Institutional Fundraising: An Analysis of Taiwan's Religious Enterprises

Abstract

In Taiwan, one could observe that several prominent religious groups such as Tzu Chi (founded by Master Cheng Yen in 1966), Fo Guang Shan (founded by Master Hsing Yun in 1967), and Dharma Drum Mountain (founded by the late Master Sheng Yen in 1989) have been constantly growing. These religious groups have not only attracted regular donors but also wealthy people within society and have been very successful in raising funds. Above all, they have established for themselves a worldwide reputation and become multinational religious enterprises. To analyze the fundraising performance of the aforementioned religious groups, this paper introduces some new concepts of institutions and also suggests several propositions on fundraising, entrepreneurship, and institutions. This paper points out that Taiwan's religious enterprises are an outgrowth of powerful fundraising performance. Once the religious groups enter the stage of institutional change, the amount of funds collected becomes the dominant exogenous variable and religious entrepreneurship becomes endogenous. Over time, this dynamic process has further promoted entrepreneurship. Again, entrepreneurship becomes the dominant exogenous variable and the funds accumulate at an increasing rate. Eventually, the religious enterprises emerge.