Press Release: The Community Foundation of Singapore Appoints New CEO
Singapore, 7 February 2025 – The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) has announced the appointment of Mr Paul Tan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2025. Mr Tan will succeed Ms Catherine Loh, who has led the foundation since 2012. The announcement was made today at CFS’s Annual Chinese New Year Appreciation Luncheon, attended by donors, partners and charities.
Mr Tan brings experience from the public sector, including the Singapore Tourism Board and the National Arts Council. He has a track record in corporate services, sector development, marketing, and communications, successfully guiding organisations through challenges such as digital transformation. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as Chief of Staff, Strategic Planning and Finance at CFS.
“We are delighted to welcome Paul as the new CEO of CFS. His experience from diverse leadership roles and passion for active citizenry and philanthropic impact make him an ideal leader to steer the foundation in its next phase of growth,” Ms Christine Ong, Chairperson of CFS, said. “Under his guidance, we look forward to engaging more donors and working with partners to find new ways to nurture a more generous Singapore.
“My sincere appreciation goes Catherine, who has developed CFS into Singapore’s leading community foundation and a trusted philanthropy advisor. On behalf of the Board, I wish her the best for her future endeavours.”
13 Years of Impact
Under Ms Loh’s leadership, CFS contributed significantly to the growth of Singapore’s philanthropic sector. It is the largest provider of donor-advised funds, with 260 funds under management. It has raised over $337 million from donors, and disbursed more than S$197 million in grants to over 400 charities, non-profits and social enterprises.
In 2020, it started a nationwide Legacy Giving Initiative, paving a new way for charities to secure sustainable funding. CFS is also one of the pioneers of Community Impact Funds. These are pooled funds which enable donors to give a group of charities or social enterprises, in order to address specific societal needs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, CFS launched the Sayang Sayang Fund, which raised $9.7 million from more than 5,000 individual and corporate donors. The fund supported 276 community organisations and supported over 401,000 individuals.
Under Ms Loh’s leadership, CFS has maintained a strong commitment to good governance, winning the Charity Transparency Award for four consecutive years and the Charity Governance Award in 2019.
Ms Loh reflected: “Over the last 13 years, I am proud to have built CFS into a robust, trusted charitable organisation and contributed to the growth of the philanthropic sector with our donor-advised funds and pooled funds. We have nurtured a pool of committed philanthropists and actively promoted legacy giving as a sustainable source of funding for grantees. As I hand over the reins to Paul, I am confident he will take CFS to new heights.”
Bringing CFS Into the Next Chapter
Mr Tan joined CFS as Chief of Staff in August 2024 after completing his PhD at Nanyang Technological University, where he looks after the Strategic Planning and Finance functions.
He said: “It is a privilege to be entrusted with this role. I have been inspired by the transformative work CFS has accomplished since it started 16 years ago and will build on the foundation Catherine has laid. With Singapore’s vibrant non-profit scene, new societal needs and more discerning donors, there is much potential for doing good ahead for us. I look forward to working with my colleagues to cultivate a generous society where communities care for one another and thrive. Join me and CFS on its next lap of growth and impact.”
In addition to his professional achievements, Paul has a rich history of volunteerism, including serving on the boards of arts and cultural organisations and different government and philanthropic committees. Before joining CFS full-time, he contributed as a member of its Programmes and Grants sub-committee.
Singapore, 7 February 2025 – The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) has announced the appointment of Mr Paul Tan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2025. Mr Tan will succeed Ms Catherine Loh, who has led the foundation since 2012. The announcement was made today at CFS’s Annual Chinese New Year Appreciation Luncheon, attended by donors, partners and charities.
Mr Tan brings experience from the public sector, including the Singapore Tourism Board and the National Arts Council. He has a track record in corporate services, sector development, marketing, and communications, successfully guiding organisations through challenges such as digital transformation. Prior to becoming CEO, he served as Chief of Staff, Strategic Planning and Finance at CFS.
“We are delighted to welcome Paul as the new CEO of CFS. His experience from diverse leadership roles and passion for active citizenry and philanthropic impact make him an ideal leader to steer the foundation in its next phase of growth,” Ms Christine Ong, Chairperson of CFS, said. “Under his guidance, we look forward to engaging more donors and working with partners to find new ways to nurture a more generous Singapore.
“My sincere appreciation goes Catherine, who has developed CFS into Singapore’s leading community foundation and a trusted philanthropy advisor. On behalf of the Board, I wish her the best for her future endeavours.”
13 Years of Impact
Under Ms Loh’s leadership, CFS contributed significantly to the growth of Singapore’s philanthropic sector. It is the largest provider of donor-advised funds, with 260 funds under management. It has raised over $337 million from donors, and disbursed more than S$197 million in grants to over 400 charities, non-profits and social enterprises.
In 2020, it started a nationwide Legacy Giving Initiative, paving a new way for charities to secure sustainable funding. CFS is also one of the pioneers of Community Impact Funds. These are pooled funds which enable donors to give a group of charities or social enterprises, in order to address specific societal needs.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, CFS launched the Sayang Sayang Fund, which raised $9.7 million from more than 5,000 individual and corporate donors. The fund supported 276 community organisations and supported over 401,000 individuals.
Under Ms Loh’s leadership, CFS has maintained a strong commitment to good governance, winning the Charity Transparency Award for four consecutive years and the Charity Governance Award in 2019.
Ms Loh reflected: “Over the last 13 years, I am proud to have built CFS into a robust, trusted charitable organisation and contributed to the growth of the philanthropic sector with our donor-advised funds and pooled funds. We have nurtured a pool of committed philanthropists and actively promoted legacy giving as a sustainable source of funding for grantees. As I hand over the reins to Paul, I am confident he will take CFS to new heights.”
Bringing CFS Into the Next Chapter
Mr Tan joined CFS as Chief of Staff in August 2024 after completing his PhD at Nanyang Technological University, where he looks after the Strategic Planning and Finance functions.
He said: “It is a privilege to be entrusted with this role. I have been inspired by the transformative work CFS has accomplished since it started 16 years ago and will build on the foundation Catherine has laid. With Singapore’s vibrant non-profit scene, new societal needs and more discerning donors, there is much potential for doing good ahead for us. I look forward to working with my colleagues to cultivate a generous society where communities care for one another and thrive. Join me and CFS on its next lap of growth and impact.”
In addition to his professional achievements, Paul has a rich history of volunteerism, including serving on the boards of arts and cultural organisations and different government and philanthropic committees. Before joining CFS full-time, he contributed as a member of its Programmes and Grants sub-committee.
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