A beacon of light - Doreen Tan

Doreen joined Community Chest (ComChest), an arm of National Council of Social Service (NCSS) as a Senior Manager in Philanthropic Partnership & Engagement with 10 years of fundraising experience. She likens herself to a one-stop service provider by crafting impactful solutions for corporate donors seeking to make meaningful contributions.

A typical day in Doreen’s shoes sees her juggling multiple tasks to engage donors and social service agencies. She supports numerous corporate sectors with their philanthropic needs and devises strategic engagement programmes through various channels and events.

Her passion for making a difference motivates the busy mother of two, who relishes the platform to serve a wider community under the ComChest umbrella. “The collective impact that we are able to make through NCSS is like no other job in the social service sector,” she explained.

Doreen credits her professional growth to the unique learning and development culture at NCSS. Meanwhile, exposure to different agencies have broadened her understanding of the sector and enabled her to drive more collaborations with stakeholders.

The tangible impact of her work is evident in the funds raised for critical programmes and the volunteers she connects with social service agencies to save costs while adding value to beneficiaries.

Working with like-minded individuals to achieve her goals is of utmost importance to Doreen. In the demanding social service field, she feels constantly uplifted by a team ready to lend advice and a hand during hectic donor events. Another factor that contributed to her success was her decade-long background in the social service sector which prepared her to listen and communicate well.

Doreen’s advice to aspiring professionals is to gain an understanding of fundraising, hone their presentation skills, be ready to adapt and remember that every step taken in this rewarding journey has the potential to make a difference for those who need it most.