The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) enters a new era with the appointment of Mr Paul Tan as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2025. This marks a significant leadership transition for Singapore’s most established community foundation, as outgoing CEO Ms Catherine Loh steps down after 13 years of dedicated stewardship.

Paul joined CFS in August 2024 as Chief of Staff for Strategic Planning and Finance, bringing with him years of public sector and media industry experience, including leadership roles at the Singapore Tourism Board and National Arts Council. He holds a PhD from Nanyang Technological University and has served on various government and philanthropic committees. Prior to joining CFS full-time, Paul also served on its Programmes and Grants sub-committee.

“It is a privilege to be entrusted with this role at such a pivotal moment,” said Paul. “CFS has accomplished so much over years – not only in building a trusted platform for giving, but in inspiring a deeper culture of care. As we look to the future, I am excited to build on this strong foundation and work with our donors, partners and team to cultivate a generous society where communities care for one another and thrive.”

This appointment is part of a wider transformation at CFS, which includes the launch of a new brand identity and updated Vision and Mission. These milestones signal a bold new chapter in CFS’s continued mission to build a more caring and generous Singapore, as the country marks its 60th birthday.

“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 to (outgoing CEO) Catherine Loh, 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

Catherine’s tenure as CEO has left an enduring mark on CFS and the broader philanthropic sector in Singapore. Under her leadership, the Foundation grew to become the country’s largest provider of donor-advised funds. Since its founding in 2008, CFS has established over 260 charitable funds, raised more than S$337 million, and disbursed over S$197 million in grants to over 400 charities and social enterprises.

In 2020, CFS 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 to a group of charities or social enterprises, in order to address specific societal needs.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Catherine led the launch of the Sayang Sayang Fund, which eventually raised $9.7 million from more than 5,000 individual and corporate donors. The fund supported 276 community organisations and over 401,000 individuals.

Under Catherine’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.

She 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

As CEO, Paul will lead CFS into a bold new phase – one that builds on its legacy of trust and innovation while responding to the evolving needs of Singapore’s communities

In 2025, CFS will roll out several key initiatives that reflect this renewed direction:

• Collective for a Stronger Society – A national initiative supporting families in rental flats through donor-charity partnerships and ground-up programme
• Legacy Giving Initiative – Continued efforts to promote planned giving and help donors leave a meaningful legacy in Singapore
• SG60: Everyday Heroes of Philanthropy – A campaign celebrating local donors whose quiet generosity is shaping a more caring Singapore

These efforts reflect CFS’s belief that when local giving is empowered, communities become more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready.

To learn more about CFS’s leadership transition and brand refresh, read the full media release here.