Center For Business

Through China Institute’s Next Gen Leaders Circle, the new generation of American and Chinese philanthropists and social innovators join forces to tackle global challenges. The Circle’s activities include an annual giving circle, educational events, and meaningful U.S.-China dialogues to push initiatives forward–all with the greater goal of contributing to a vibrant civil society in both countries.

China Institute’s aim in launching the Next Gen Leaders Circle is to build bridges, to connect like-minded young American and Chinese influencers who will forge meaningful bonds and work together to seek solutions for decades to come. Leveraging our deep relationships in China and philanthropic networks in the U.S., China Institute mobilizes global leaders from all sectors to identify urgent transnational issues and collaborate with social innovators on problem solving.

The Circle’s first giving circle, concluded in March 2020, raised funds for medical treatment supplies for Covid-19 patients in Wuhan, delivered with the help of the Wuhan University Alumni Association of Greater New York.

Founding Members

Past Events

U.S.-China Next Gen Leaders Circle Workshop (April 25, 2019) The inaugural meeting of the U.S.-China Next Gen Leaders Circle brought together American and Chinese change makers in philanthropy, business, entrepreneurship, social innovation, and culture to explore challenges and opportunities in sustainable business, impact investing, and social innovation, through activities and intensive dialogue. Circle members worked to build meaningful bridges and engaged in dialogue between thought leaders in both countries—with the ultimate goal of addressing social problems together and encouraging the development of healthy civil society. At the half day meeting, held at the JM Kaplan Fund office, speakers explored sustainable business, entrepreneurship and social impact, impact investing, and social innovation:

• Connecting Sustainability to Financial Value, with Tensie Whelan, Director of the Center for Sustainable Business at NYU Stern

• Social Entrepreneurship with Slava Rubin, founder of Indiegogo, one of world’s largest crowdfunding platforms

• Impact Investing with Jenna Nicholas, CEO of Impact Experience and CEO of Phoenix Global Impact

• Cultural Heritage and Economic Value with Kaplan Fund Innovation Prize winner Victoria Herrmann of Rising Tides

How to Apply

To apply for membership, please contact Nina Huang, [email protected], for more information.