Nicholson Executive Director Presents at Philanthropy Conference in Beijing, China

On May 31, 2015, Charles Venti, Executive Director of The Nicholson Foundation, provided a formal response to the keynote address at a conference held at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Entitled “Capital, Philanthropy and Sharing,” the conference focused on the emergence of the philanthropic sector in China.

The keynote was provided by Dr. Dezhi Lu, who launched the first private family funded foundation in China in 2008 and serves as the Vice President of the China Association of Civil Organizations. In 2012, Dr. Lu funded the Huamin Research Center at Rutgers University. Through analytic research and graduate student exchange programs, the Center aims to inform the development of philanthropic and nonprofit social welfare organizations in China. Each year, the Center hosts a conference in Beijing attended by faculty and students of Tsinghua University and Rutgers University as well as members of Chinese non-profit organizations. As Executive Director of The Nicholson Foundation and a member of the Center’s Advisory Board, Mr. Venti was invited to participate in the conference and provide a commentary in response to Dr. Lu’s keynote.

Dr. Lu’s remarks addressed the emergence of the new and growing philanthropic sector in China and its roots in historical, religious, and social traditions. In his response, Mr. Venti described the history of The Nicholson Foundation, its emphasis on New Jersey’s underserved populations, and the evolution of its two primary program areas—healthcare reform and early childhood programs. He also discussed the Foundation’s approach to grant-making, which includes working with diverse partners and local champions, identifying successful programs to adapt in New Jersey, funding complementary projects to build program areas, and tying funding to the achievement of performance objectives.