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The Community Foundation of Singapore Ushers in a New Era of Philanthropy

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.

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.

Philanthropic donations jumped 96%, Low Tuck Kwong Foundation the largest giver

A foundation named after Singapore-born coal tycoon Low Tuck Kwong is the top private giver in a list of Singapore’s 10 biggest philanthropic organisations in terms of donations given.The Low Tuck Kwong Foundation, set up in December 2022, gave $127.6 million in 2023 to educational and healthcare causes.

Man starts charitable fund with close to $100k in life savings left by his nanny

A tech investor was shocked to find out that his majie, or nanny, left him her life savings of close to $100,000 when she died.To honour her, the 41-year-old, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lim, used the money to set up a charitable fund in her name with the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) in 2023.

The Community Foundation of Singapore wins Charity Transparency Award for the Fourth Time

The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) has been awarded the Charity Transparency Award (CTA) 2024, marking its fourth consecutive win of this prestigious honour. Presented by the Charity Council, the CTA recognises organisations that uphold high standards of transparency as outlined in the Charity Transparency Framework (CTF).

Celebrating 15 Years of Impact: CFS Annual Report 2024

We are pleased to share our 2024 Annual Report, celebrating The Community Foundation of Singapore’s 15th anniversary. This year’s report outlines our progress over the years, and reinforces our firm commitment to being the community foundation focused on uplifting and supporting communities across Singapore.A Year of Exceptional Grantmaking

Secure And Impactful Philanthropy: CFS Clinches Cyber Essentials Mark

We are proud to announce that CFS has been awarded the Cyber Essentials Mark, a cybersecurity certification by the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore. This recognition highlights our commitment to operational excellence and data security, essential for protecting donor information and other sensitive data.The Cyber Essentials Mark acknowledges organisations with robust cyber hygiene practices, safeguarding systems against cyber-attacks. Other notable recipients of the Cyber Essentials Mark are SISTIC Singapore, M1 and Capella Hotel.

Set up during the covid-19 pandemic, Sayang Sayang Fund raised $9.7m over three years, supporting over 400,000 lives

Established in 2020 as an emergency response fund during the covid-19 pandemic, the Sayang Sayang Fund (SSF) raised $9,700,000 in three years, supporting over 276 organisations and touching over 401,000 lives.According to the Sayang Sayang Fund report published on CFS’s website, the fund disbursed $6,542,000 (67% of donations) in 2020, $2,060,000 (21% of donations) in between 2021-2022, and $1,11,900 (12% of donations) in 2023.

Book by Adrian Tan, with the title 'If I were King of Singapore'

Posts of the late former Law Society President Adrian Tan has been published as a book

LinkedIn posts by the late Mr Adrian Tan have recently been compiled and published as a book, titled “If I were King of Singapore”.All proceeds from the book will go to the Adrian Tan Memorial Fund, which is set up by Mrs Adrian Tan and managed by the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS).

Donations to CFS increased by 60% over the past two years

Over two years, the number of Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) managed by the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) has increased from 162 to 235, and total donations received since inception has risen from $192 million to $311 million. As of 31 December 2023, CFS has disbursed over $169 million in grants, a big jump from the $114 million disbursed as of 31 March 2021.Speaking to Zaobao, CEO Ms Catherine Loh, shared that one reason for the significant increase in donations was due to a few large donations exceeding $10 million over the past three years. She also highlighted the introduction of Legacy Giving by CFS, and the organisation’s efforts to work more closely with financial and legal advisors to promote philanthropy. Notably, about 15% of CFS’s DAFs are memorial in nature, including the recently established Adrian Tan Memorial Fund in 2023.

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