Singapore-Based Health Foundations: A Comprehensive Directory for UNFPA Partnership Development

Prepared for: LKYSPP Policy Innovation Lab — UNFPA Challenge B: PPP for Climate and Humanitarian Resilience Date: April 2026 Classification: Working document — not for external distribution without review Parent document: UNFPA-R-05 (Singapore-Based Foundations and Charities Directory)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction and Methodology
2. Singapore's Philanthropic Landscape — Structural Overview
3. Tier 1: Direct Maternal and Child Health Funders
   • 3.1 Temasek Foundation
   • 3.2 Tanoto Foundation
   • 3.3 Quantedge Advancement Initiative
   • 3.4 DBS Foundation
4. Tier 2: Significant Health Givers with Potential Alignment
   • 4.1 Lee Foundation
   • 4.2 Moh Family Foundation
   • 4.3 Low Tuck Kwong Foundation
   • 4.4 Shaw Foundation
   • 4.5 The Ngee Ann Kongsi
5. Tier 3: Ecosystem Enablers and Intermediaries
   • 5.1 Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS)
   • 5.2 Lien Foundation
   • 5.3 AVPN (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network)
   • 5.4 Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA)
6. Tier 4: Civil Society and Operational Charities
   • 6.1 AWARE Singapore
   • 6.2 KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH)
   • 6.3 WAH Foundation
   • 6.4 Singapore Children's Society
   • 6.5 Club Rainbow Singapore
   • 6.6 KidSTART Singapore
   • 6.7 Ishk Tolaram Foundation
   • 6.8 Octava Foundation
7. Cross-Cutting Analysis
8. The Family Office Layer
9. Negative List — Foundations Not Recommended for UNFPA Engagement
10. Strategic Engagement Recommendations for UNFPA
11. Conclusion

• Appendix A: Foundation Quick-Reference Table
• Appendix B: Methodology and Data Sources

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY

Purpose

This report provides a comprehensive directory and strategic analysis of Singapore-based foundations, charities, and philanthropic intermediaries relevant to maternal health, reproductive health care, and children's health. It is designed to support the LKYSPP Policy Innovation Lab team in identifying realistic funding partners, co-investors, and implementing allies for the UNFPA Challenge B — Public-Private Partnership for Climate and Humanitarian Resilience.

The report serves a specific practical function: to provide the team with pitch-ready briefings on each potential partner, including verified financial data, programme priorities, governance structures, access pathways, and an honest assessment of alignment with UNFPA's mandate.

Scope

The directory covers:

• Private philanthropic foundations registered in Singapore (family foundations, corporate foundations, community foundations)
• Government-linked philanthropic entities (Temasek Trust ecosystem, Tote Board)
• Philanthropic intermediaries and networks (AVPN, PAA, CFS)
• Civil society organisations with operational programmes in maternal, reproductive, or children's health
• Hospital-based philanthropic funds (KKH, NUH Children's Fund)

The directory does not cover: bilateral government donors (covered in UNFPA-R-03), multilateral development finance institutions (covered in UNFPA-R-03), or religious charities without specific health programmes.

Methodology

This report draws on the following publicly available sources:

1. Soristic Impact Collective: "Singapore's Biggest Philanthropic Organisations" reports (2024 and 2025 editions), which track disbursements by 117–126 organisations based on audited financial statements filed with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and the Commissioner of Charities (COC)
2. Commissioner of Charities: Annual Reports (2022–2024) and the Charity Portal registry (charities.gov.sg)
3. Foundation annual reports and websites: Direct data from Temasek Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, Quantedge Foundation, DBS Foundation, Lee Foundation, Lien Foundation, CFS, and others
4. AVPN and PAA: Member databases, programme announcements, summit proceedings
5. Academic and media sources: Published research on Singapore philanthropy, media coverage of foundation launches and major gifts
6. Government sources: MAS data on family offices and AUM; MCCY charities statistics; Budget 2025 announcements on philanthropic tax incentives

Limitations: This report relies on publicly available data. Private foundation strategies, internal funding pipelines, and family office investment mandates are not publicly disclosed. The Soristic reports are the most comprehensive public data source but track only organisations above certain disbursement thresholds. Smaller foundations and informal giving channels are not captured. All financial data is reported in Singapore Dollars (SGD) unless otherwise noted.

