Building a trusted and thriving charity sector

Dr Gerard Ee, Chairman, Charity Council 
Mr Nathaniel Vanniasingham, Chairman, Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning! I am happy to join you for a conversation that Dr Ang Hak Seng, the Commissioner of Charities, describes as a “family meeting”. It is indeed important for family members of the social and people sector to come together on a regular basis. I hope you will find today’s programme useful, and have the opportunity to catch up with one another.

Let us continue to strengthen public trust in our sector

2. In commemorating Singapore’s Bicentennial this year, it is timely to reflect on the contribution of our pioneers and learn from our past. Although they came from different lands, our pioneers worked together to build a nation, regardless of race, language or religion. Their values of openness, multiculturalism and self-determination will guide us as we chart our future

3. This is similar to the work that you are doing for Singapore. Through serving vulnerable and disadvantaged communities, you are also rallying Singaporeans to make a positive difference in the lives of others. On behalf of the government and the beneficiaries, thank you for contributing to a more caring and compassionate society.

4. Your hard work has been recognised and supported by the public. The charity sector recorded $20.5 billion in total receipts in financial year 2017, a 24% increase from the previous financial year. In addition, the sector received more than $1 billion in tax-deductible donations in 2018.

5. Underlying this growing support is the trust of the public in the sector. It is vital for all charities to continue to grow this trust, and remain accountable to the people. This will encourage even more people to volunteer or donate. To do this effectively, the Government will work closely with you to build a safer giving environment and a thriving charity sector.

We welcome partners to uplift capabilities of charities by providing shared services

6. While charities play a critical role in upholding public trust, we recognise that some of the organisations, particularly the smaller ones which lack the resources and scale, face challenges in governance and sustainability. To help these organisations, we have set-up shared services through partnerships with organisations in the sector.

7. This shared services will enable you to outsource some of your administrative functions, so as to better focus on what you do best which is to deliver social programmes. Our partners provide a wide range of services, including assistance in electronic regulatory submissions. I know that we are requiring you to submit some of your regulatory forms electronically. If you have any problems, we have shared service providers that can provide guidance; We also advise on governance if you are unsure how to comply, what to comply, what needs to be done, we also have partners who can provide advice on that; In terms of human resource management, it is always not easy to keep track of volunteers; and technology solutions. We provide that at a low cost, or at times no cost.

8. Currently, we have six shared services partners. They are: Centre for Non-Profit Leadership, Chartered Secretaries Institute of Singapore, Hindu Endowments Board, iShine Cloud Limited, Singapore Buddhist Federation and Temasek Trustees Pte Ltd.

9. Today, the COC will be signing an MOU with a new shared service partner - the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). In this collaboration, SUSS will create a structured training programme to raise competencies and skillsets of key personnel in the charities. We welcome more partners to join us in providing shared services to all charities.Apart from expanding the number of shared services, the COC has also co-developed an Annual Report Template with Baker Tilly, an audit firm in Singapore. This template is now available on the Charity Portal and it will guide you in the annual reporting process and provide you with a set of best practices. It will also help you comply with the Charities (Accounts and Annual Report) Regulations by informing you of the mandatory disclosures required in your annual submission to the COC.

10. This collaboration with the people, private and public sectors strengthens the capabilities of our charities over time. This in turn fosters a virtuous cycle of giving, as charities can serve their beneficiaries better, and make a bigger impact on our community.

Together, we will nurture a caring people and build an inclusive home

11. The essence of partnership was the heart of a speech given by DPM Heng Swee Keat at a dialogue last month. He said, “our future Singapore that we are building together, must be an expanded democracy of deeds, with citizens taking action to make a difference.”

12. Indeed, this is why my Ministry would like to work closely with you to build a trusted and thriving charity ecosystem. And I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the role played by charities as we embark on a journey in nation-building process. You are the bridge between those who have means and those who need a leg-up. You provide the platform for doing good to happen. You create the opportunities for socialising to happen in the most genuine and sincere possible moments. I think we have all seen that in the course of our work. When we have that meeting of eyes and that pair of warm hands comfort another, this is where emotions, trust and care are being conveyed. I think you have a great responsibility and fortune to see that on a daily basis. You help us realise that when we have something to give, to offer, to soothe others, we are being blessed in the process. And you light up people’s lives when the surrounding seems dark.

13. My Ministry and the COC are committed to support, guide and empower you as you take on this important role of spreading the spirit of SG Cares. Together, let us grow the SG Cares movement so that the success of Singapore is defined by nurturing a caring people, and a cohesive society.

14. It is my personal dream to make the SG Cares spirit, a defining national identity of Singapore and Singaporeans. So let’s work towards that. Thank you very much.