SINGAPORE, 24 JULY 2024 – The National Council of Social Service (NCSS) has launched the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework to help businesses enhance their brand value and take on a more sustained and longer-term approach to resource the sector and give back to the community. It seeks to provide a robust mechanism for businesses to adopt and measure the outcomes of their existing philanthropic practices.

2. Mr. Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health launched the Framework at the Singapore Apex Business Summit. It aims to guide businesses in aligning their business and social goals so that they can build social capital through a culture of sustained and long-term giving. The Framework focuses on the ‘Social’ (S) component of the Environment Social and Governance (ESG) sustainable goals and provides avenues of social empowerment in line with the ForwardSG movement.

3. “Businesses that address societal challenges could potentially gain a competitive advantage as customers, employees and investors increasingly value companies that champion sustainability and social causes,” said Minister Masagos at the launch.

4. Initiated by NCSS and in partnership with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), the Framework was developed in collaboration with the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE), the Ministry of Social and Family Development and the SG Cares Office. The Framework opens the door for cross-sector partnerships between corporates and social service agencies, allowing both parties to leverage each other’s domain expertise for the co-creation of solutions to complex social issues, while amplifying philanthropic impact and outcomes.

5. “Businesses often ask how they can practise corporate social responsibility in a more systematic manner, and to make bigger impact. The Sustainable Philanthropy Framework helps them direct their giving and volunteering, and make inclusive business decisions, in ways that can create stronger social outcomes. By aligning their philanthropic efforts with corporate purpose, businesses can Do Good and Do Well at the same time,” said Ms Tan Li San, Chief Executive Officer, NCSS.

6. NCSS has engaged over 100 businesses in the design and validation process to ensure the Framework and its metrics are relevant, useful and address business needs. NCSS has also developed an interactive playbook to guide businesses to start their philanthropic journey and create value for their business while contributing to the community meaningfully by solving complex social issues.

7. NCSS is working with its ecosystem partners the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants (ISCA), NVPC, SG Enable, raiSE, the Singapore Business Federation, the Singapore Institute of Directors and the Singapore Exchange to create awareness and build capabilities to drive adoption of the Framework. For example, ISCA has included a Sustainable Philanthropy module within their sustainability curriculum professional certifications for both business professionals and climate auditors.

8. “We are glad to partner NCSS on the Sustainability Philanthropy Framework to strengthen Singapore’s social compact. We hope that our efforts will encourage businesses and professional firms to develop initiatives to give back to the community and promote responsible corporate citizenship,” said ISCA President Mr Teo Ser Luck.

9. Over 40 businesses who participated in the ‘Early Adopters Programme’ have given feedback that the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework has helped them better structure their philanthropic efforts. They participated in workshops, tailored clinic sessions, and monthly check-ins designed to journey with corporates to strategise their philanthropic efforts to sustainably resource the sector.

10. To find out more about the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework, please visit https://www.ncss.gov.sg/our-initiatives/sustainable-philanthropy-framework

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Christopher Koh
Senior Manager, Communications
Tel: 6210 2606 
Email: Christopher_koh@ncss.gov.sg

Ms Nicola Powell
Director, Corporate and Brand
H/Advisors, Klareco 
Tel: 8161 6783
80 Robinson Road, #11-01 Singapore, 068898
w   https://klareco.h-advisors.global

About National Council of Social Service (NCSS)

NCSS is the umbrella body for over 500-member social service agencies in Singapore. Its mission is to provide leadership and direction in enhancing the capabilities and capacity of our members, advocating for social service needs and strengthening strategic partnerships, for an effective social service ecosystem. Community Chest is the philanthropy and engagement arm of NCSS and Social Service Institute (SSI) is the sector capability and transformation arm of NCSS. For more information visit www.ncss.gov.sg.

Annex A - Companies participating in the Early Adopters Programme

• Architects of Life
• BDO LLP
• CDL
• ComfortDelGro MedCare
• Cook Medical
• DBS
• DLE M&E
• Elite Commercial REIT
• Foreword Coffee
• H.A.M. Creations
• Hatch Technologies
• HP
• Income
• Lendlease Asia
• Lendlease REIT
• Loupe Asia
• Make The Change
• Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd
• MediaCorp
• novita/ 9 Koi Marketing
• NTUC FairPrice
• OCBC
• Octopus8
• Orange Tee
• Preschool Market
• PSA
• PropNex
• Push Pull Give
• SBST
• School of Concepts
• Seah Kim Cheok Construction
• Singapore Delivery Services
• Singapore Power
• SingTel
• S.J. Low & Bros
• Skillseed
• SMRT
• Social Gifting
• Standard Chartered
• The Therapy Room
• UOB
• Woh Hup

Annex B- Translation Glossary

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