A life well lived can shape communities long after we’re gone.

Ms Loi Ooh Toh was a majie who had come to Singapore as a young girl and spent most of her life in domestic service. When she passed away, she left nearly S$100,000 in savings to Mr Lim, the boy she once cared for as a nanny. Moved by her quiet generosity, Mr Lim, now a 42-year-old tech investor, established the Loi Ooh Toh Fund through the Community Foundation of Singapore. The fund supports elder care and social work education, honouring the services that supported Ms Loi in her later years.

“It’s a statement that her life mattered. I hope, in a very small way, to honour her and the generations of majie who made Singapore their home and gave their lives in service,” explains Mr Lim. “Rather than allowing them to fade into history, we can help people to remember them and their contributions.”

Through the fund, an unassuming gift became something enduring: a way for her care to live on through the lives of others.

Mr Lim’s story is proof that legacy giving doesn’t begin with wealth or status. It begins with meaning. With the right support, that intention can transform lives and leave a lasting imprint.

What Is Legacy Giving?

Legacy giving is the act of setting aside a future gift to support a cause you care about. It’s a meaningful way to ensure the values you hold today continue to make a difference tomorrow – by planning ahead to support what matters most, even after you’re gone.

Often included in your estate plan, a legacy gift can take many forms: cash, CPF savings, insurance payouts, or listed securities.

More than a financial act, legacy giving is a reflection of your beliefs. It’s a bridge between your intentions and the lasting impact you wish to make, a way to ensure your story continues to shape the future in purposeful and inspiring ways.

For those who prefer a structured, long-term approach, a donor-advised fund (DAF) offers an elegant solution. It enables your giving to continue beyond your lifetime, either in your name or in memory of someone you love. Learn more about DAFs here.

A Lasting Way to Give Back

In Singapore, many people give because of what they’ve lived through – the values they hold, the people they’ve loved, and the experiences that have shaped them

Kris, a donor with CFS, transformed her lifelong love for the arts into a legacy fund that will nurture young musical talent for generations to come. Her daughter, Kang Ning, a gifted young musician herself, hopes to carry forward this legacy, helping other aspiring artists find the same encouragement and opportunities her mother gave to her.

Donors like Kris and Mr Lim are bound by a shared desire: the resolve to turn care into legacy.

How to Leave a Legacy Gift

The most common way to make a legacy gift is through a will or trust. You can contribute to an existing or new donor-advised fund or make an unrestricted gift directly to CFS. Unrestricted gifts are funds that are not earmarked for a specific programme or project, allowing CFS and its charity partners the flexibility to respond to urgent or underfunded needs.

Legacy gifts may include:

• Cash
  The simplest way is to make a cash gift to The Community Foundation of Singapore in your will or trust. You can donate to your new or existing donor advised fund or directly to The Community Foundation of Singapore.
• CPF Monies
  You may nominate The Community Foundation of Singapore as the beneficiary of your CPF.
• Insurance
  You may nominate The Community Foundation of Singapore as a beneficiary of your policy.
• Marketable Securities
  Gifts of marketable securities include shares, bonds and unit trusts listed on major stock exchanges. You may include them in a bequest in your will or trust.
• Tangible Property
  You may wish to gift real estate or tangible property. Speak to us about the possibilities.

Some donors use a legacy gift to express the values that shaped their lives. They may set up a fund during key life milestones, such as retirement, the sale of a business, or receiving an inheritance, to give back and reflect what matters most to them.

Others give in memory of someone they loved. A legacy gift can honour a parent, partner, mentor or friend, someone who left a mark on their life. It is a meaningful way to carry forward their values and create lasting impact in their name.

Whether remembering a loved one, celebrating a chapter of your life, or simply giving thanks for the opportunities you’ve had, a legacy gift can turn significance into lasting impact.

With guidance from CFS, these gestures become more than symbolic. They are made practical, purposeful, and enduring.

Not sure where to begin? Come and talk to us – we’ll make it simple for you.

How CFS Helps You Plan Your Legacy

CFS is Singapore’s pioneer in donor-advised funds, having managed over 260 charitable funds set up by individuals, families, and organisations seeking purposeful, lasting impact.

We make giving simple and effective – helping you clarify your intent, structure your fund, and support the causes you care about. Once your fund is set up, we handle the rest, from administration to governance, so you can focus on making a difference.

Your Legacy, Your Way

You don’t need all the answers to begin. Only the clarity to ask: What do I want to stand for and leave behind?

Ready to shape a legacy that lasts? Begin your journey with CFS here.