US social investment group Give2Asia sees record grant numbers in 2013 as giving to East Asia surges.

Give2Asia, the US-based social investment organisation that serves as a funding channel into Asia, posted a surge in grants in 2013, driven by growth in advised grant making to East Asia, according to a statement issued by the group. 

The organisation, which specialises in philanthropy into 24 Asian countries, finished the fiscal year 2013 with the "highest number of grants and largest grant making total in its 12-year history." For the year, the group recorded 563 grants, bringing its total to 31,166,000.

Give2Asia saw grant making in China rise by more than 100 per cent to over 12 million in the year, accounting for 41 per cent of its grant making. As a region, East Asia was responsible for two-thirds of the total for 2013.

"Due to the young, but fast-developing nature of Chinese philanthropy, well-planned programmes implemented at this critical juncture can determine the sector's direction and impact for decades to come," said Frank L Ellsworth, president and chief executive of Give2Asia.

The areas that received the most funding were education, 27 per cent, disaster response, 22 per cent, and health, 17 per cent. The group also added 24 charitable organisations in Asia to its list of sponsorship partners in 2013. These help Asia-based group receive tax-deductible support from US-based donors. 

Give2Asia was founded in 2001 and has since raised 237 million in gifts from corporate, foundation and individual donors for partners in Asia.