In a significant boost to Singapore’s social service sector, Community Chest, the philanthropy arm of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), announced the disbursement of over S$69 million to 288 programmes in FY2023. This funding has supported a range of initiatives, from capability building to community partnerships, aimed at improving social services for vulnerable communities. The announcement was made at the annual Community Chest Awards.
The funds were made possible thanks to the generosity of corporate partners, individual donors, and the public, who contributed through both national and private fundraising events. Their collective effort is a testament to Singapore’s strong spirit of giving.
In FY2023 alone, about $34 million was channeled to social service programmes, impacting over 82,000 people. These programmes provide crucial support to children with special needs, youths at risk, adults with disabilities, people with mental health conditions, and families and seniors in need.
One inspiring beneficiary of these efforts is 18-year-old Md Ilhan Bin Md Hidayah, who turned his life around through the YMCA Vocational and Soft Skills programme, which helps at-risk youth build resilience. Initially struggling in school and facing expulsion, Ilhan discovered a passion for becoming a barista, learning key conflict resolution skills along the way. Today, he works full-time as a barista and dreams of owning his own café.
In addition to social service programmes, Community Chest directed over $35 million to community projects and capability-building initiatives. This included the Community Capability Trust, which helps Social Service Agencies (SSAs) enhance their organisational capabilities, and the 4ST Partnership Fund, which supports collaborative projects to develop innovative solutions for service users.
At the Community Chest Awards, 206 corporate partners and individual donors were honoured for their exceptional contributions to the social service sector. Guest of Honour President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, alongside Ministers Masagos Zulkifli and Desmond Lee, presented the awards.
Among the top awardees, Singtel, SP Group, and UOB received the prestigious ‘Pinnacle Award’ for their leadership in sustainable philanthropy. These companies were early adopters of the new Sustainable Philanthropy Framework, which helps businesses measure and benchmark the impact of their charitable efforts. Over 40 businesses who participated in the Early Adopters Programme reported that the Framework has enhanced the structure of their philanthropic initiatives.
Other awardees were recognized for their efforts in sustainable giving through regular donation programmes like SHARE, Community Chest’s Change for Charity initiative, and ongoing volunteering projects that deliver lasting benefits to service users.
