By Dana R.H. Doan, Ph.D., appointed Director of the Global Philanthropy Indices at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy –
Last week, the 2025 Global Philanthropy Environment Index (GPEI) was released – a compilation of 95 country reports, 15 regional reports, and a global report examining the ease of operating a philanthropy organization, tax incentives for philanthropy, cross-border philanthropic flows, and political, economic, and the socio-cultural environment between 2021 and 2023. This index is produced thanks to a collective effort by 173 philanthropy experts from around the world. As the regional reviewer for South and Southeast Asia, I had the privilege to review and synthesize country reports by philanthropy experts from India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.