Singapore, 10 July 2025 – Since the launch of the Collective for a Stronger Society (CSS) in 2024, the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), in partnership with Community Chest, have raised more than S$8 million from 53 donors in support of lower-income families in Singapore. CSS brings together government agencies, community partners, and private donors to complement government efforts and provide sustained, integrated support for lower-income families to improve their social mobility and better their circumstances.

A media event to highlight the progress made since the launch of CSS was held yesterday at Wellington Primary School. Guest-of-Honour, Mr David Neo, Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Senior Minister of State for Education, acknowledged the contributions of 11 donors – comprising corporates and individuals – to CSS. This includes Sembcorp Energy for Good Fund and the S R Nathan Education Upliftment Fund, whose donations support an education programme; TH3 Foundation who donated towards programmes conducted by smaller charities such as Catch Them Young; and Tianfu Foundation who donated to the pooled fund which is distributed across 17 national and community programmes supported under CSS.

Speaking at the event, Acting Minister David Neo thanked donors for their support to CSS and encouraged more to contribute. He said “Singapore is exceptional because of our Singapore Spirit. It is a spirit of our collective resilience. We have a strong ethos of putting “We” before “Me”. This can be seen from the many helping hands coming together to form a strong safety net for those less fortunate and our spirit of leaving no one behind. This spirit will keep Singapore exceptional as we move forward and build our shared future, together.”

Encouraging those who have done well in society to uplift others in fulfilling their aspirations and potential

Through CSS, philanthropic donors can contribute towards 17 national and community programmes through donations and non-financial means, such as mentoring, offering internship placements for beneficiaries, or volunteering for the programmes under CSS.

As part of SG60, the $250 million SG Gives Matching Grant announced at Budget 2025 will provide dollar-for-dollar matching by the Government for all donations to CSS. The Government will match donations at a higher rate of $1.50 for every dollar donated for donors or corporates committing to multi-year giving of at least $250,000 annually, over three years from 2025 to 2027.

The Collective for a Stronger Society to Support 17 Programmes for Social Mobility

Donations raised through CSS will complement 17 national and community programmes’ fundraising efforts. Programmes primarily support lower-income families with children under 21 years of age, starting with families living in rental blocks across critical pillars – Education, Employment, Health, Community Assistance, and Housing. These programmes include:

● KeyStart Home Ownership Programme by South Central Community Family Service Centre is a comprehensive housing assistance programme that empowers families to achieve home ownership.
● KidsExcel+ by Catch Them Young is a weekly after-school programme for Primary school children from lower-income families, focusing on both academic and character development support.
● ComLink+ Progress Packages by the Ministry of Social and Family Development which provide financial top-ups to recognise and supplement the efforts of ComLink+ families that work with family coaches to co-develop action plans and take active steps towards their longer-term goals.

In partnership with Community Chest, CFS aims to bring together donors, charities and community stakeholders to build long-term, sustainable solutions to the nation’s social challenges.

Tapping on the expertise of CFS and Community Chest as fundraisers for CSS, programme owners can now dedicate more time and resources towards delivering impactful services to those in need. With the aim of connecting these programmes to more donors, CSS hopes to secure sustainable funding streams, enabling programme owners to focus on service delivery. Programmes such as Tak Takut Kids Club by 3Pumpkins and KidsExcel+ by Catch Them Young are on track to meet at least 90% of the programme’s funding needs for FY25. CFS and Community Chest are committed to fundraising for all 17 programmes under CSS to help meet their respective funding needs.

“At CFS, we act as a bridge between donors and the diverse needs of the community. Our approach has always been tailored, strategic, and impact-driven,” said Mr Paul Tan, CEO of CFS. “Tapping on our local expertise, we work with donors to formulate their giving plans. We identify and recommend effective programmes and initiatives, and ensure their contributions are stewarded with transparency and accountability. For this special initiative of CSS, we are pleased to partner with Community Chest which reflects our shared commitment to enabling long-term, sustainable pathways to better outcomes for lower-income families.”

Mr Kiron Cheong from the S R Nathan Education Upliftment Fund said, “We believe that every child, regardless of background, deserves the chance to succeed. Education is one of the most powerful pathways to social mobility and the S R Nathan Educational Upliftment Fund was set up with CFS to support children from lower-income families to keep them in school and pursue their educational goals. We’re proud to be part of the Collective for a Stronger Society and to support CFS’s efforts to create lasting change.”

CFS invites individuals, families, and corporations to consider setting up a fund or contribute to The Collective for a Stronger Society via its giving.sg page. To find out more, visit https://collective-for-a-stronger-society.cf.org.sg/