Panel: Inside Chinese Philanthropy

Friday, May 30, 2014

As we all know, Chinese are amassing a great deal of wealth. From the latest Forbes' Billionaire List, there are 152 billionaires in China - and from the latest Hurun's Rich List, there are 358. Whichever way you slice it, there is a great deal of untapped wealth in China. Finding information on these prospects and soliciting them may be difficult.

Please join NEDRA in exploring the mindset of the Chinese donors, finding ways to discover information on these prospects, and ultimately, soliciting and closing a gift.

Faculty:

Laura Parshall is a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Office of Prospect Research, serving on a team that provides research for development officers assigned to MIT's five schools, as well as the Office of Philanthropic Partnerships, which includes the internationally-focused Office of Global Initiatives. Laura has worked in the Resource Development department at MIT since 2006. She is also a member of the NEDRA Board of Directors, and editor of the NEDRA News Blog. She has a Master's degree in Journalism from Boston University, and a Bachelor's degree in International Affairs from George Washington University.

Jenny Liu is Associate Director of the MIT Office of Global Initiatives, where she works collaboratively with colleagues around the Institute to seek philanthropic support for high-priority interdisciplinary initiatives from private sources in Asia. In this role, she develops and manages engagement, solicitation and stewardship strategies for high capacity prospects in this region.

Previously Jenny worked as Global Research and Strategic Planning Associate at the Office of External Relations at MIT Sloan School of Management where she played a key role in developing the MIT Sloan Regional Executive Boards structure. Prior to MIT, Jenny was a television journalist for China Central Television (CCTV), China's largest TV network. Jenny has a Master's degree in International Relations from Yale University and a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Beijing University.

Shauna E. Meegan is a senior research analyst with Harvard University's Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. She joined Harvard University in November 2007 as a research analyst. She previously was an associate at Tapestry Networks, where she specialized in international corporate governance and financial reporting. Shauna began her career as a paralegal with Brown Rudnick. She received her undergraduate degree in history from the College of the Holy Cross in 2000 and a master's degree in modern European history from Providence College in 2002. After commuting to Cambridge from Rhode Island for a number of years, she now lives in the MetroWest area with her husband, Jason and one-eyed cat, Lily.

Ming Zhong has been director of Asia Relations & Development at Tufts University Advancement since 2008. Her work covers major gift fundraising, alumni/parent relations, and promoting the university in Asia. She is based on Tufts campus and travels to Asia 3-4 times a year to organize Tufts events, cultivate prospects, and solicit gifts. Ming has been working in fundraising and alumni relations in higher education for over 20 years. Prior to her current position, she was director of Prospect Research and Management at Tufts University Advancement. Prior to that, she worked at Harvard's University Development at various positions in both international fundraising and prospect research. In her spare time, Ming volunteers at her son's high school and has recently become president of its PTO. Ming received her B.A. in English from Nanjing Normal University in Nanjing, China and her M.A. in History from Clark University in Worcester, MA.

Tina Tong is a senior prospect development analyst at Tufts University. Previously, she was prospect manager at Concord Academy (CA) in Concord, Massachusetts. Tina started her prospect research career at CA in the fall of 2006. While at CA, she was also in charge of prospect management and gift planning calculations and agreements. She moved to Tufts in the winter of 2010, where she is the primary researcher and liaison for the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Principal and Leadership Gift Team. She is a board member of the New England Development Research Association (NEDRA) and co-chair of its programming committee. She has an A.B. in sociology from Bryn Mawr College, a J.D. from New York Law School, and an M.I.B. from University of San Diego.

NOTE: Refreshments will be provided.

BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Bus, Amtrak and MBTA Commuter Rail:

These modes of transportation will bring you to the South Station terminal, a ten-minute (eight-block) walk from the Health Science Campus.  Walk south on Atlantic Avenue to Kneeland Street, then west on Kneeland Street to Harrison Avenue.  Turn left on Harrison Avenue to 145.

Subway:

Take the MBTA Orange Line to the "Tufts Medical Center" stop.  Exit the subway station, following the signs to the medical center, cross Washington Street and enter Tufts Medical Center.  Cross the atrium and exit to Bennett Street.  Follow Bennett Street one half block to the end of the street and turn left on Harrison.

BY AUTOMOBILE:

From the West and Southwest via the Massachusetts Turnpike:

If you approach on the Massachusetts Turnpike (Rte 90 east), take Exit 24A, South Station and stay left once you are on the exit ramp.  At the bottom of the ramp, turn left toward Chinatown.  Proceed through five traffic lights (note that some are not active at certain times of the day) and turn left onto Harrison Avenue at the sixth light.  If you wish to park your car, do not turn at Harrison Avenue; proceed two more blocks and turn left at Tremont Street.  The garage will be on your left.

From the West and Northwest via Route 2:

Approach via Route 2, take Soldiers Field Road to Storrow Drive and exit at Arlington Street.  Proceed straight for six blocks to Stuart Street.  Turn left on Stuart Street.  As you approach Washington Street and the Health Science campus, Stuart Street will become Kneeland Street.  Continue one more block to Harrison Avenue and turn right onto Harrison.  For parking, proceed only to Tremont Street and turn right to reach the parking garage.

From the Southeast:

Approach via the Southeast Expressway and take exit 20 and immediately enter the left lane and stay left to exit to South Station.  Turn left at the end of the exit ramp toward Chinatown and continue to Kneeland Street as described for travelers approaching the campus from the Massachusetts Turnpike.

From the Northeast via Interstate 95 and the Mystic-Tobin Bridge:

After crossing the bridge, follow the Fitzgerald Expressway (Interstate 93/Route 3) to Exit 23, South Station onto Purchase Street.  Follow Purchase Street, which will become the Surface Artery.  Turn right onto Kneeland Street.  Proceed for two blocks and turn left on Harrison Avenue or if you are parking a car, continue for two more blocks to Tremont Street and turn left to reach the garage.

From the North via Interstate 93:

Follow the Fitzgerald Expressway (Interstate 93/Route 3) to Exit 23, South Station onto Purchase Street.  Follow Purchase Street, which will become the Surface Artery.  Turn right onto Kneeland Street.  Proceed for two blocks and turn left on Harrison Avenue or if you are parking a car, continue for two more blocks to Tremont Street and turn left to reach the garage.

Pricing:

NEDRA Members: $85

Non-members: $125