China Center Chart of the Week, Special Philanthropy Series, part 2 of 4: Public perception is an important driver shaping China’s nonprofit sector

Leading up to the release of a new beachhead report by the China Center on Corporate Philanthropy in China (to be published in November) we are releasing a special series of Charts of the Week on the topic. This is part two of four.

This members-only chart demonstrates that charitable giving has increased rapidly over the past five years in China, albeit from a very low base (only 0.26 percent of GDP, versus 2 percent in the US, for example). Nevertheless, from 2006 to 2010, total cash and in-kind contributions have grown from USD 1.6 billion to USD 15.2 billion, a seven-fold increase in less than five years.

The speed and scale with which public discontent can now spread across ‘Online-China’, has significantly changed the way companies need to engage with and respond to public opinion. In the worst case, bad corporate conduct, perceived or real, can now inflict serious damage upon a company’s public image, brand value, government relations, and employee trust in China.

Please see the full chart and associated text for a deeper dive on this issue and many more details and data points.