Strengthening leadership and governance for a stronger, more resilient charity sector

• New mentoring pilot initiative to strengthen leadership capabilities across the charity sector

• The Charities Act is also undergoing a review, with initial sector engagements planned in 2027

1. Singapore’s charities will receive more support to strengthen leadership and organisational capabilities, with a new mentoring pilot for charity leaders and continued investment in leadership development. The Office of the Commissioner of Charities (COC) is also reviewing the Charities Act, with initial engagement with charities planned in 2027. Together, these efforts seek to strengthen the foundations of the charity sector, sustain public trust, and enable charities to serve their communities well.

2. These initiatives were shared by Mr David Neo, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth & Second Minister for Education, who was the Guest-of-Honour at the annual Charity Governance Conference. More than 600 charity leaders and board members attended the conference in person and online.

3. The Charity Governance Conference is the Charity Council’s annual signature event, jointly organised with the Securities Investors Association (Singapore) and Singapore University of Social Sciences. Themed “Strong Charities, Thriving through Uncertainty” this year, the Conference brings together charity leaders and sector partners to exchange insights and strengthen governance and leadership across the sector.

Building leadership capabilities

4. Strong leadership is fundamental to good governance. The GovernWell: Excellence in Charity Leadership programme, developed by the Office of the COC and the Charity Council in collaboration with five training partners, provides structured and flexible training for charity leaders, including board members and staff. The programme equips participants with knowledge, skills and tools in four key areas: leadership, ethics, social impact measurement, and financial stewardship. Since it was first rolled out in 2025, more than 1,200 participants have registered for the programme. More sign up information is available on the Charity Portal at GovernWell ↗ (opens in new tab).

5. The Office of the COC and the Charity Council also engage charities throughout the year through webinars, subsector engagements and sector-wide platforms such as the Charity Governance Conference, Year End Connect, Learn and Strengthen sessions that provide opportunities for charity leaders and staff to learn from experts and one another.

6. Building on these efforts, the Charity Council is piloting ‘Charity Elevate’, a mentoring initiative that matches Board Members, Human Resource leads, and CEOs with experienced mentors who can share practical experiences and perspectives. By bringing together an organisation’s leadership across different roles, the initiative recognises that good leadership and governance are shared responsibilities. Charities interested in finding out more can contact the Charity Council Secretariat at charities_council_sec@mccy.gov.sg.

Strengthening charities' capabilities

7. There is also scope to strengthen organisational capabilities. The EY Charities Life Cycle Landscape Report ↗ (opens in new tab) was commissioned to better understand organisational maturity and capability needs of charities in Singapore. Among the 540 charities that responded, while many assessed themselves as mature in areas such as Governance and Administration, there was more room to strengthen capabilities in Management and Employees, including areas such as volunteer coordination and structured training plans. Among the respondents, only 33% assessed themselves as having reached the Maturity stage in people management, while 60% remained at the Start-up or Growth stages.

8. Over the next three years, the Office of the COC and the Charity Council will engage charities across the different sectors to share the report’s findings and work with them on strengthening long-term capabilities in the areas identified for improvement. This sustained engagement reflects a commitment to building a sector that is not only well-governed, but resilient and future-ready.

Keeping the regulatory framework fit for purpose

9. Alongside efforts to strengthen leadership and organisations’ capabilities, the Office of the COC is reviewing the Charities Act to ensure that Singapore’s regulatory framework for charities remains trusted and fit for purpose.

10. As part of the review, the Office of the COC will conduct initial engagement with charities through focus group discussions in 2027. Their views will help shape a regulatory framework that supports a vibrant charity sector while safeguarding public trust. Following these engagements, the feedback received will be reviewed and more details on the proposed amendments to the Charities Act will be shared when ready.

Making good governance clearer and more practical

11. Beyond regulation, good governance is also about helping charities understand where they stand and where they can improve. The PILLAR Framework ↗ (opens in new tab), published by the Charity Council and Singapore University of Social Sciences in June 2026, brings together requirements from the Code of Governance, Governance Evaluation Checklist and other key existing governance, transparency and regulatory requirements into an integrated framework for charities. This reduces duplication and gives charities a clearer understanding of the practices and requirements that apply to them.

12. Charities can use the PILLAR Framework to self-assess their governance and transparency practices and identify areas for improvement. It provides a common governance language across the sector, while taking into account differences in charity size and IPC status. The PILLAR Framework also serves as the self-assessment tool for participation in the Champions of Governance and Transparency Award, with each participating organisation receiving a feedback report which could be used to support organisational learning, growth and development.

13. Mr Desmond Chin, Commissioner of Charities, said: “A strong charity sector depends on good leadership, sound governance, and the ability to adapt to change. We are committed to equipping charities with the knowledge, tools, and networks they need to lead effectively and serve well, while ensuring our regulatory framework remains fit for purpose. When charities are well led and trusted, the communities they serve are strengthened.”