Classification Framework

Foundations are classified into four tiers based on their relevance to UNFPA's SRHR-resilience agenda:

CHAPTER 2: SINGAPORE'S PHILANTHROPIC LANDSCAPE — STRUCTURAL OVERVIEW

Scale and Growth

Singapore's philanthropic sector has grown significantly over the past decade. The Soristic 2025 report — the most comprehensive annual tracking of Singapore philanthropy — identified 126 philanthropic organisations with total disbursements of S$419 million in FY2024, compared to 117 organisations disbursing S$431 million in FY2023. The apparent decline in total giving is misleading: the FY2023 figure was inflated by the Low Tuck Kwong Foundation's exceptional S$127.6 million disbursement (approximately 30% of the total). Excluding that outlier, underlying giving grew by approximately 38% year-on-year.

The top 10 organisations accounted for S$316 million — 75% of total tracked giving. Five of the top 10 are family-affiliated, two are corporate foundations, two are donor-advised fund sponsors, and one is a clan-based organisation. Forty-two organisations disbursed over S$1 million each.

Singapore is ranked 3rd globally on the 2024 World Giving Index (Charities Aid Foundation), up from 22nd the previous year — its highest ranking ever. This reflects both increased individual giving and the maturation of institutional philanthropy.

Regulatory Architecture

Singapore's charity sector operates under the Charities Act (Cap. 37), administered by the Commissioner of Charities (COC) within MCCY. Key regulatory features:

Registration: Any organisation established for exclusively charitable purposes must register with the COC. Registered charities enjoy income tax exemption and property tax exemption on premises used exclusively for charitable purposes.

Sector Administrators: Five government agencies serve as Sector Administrators (SAs) for charities in their respective domains:

• Ministry of Health (MOH) — health charities
• Ministry of Education (MOE) — education charities
• Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) — social welfare charities
• People's Association (PA) — community charities
• Sport Singapore — sports charities

Charities that do not fit neatly into these sectors are regulated directly by the COC.

Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs): Charities approved as IPCs can issue tax-deductible receipts to donors. The current tax deduction rate is 250% — meaning a S$100 donation generates S$250 in tax deductions. This rate applies through 31 December 2026.

Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction Scheme (2025–2028): Budget 2025 introduced a pilot scheme offering 100% tax deduction for overseas cash donations made through designated charities addressing emergency humanitarian needs. This is significant for UNFPA's international mandate: it creates, for the first time, a structured tax incentive for Singapore-based donors to fund international humanitarian health programmes.

SG Gives Matching Grant: The government provides dollar-for-dollar matching for donations to national social and community programmes through the Community Chest, President's Challenge, and the Collective for a Stronger Society, with up to S$250 million in matching funds from 1 January 2025.

Tote Board Enhanced Fund-Raising Programme: Eligible charities receive dollar-for-dollar matching support from the Tote Board for qualifying fundraising projects.

The Health Philanthropy Sub-Sector

Health is one of Singapore's most significant areas of philanthropic giving, but the sub-sector is dominated by hospital-directed donations rather than programmatic health funding. The largest health-related gifts in recent years have been directed to SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre (Lee Foundation S$50 million, Ngee Ann Development S$40 million), KK Women's and Children's Hospital (S$30 million+ in centenary pledges), and medical research (Tanoto Foundation MRF).

Within the health sub-sector, maternal and reproductive health receives a fraction of total giving. The Moh Family Foundation (75.1% of grants to health) is the most health-concentrated major funder, but its portfolio spans general health rather than targeting SRHR specifically. The most dedicated SRHR funding comes from Temasek Foundation (Richard Magnus Endowment) and Tanoto Foundation (MRF and CHaMP Centre).

A critical gap: There is no Singapore-based foundation with an explicit focus on reproductive health, family planning, or sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) as understood in the UNFPA mandate. Maternal and child health receives attention; reproductive health and SRHR more broadly do not. This gap represents both a challenge (no existing champion) and an opportunity (first-mover advantage for whoever frames the agenda).

Wealth and Family Offices

Singapore's wealth management sector — S$5.4 trillion in assets under management (MAS, 2022) — is the financial backdrop to its philanthropy. An estimated over 2,000 single-family offices (up from ~1,400 in 2023) (SFOs) are registered under MAS 13O/13U tax incentive schemes. These schemes require qualifying FOs to invest in Singapore-domiciled assets and increasingly encourage local philanthropic activity.

