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Other recipients of its support include hospitals in Singapore and the region. Mr Low built his wealth in the natural resources sector and is the founder of Bayan Resources, a coal mining company in Indonesia.

The third edition of the Singapore’s Biggest Philanthropic Organisations list, released on Dec 6, was compiled by Soristic Impact Collective based on publicly available data such as the groups’ latest financial year statements and annual reports. It can include grants given locally and internationally. 

In second place was the Lee Foundation, founded by late rubber tycoon Lee Kong Chian in 1952, which gave $41.7 million in 2023 to a host of charitable causes such as alleviating poverty and education. 

Data was compiled from publicly accessible sources, including annual reports and the Charity Portal, between September and November 2024. The ranking is based on the most recent annual grant disbursements between financial years 2022 and 2024, with the majority of data from financial year 2023.

The report includes only philanthropic organisations that are registered as charities with the Commissioner of Charities or listed as grant-makers with the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore.

The 2024 edition included 117 organisations, up from 101 in 2023.

The total amount of grants hit $431 million, a 96 per cent jump from $220 million the year before, with Low Tuck Kwong Foundation contributing nearly 30 per cent of the total. Excluding the foundation, the total amount in the 2024 list would have exceeded the previous sum by about 38 per cent.

Forty organisations distributed more than $1 million each, and the top 10 accounted for $338 million in total grants. Among these top 10 givers, five are affiliated with individuals/families, two are affiliated with corporates, two are donor-advised fund sponsors and one is affiliated with a clan. 

Low Tuck Kwong Foundation, The Moh Family Foundation and Tanoto Foundation are new entrants in the top 10 list. 

The first two foundations are newly established, while Tanoto Foundation was founded in 1981.

Top 10 philanthropic organisations

Table: STRAITS TIMES GRAPHICS  Source: SORISTIC IMPACT COLLECTIVE

Ms Chow Wei Ling, a spokeswoman for Low Tuck Kwong Foundation, said: “We are humbled that we are able to give back to society. We see it as a shared responsibility with the larger community to bring about lasting collective impact.

“We are proud of all our grantee partners and the dedication they have to the communities they serve.”

The Moh Family Foundation, a private foundation recently incorporated in 2021, is the fifth-biggest giver. The foundation is established by the family of late furniture tycoon Laurence Moh. Its disbursement of $23.6 million in 2023 went mainly to health, community well-being and social welfare. 

“Being on this list is a reflection of the partnerships and efforts of everyone involved in our initiatives,” said Mrs Peggy Moh, chair and chief executive of Moh Family Foundation.

“With our partners, we are continually working to replicate proven services, pilot new ones, and expand effective pilots to benefit more people.”

In the 2022 edition, Ngee Ann Kongsi, Lee Foundation and Lien Foundation were the top three donors. In the latest list, they were third, second and seventh respectively.

Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.