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.
A Regional Lens on Change
As this was my second time serving as a regional reviewer for South and Southeast Asia, I had an opportunity to witness how things have changed. While the 2022 GPEI covered the period immediately before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2025 GPEI focused on the post-pandemic recovery period. What I appreciated most about the regional reviewer role is being able to gather with the country experts, after they’ve written their respective reports, for a conversation about what has changed in the region. The gathering offered a chance to not only share but discuss what is happening in neighboring countries. We were inspired by the Singapore government’s efforts to incentivize giving, both at home and overseas, and interested in how the Indonesian government applies different policies to religious and non-religious philanthropy organizations. We also shared concerns about the decline in the philanthropy environments in Myanmar, Nepal and Vietnam. On average, the South & Southeast Asia region scored 3.3, on a five-point scale.
Six factors influencing the philanthropic landscape
Vietnam’s Philanthropy Score in Context
As someone based in Vietnam for over a decade, working with philanthropy organizations across Southeast Asia, I took particularly interest in the Vietnam country report. The overall score for Vietnam was 2.5. Although not as low as Myanmar, the philanthropy environment in Vietnam fell behind the vast majority of countries and economies participating in the 2025 GPEI. This decline was attributed, in large part, to rising administrative burdens, restrictions on giving, and broad discretion by government authorities which made it more difficult for philanthropy organizations in Vietnam to register, renew, report, and raise funds.
Insights and Innovations Across the Region
The 2025 GPEI was designed to equip policymakers, philanthropists, and academics with the insights needed to strengthen philanthropy ecosystems around the world. The detailed reports and analyses by country experts from Southeast Asia reveal interesting trends and innovations in philanthropy. They also suggest ways philanthropy leaders could better harness the public’s strong predisposition towards contributing to the common good. In the South and Southeast Asia region, country experts shared in the belief that cross-sector collaborations, streamlining administrative procedures, and greater transparency in decision-making would improve the philanthropy environment.
A Personal Note and Invitation for Collaboration
I have deep respect for the philanthropy practitioners, policymakers, and researchers who work tirelessly to support and advance philanthropy across the South and Southeast Asia. Working in this sector is not easy, however, it is meaningful and important. As I step into a new role as the Director of the Global Philanthropy Indices at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, which oversees the production of the GPEI, please know that I welcome conversations and feedback about how studies like the GPEI can support efforts to strengthen the philanthropy environment in Vietnam and across South and Southeast Asia. Please feel free to reach out to me at indices@iu.edu.
Explore the Reports
- The 95 GPEI country reports, 15 GPEI regional reports, and GPEI global report can all be accessed here:
https://globalindices.indianapolis.iu.edu/environment-index/index.html - For direct access to the South and Southeast Asia regional report and associated country reports for India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, please click here:
https://globalindices.indianapolis.iu.edu/environment-index/regions/southern-southeastern-asia/index.html
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