquake. Fan Baojun, president of the China Charity Federation, said that local government civil affairs departments should use more services provided by charity programs under non-governmental organizations, which offer more transparent feedback.