Community Chest rallies businesses across industries to incorporate a giving mechanism into their business models as part of its Change for Charity initiative.

1. SINGAPORE, 13 FEBRUARY 2023 – Members of the public will soon be able to donate to support those in need at more than 1,300 touchpoints across Singapore as they go about their daily activities. Through the Change for Charity initiative, Community Chest has partnered 25 businesses across eight different industries to incorporate a giving mechanism into their business models and enable the public to donate conveniently and regularly.
   
   
2. Businesses can enable their customers to give to Community Chest by rounding up their payment at the point of purchase, providing regular donation options with subscription-based services, donating a portion of their sales, or facilitating the conversion of loyalty points or rewards into donations. The Government will provide a matching grant of $0.50 for every dollar donated through participating businesses’ payment platforms (up to $25,000 per business per year). For businesses that match their customers donations, the Government will provide an enhanced matching grant of an additional $0.50 for every dollar matched by the businesses to their customers’ donations (up to $25,000 per business per year). These grants amplify the impact of the initial donation. Businesses can also tap on the Change for Charity Enabler Grant to offset the cost of implementation (up to $10,000).
   
   
3. In the long run, Community Chest hopes to partner corporates and the community to enable sustained giving in Singapore to adequately resource the social service sector to meet current and future needs.
   
   Trailblazers in making giving a way of living
   
4. 25 organisations were recognised for their efforts in sustainable philanthropy at Building a Sustainable Giving Culture – Change for Charity Pledge Ceremony, held earlier today and hosted by Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for Health. This event is also held in support of the Ministry of Social and Family Development’s Year of Celebrating Social Service Partners, which recognises the integral contributions of partners, including corporates, in nurturing and building lives together.
   
   
5. "Strong corporate partnerships are integral to our efforts in empowering individuals, families, and communities in need to achieve their fullest potential, despite the challenges they face in life. With the support of our Change for Charity partners, donation touchpoints become readily accessible as we dine, shop and play. As we celebrate Community Chest’s 40th Anniversary this year, we hope to encourage and rally corporates and the community to make giving a way of living so that our service users can get the help they need now, and in the future,” said Mr Chew Sutat, Chairman of Community Chest.
   
   
6. Among the first to come onboard the CFC initiative are financial institutions like CGS-CIMB, which enables its customers to donate via its trading platform with corporate matching, and DBS Bank, Maybank and UOB, which enable customers to convert reward points to donations. In addition to providing a QR code for donation at its 40 outlets, leading TCM health and wellness group Eu Yan Sang will also match customers’ donations and donate the matched amount to Wicare Support Group, a social service agency (SSA) that provides support to widows and children who have lost their fathers.
   
   
7. Hospitality partner Resorts World Sentosa will donate a part of its proceeds from admissions to the S.E.A. Aquarium and Adventure Cove Waterpark. Millennium Hotels & Resorts will allow customers to donate at the point of purchase of room and dining, as well as through conversion of reward points to donations via its My Millennium and À La Carte Rewards membership programmes, while Royal Plaza on Scotts enables guests to donate via a QR code in its rooms and its restaurant, Carousel, and will match donations received (up to $12,000).
   
   
8. Smaller local businesses have also joined the CFC initiative. Dance studio J Dance Atelier enables members to donate by scanning a QR code at its cashier, while thrift store The Reloved Collective and visual arts consultancy Art of Awakening has pledged to donate proceeds to Community Chest in addition to offering a donation option at checkout.
   
   
9. The public can donate to the businesses in Annex A and more information can be found on www.comchest.gov.sg/changeforcharity.
   
   Community Chest celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2023 and seeks to rally the community to champion every potential in its brand campaign
10. 10 Change for Charity is a key initiative to rally corporates, community partners and the public to adopt sustainable philanthropy practices and give regularly. This includes giving through SHARE, its monthly giving programme, volunteering time and skills regularly, providing resources to support those in need or offering employment opportunities.
    
    
11. The impact of such regular giving is showcased in Community Chest’s new 40th anniversary brand campaign, featuring service users who have found purpose in their lives despite challenges through the support of their loved ones and SSAs (details in Annex C). Themed ‘Champion Every Potential’, the campaign encourages the community to empower those in need to fulfil their potential and achieve their dreams. For more information, visit www.comchest.gov.sg/championeverypotential.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Ms Tan Min Yan
Senior Manager, Communications & Marketing
Tel: 6210 2606
Email: tan_min_yan@ncss.gov.sg

Ms Chew Kia Huey
Assistant Director, Communications & Marketing
Tel: 6210 2635
Email: chew_kia_huey@ncss.gov.sg

About Community Chest

As the hallmark of care and share, Community Chest has been uniting the community to mobilise resources and raise funds to serve those in need since 1983. Community Chest supports more than 100 social service agencies to meet underserved and critical social needs. As our fundraising and operating costs are covered mainly by Tote Board, 100% of your contributions goes towards empowering the lives of:

• Adults with disabilities
• Children with special needs and youth-at-risk
• Families in need of assistance
• Persons with mental health conditions
• Seniors in need of support

For more information about Community Chest, visit www.comchest.gov.sg.

ANNEX A: CHANGE FOR CHARITY (CFC) PARTNERS

ANNEX B: TRANSLATION OF KEY TERMS

ANNEX C: SERVICE USER PROFILES

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