charity

The Missing Driver: How a Tragedy Sparks Kindness Across China

Translations, cross-publications, and collaborative projects from Sixth Tone’s external partners. 

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When Zou Chengjun’s life couldn’t have been any worse after a scooter mishap, a viral video of his story ignited an overwhelming wave of support from strangers nationwide.

Bingdian Weekly 

Xiaomi CEO Makes Largest Ever Single Donation to Leading Chinese University

Timely reports on issues and events from across China. Drawing on a vast range of sources, these succinct articles provide insights into the significance of each issue in a wider context.

NEWS

Education has consistently been a top destination for the donations of mega-rich Chinese philanthropists, with most of the money going towards elite universities.

Zhu Junxi

Hebei: Man Held for Defrauding Millions Meant for Sick Children

The man is allegedly linked to a major children’s charity in China, and lured donors by promising high returns before absconding with the funds.

Ye Zhanhang

Can the Internet Save China’s Grassroots NGOs?

Many nonprofit organizations say donations from 99 Charity Day have helped them survive, but that relying on the annual event is unsustainable in the long run.

Zhang Wanqing

Li Yijuan

Erke, Sudden Sales Hit After Henan Donation, Says it Can’t Cope

The unprecedented attention for the middling sportswear brand has also brought scrutiny over whether it has donated as much as it pledged to.

Jiang Yaling

Can Giving Circles Break Down the Barriers to Philanthropy in China?

Contributions from individuals with unique perspectives to share. Hear from everyone, from experts and commentators to those whose voices are often marginalized.

VOICES & OPINION

A new, community-driven type of charity is starting to gain traction in the country, one that may have the ability to revolutionize the country’s staid philanthropic sector.

Li Yingsheng

Grassroots NGOs See Lots of Give, Not Enough Take on Charity Day

While some smaller nonprofits have stopped participating in the annual event, for others, Sept. 9 is still a can’t-miss opportunity to raise sorely needed cash.

Celebrity Streamer Throws Shanghai ‘Therapy Dog’ Course a Bone

A charity that trains dogs for free, provided their owners agree to volunteer at nursing homes and mental health centers afterward, is seeing a surge in interest thanks to a high-profile endorsement.

Fan Yiying

Li Jiaqi Hosts Charity Livestream for Hubei Products

After weeks of struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic, Hubei businesses are getting a little help from China’s star streamer.

Cai Xuejiao

Why Medical Crowdfunding Can’t Fix What Ails Chinese Charities

Individual sob stories are good for raising funds, but they’re no substitute for an empowered, trustworthy nonprofit sector.

Ye Ying

Civic Groups Want to Help Fight COVID-19. So Why’s It So Hard?

Chinese social organizations have played important roles in past disaster relief efforts. Why were officials less receptive this time?

Cai Yiwen

In Virus-Stricken Hubei, Locals Keep Hospitals Supplied

Articles that cut to the core of contemporary China. In-depth, informed, and carefully crafted, every piece is carried by the voices of the story’s participants.

FEATURES

After citywide lockdowns brought much of Hubei province to a standstill, local volunteers provided overstretched hospitals with vital support. But the government is now starting to seize back control.

Yuan Ye

Chinese Students’ ‘Millions of Masks’ Drive Courts Controversy

Donors are increasingly turning to grassroots relief efforts to fight the coronavirus, but such initiatives’ scant experience in the civil sector has worried volunteers and sparked questions about transparency.

China’s Students Battle Coronavirus From Behind Their Keyboards

University students are coordinating online to solicit donations for hospitals needing medical equipment, fact-check what’s being reported about the epidemic, and relay first-person accounts from frontline cities.

Wu Haiyun

Can a Chinese App Fix Poverty? Netizens Doubt It

Millions of people have downloaded a government-run app connecting well-off city-dwellers with China’s poorest communities. But many did so against their will.

Liu Chang

Netizens Irate After Girls-Only Education Fund Spent on Boys

The Spring Bud Project was established to reduce gender inequality in education. This week, a Weibo user discovered that a large proportion of its funding is allocated to boys.

Xue Yujie

Fujian Snack Food Company Protests False Advertising Fine

Dali Foods Group claims the problematic charity promotions on its potato chip products were the result of a printing error.

Liang Chenyu

Liquor Company Puts Missing Kids’ Photos on ‘Baijiu’ Bottles

All sales from the campaign will go to charity, says the head of the company.

Chinese Celebrities Given Social Responsibility Rankings

List from Beijing Normal University and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences puts ‘Dying to Survive’ actor at the top and the recently disappeared Fan Bingbing at the bottom.

Fan Liya

Chinese Social Enterprises Try to Make Money, but Not for Profit

Businesses pursue charitable mission despite complicated regulations and skeptical customers.