This is our round-up of philanthropy news around the world featured in the December 2017 issue of Alliance:

The Americas

• George Soros transfers $18 billion to Open Society Foundations
• Brazilian Philanthropy Forum
• Extra grants help to expand work of Andes Amazon Fund

Europe

• DAFNE appoints new executive director Max von Abendroth
• New report from EVPA
• Turkey Giving Circles on the rise
• UK foundation grantmaking hits record high
• Russian community foundation roundtable

Africa and the Middle East

• Leading Saudi philanthropist arrested on corruption charges
• Philanthropy backed campaign tackles neglected diseases in Zimbabwe
• Abu Dhabi Crown Prince backs global drive to beat Polio

Asia and the Pacific

• Beijing philanthropist commits $1.5 billion to conservation
• International Funders for Indigenous Peoples Pacific Hui
• Indian giving rising, but not to social justice causes