Victor and William Fung Foundation

What Victor and William Fung Foundation does

The Victor and William Fung Foundation is a Hong Kong-based private charitable foundation affiliated with the Fung Group, established to nurture future leaders through scholarships, leadership development, and global networking. Its primary offering is the Fung Scholars Programme, which funds international exchange semesters, summer programmes, and internships at 33 partner universities across 8 economies. As of May 2026, the foundation has supported more than 8,000 Fung Scholars and Fung Fellows. Partner institutions include Oxford, Cambridge, HKU, CUHK, HKUST, MIT, NUS, SMU, Peking University, and Koç University, among others.

The foundation operates a multi-decade engagement model rather than a one-time scholarship award. Programming includes an annual Fung Scholars Leadership Conference, scholar-led Fung Scholars Crossroads thought-development sessions covering topics such as AI, philosophy, and global trade, city-based local chapters (Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Boston, Nanjing, New York, UK, Australia), a quarterly Fung Scholars Network Newsletter (Issue 26 as of May 2026), and the Fung Scholars Stories content platform. The foundation also publishes research on China's commercial sector through affiliated programmes, including the China Trade Quarterly, monthly PMI reports on China manufacturing, and the annual Ten Highlights of China's Commercial Sector series.

The foundation does not develop proprietary technology platforms and has no AI/ML capabilities of its own. Its distribution model is direct, delivered through formal university partnership agreements and its own event and digital channels (website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, email). It is funded by grants and donations rather than commercial revenue — major historical inflows include an HK$100 million scholarship fund established in 2006 (commemorating the 100th anniversary of Li & Fung Group), a US$1 million grant to Singapore Management University in 2007, and an SGD$3 million fund with NUS in 2015. Operations are run by a 6-person team headquartered at LiFung Tower in Kowloon.

Name

Victor and William Fung Foundation

Legal name

Victor and William Fung Foundation Limited

Website

https://fungfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Hong Kong-based charitable foundation affiliated with Fung Group, operating the Fung Scholars Programme to fund international exchange and leadership development for 8,000+ students across 33 partner universities in 8 economies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Charitable Scholarship Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundation/NGO & Philanthropic Scholarships (EDAIAOAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), International Grantmaking & Development Foundations (BPAGAKAH)

Keywords

• Scholarship programmes
• Leadership development
• International exchange programmes
• Educational philanthropy
• Alumni networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Charitable Grants and Donations: The foundation operates as a philanthropic organization funded by grants and donations, distributing scholarships and fellowship awards to university students for exchange programmes and leadership development. Revenue is not generated from commercial products or services; the foundation is a grant-making entity affiliated with the Fung Group and Li & Fung Group.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Victor and William Fung Foundation is a charitable foundation operating the Fung Scholars Programme, which provides scholarships and financial support for undergraduate and graduate students to undertake international exchange semesters, summer programmes, and internships across 33 partner universities in 8 economies. The foundation also delivers Leadership Development and Thought Development programmes, sustains a lifelong alumni network of over 8,000 Fung Scholars and Fung Fellows via nine city-based local chapters, and publishes research on China's commercial sector.

Product overview

The Victor and William Fung Foundation operates a scholarship and leadership development ecosystem rather than a traditional product platform. The core offering is the Fung Scholars Programme—a global network supporting over 8,000 scholars through exchange programmes, leadership development, and thought development initiatives. The foundation also publishes research on China's commercial sector through its affiliated Li & Fung Development China programme. The network is organized through city-based local chapters (Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Boston, Nanjing, New York, UK, Australia) that facilitate ongoing engagement and community building among scholars worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fung Scholars Programme A scholarship programme supporting international student exchanges across 33 partner universities worldwide, funding undergraduate and graduate students from Hong Kong, Mainland China, Singapore, and other regions to study abroad, complete internships, and join a lifelong global professional network. More than 8,000 Fung Scholars and Fung Fellows recorded as of May 2026.
• Leadership Development Programme An annual leadership conference programme designed to nurture future leaders among Fung Scholars through exposure to global issues, expert speakers, and cross-industry networking opportunities.
• Thought Development Programme A programme focused on intellectual development and cross-industry knowledge sharing, featuring discussions and presentations on topics such as AI, geopolitics, and global trade, delivered through Fung Scholars Crossroads sessions.
• Fung Scholars Local Chapters City-based chapters across Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Boston, Nanjing, New York, the United Kingdom, and Australia that unite Fung Scholars to inspire community involvement and facilitate local networking, mentorship, and peer connections.
• Fung Scholars Events Regular events including networking lunches, movie nights, cultural activities, skill-sharing sessions, Interactive Story Theatre, and Fung Scholars Crossroads seminars covering topics such as AI agents, philosophy, and professional development.
• Fung Clinical Fellowship (NUS) A clinical fellowship programme funded with SGD$3 million at the National University of Singapore, supporting medical professionals' clinical fellowship placements and representing a significant investment in medical education and professional development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ Fung Scholars and Fung Fellows supported as of May 2026
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2016MIT announced a new makerspace with support from the Victor and William Fung Foundation. The foundation provided funding to establish maker culture and hands-on learning facilities for MIT students, supporting innovation and entrepreneurship on campus. Announced in May 2016.
• National University of Singapore (NUS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2015The Fung Foundation established a SGD$3 million fund with NUS to create 'The Fung Clinical Fellowship' programme. This partnership supports clinical fellowship placements and represents a significant investment in medical education and professional development. The agreement was formalised in June 2015.
• Koç University / Vehbi Koç FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2015Victor & William Fung Foundation (a Fung Group affiliate headquartered in Hong Kong) signed an agreement with Koç University (a VEHBİ Koç Foundation establishment) to support academic exchange and doctoral studies along the Silk Road. The first step was awarding grants to students from China studying for doctorates at Koç University in Turkey, fostering East-West academic collaboration.
• Singapore Management University (SMU)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2007The Li & Fung (1906) Foundation granted US$1 million to Singapore Management University to fund the university's international exchange programme, enabling SMU students to participate in study abroad experiences.
• 33 Partner Universities (Hong Kong and Mainland China)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 April 2006In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Li & Fung Group, the Li & Fung (1906) Foundation created the Li & Fung Scholarships programme with HK$100 million in grants to support 100 scholarships every year for undergraduates in Hong Kong and Mainland China. Partner universities in Hong Kong include HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityU, PolyU, and others. Mainland China universities are also included in the network.
• Fung GroupcoreOthersVictor and William Fung Foundation is a Fung Group affiliate. The Fung Group, led by Dr Victor Fung, is the parent commercial entity that funds and supports the foundation's operations and scholarship programmes.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Rhodes Trust: The Rhodes Trust runs the Rhodes Scholarship, a globally prestigious postgraduate scholarship placing selected scholars at Oxford. It is structurally and operationally the closest analogue to the Fung Foundation: private trust, top-tier university placement, lifelong alumni network, and cross-cultural leadership development mission.
• Schwarzman Scholars: Schwarzman Scholars funds a master's programme at Tsinghua University in Beijing focused on global affairs, leadership, and China engagement. Like the Fung Foundation, it is a privately funded scholarship with strong Asia/China positioning, leadership development focus, and a growing global alumni network.
• Jardine Foundation: Jardine Foundation is a Hong Kong-based family-affiliated foundation that funds undergraduate scholarships at top universities globally. It mirrors the Fung Foundation's geographic origin (Hong Kong), family-affiliated funding model, university placement structure, and target scholar profile.

Broad incumbents

• Fulbright Program: The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange programme, operating across 160+ countries. While government-sponsored rather than privately funded, it is a direct functional analogue in international academic exchange scholarships and operates a far larger alumni network.
• Li Ka Shing Foundation: Li Ka Shing Foundation is a major Hong Kong-based philanthropic foundation funding education, healthcare, and community programmes. It shares the Fung Foundation's Hong Kong family-affiliated structure and education grantmaking focus but operates across a much broader portfolio of causes.
• Mastercard Foundation: Mastercard Foundation runs one of the largest privately funded education scholarship programmes globally, focused on Africa. It shares the Fung Foundation's mission-driven scholarship and leadership development model but operates at materially larger scale and different geographic focus.
• Chevening Scholarship (UK FCDO): Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship programme funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. It targets emerging global leaders for master's study in the UK, sharing the Fung Foundation's leadership development and international exchange mission, though operating at substantially larger scale.

Emerging players

• Mandela Rhodes Foundation: Mandela Rhodes Foundation is a pan-African scholarship and leadership development programme combining postgraduate funding with leadership development. It mirrors the Fung Foundation's integration of scholarship funding with lifelong leadership development programming, though focused on a single continent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/FungScholars
• Facebookfacebook.com/217663268260312
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/victor-and-william-fung-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Victor and William Fung Foundation