Industry surveys (Campden Wealth, UBS/PwC) suggest 10–20% of Singapore FOs have genuine impact investing appetite — defined as willingness to accept below-market returns for social/environmental outcomes. Climate is the most common impact theme; health/SRHR is much less common. Accessing family offices requires intermediaries: AVPN, CFS, private bank philanthropy advisory teams (DBS Private Bank, UOB, OCBC), or the Philanthropy Asia Alliance.

Government as Catalyst

A distinctive feature of Singapore's philanthropic landscape is the government's active role as a catalyst — not just regulator — of private giving. Through matching grants (SG Gives, Tote Board EFR), tax incentives (250% IPC deduction, overseas humanitarian deduction), and convening platforms (PAA, Singapore International Foundation), the government systematically leverages private capital for social outcomes. This creates opportunities for UNFPA: a well-structured proposal that aligns with government priorities (ASEAN health resilience, Singapore's regional leadership role) can access not just private philanthropy but government co-funding.

CHAPTER 3: TIER 1 — DIRECT MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH FUNDERS

These four foundations have dedicated programmes, endowments, or grant mechanisms specifically targeting maternal, reproductive, or children's health outcomes.

3.1 Temasek Foundation

Type: Government-linked philanthropic foundation (part of the Temasek ecosystem) Established: 2007 (consolidated from earlier Temasek community entities) Governance: Board appointed through Temasek Trust; chaired by Mr Lim Swee Say (former Minister) Total giving: Not publicly disclosed as a single figure; programmes span liveability, health, education, and international cooperation Website: temasekfoundation.org.sg

Maternal and Child Health Programmes

The Richard Magnus Endowment (S$100 million) Launched on 5 June 2023 at Punggol Polyclinic, this is the single largest dedicated maternal and child health philanthropic commitment in Singapore's history. The endowment is named in honour of the late Retired Judge Richard Magnus (1945–2022), who served as founding chairman of Temasek Cares and spent 13 years at Temasek Foundation championing new social models of care. The endowment supports:

• Antenatal and postnatal care programmes for mothers and babies
• Initiatives for children's health and well-being, including research, awareness, prevention, and intervention
• Physical, mental, and social well-being across the life course

The endowment builds on the Integrated Maternal and Child Wellness Hub (IMCWH) — a first-of-its-kind integrated screening service co-developed by Temasek Foundation, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), and SingHealth Polyclinics. The initial pilot at Punggol Polyclinic, funded by a S$2.5 million+ Temasek Foundation grant starting in July 2019, provided integrated developmental screening for children under three alongside maternal emotional health screening. Within two years, over 14,000 screenings were conducted. The model has since expanded to Bedok, Tampines, and Sengkang polyclinics, with the Ministry of Health targeting rollout to 14 polyclinics by 2025.

Public Health Innovations Grants Temasek Foundation runs open calls for proposals supporting translational implementation and pilot-testing of innovative health technologies, protocols, and business models. These grants fund ideas addressing healthcare and environmental challenges affecting the Singapore population. Contact: liveability@temasekfoundation.org.sg.

Health for Human Potential Community (via PAA) Through its parent entity Temasek Trust, Temasek Foundation is a co-lead of the PAA Health for Human Potential (HHP) Community, launched in May 2025 with a US$100 million funding target by 2030, focused on MNCHN and infectious diseases in Southeast Asia.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Very strong Rationale: The Richard Magnus Endowment's explicit focus on maternal and child health, combined with Temasek Foundation's regional credibility, government backing, and role in the PAA HHP Community, makes it the single most aligned major funder in Singapore. The IMCWH model demonstrates willingness to fund innovative, integrated care models — precisely the kind of cross-sector approach UNFPA's resilience PPP requires. Realistic funding scale: S$5–20 million over 3–5 years, structured as a programme grant or endowment draw Access pathway: Temasek Trust; PAA Secretariat; LKYSPP institutional relationships with the Temasek ecosystem Key risk: Government-linked entities are politically cautious. Any UNFPA engagement must be carefully framed to avoid politically sensitive areas (abortion, comprehensive sexuality education) that could create reputational risk for a Singapore government-linked foundation.

3.2 Tanoto Foundation

Type: Private family foundation Established: 1981 (by Sukanto Tanoto and Tinah Bingei Tanoto) Headquarters: Singapore (with operations in Indonesia, China) Focus areas: Education, medical research, community empowerment Total giving to medical research since 2009: S$20 million+ Website: tanotofoundation.org

Maternal and Child Health Programmes

Tanoto Foundation Medical Research Fund (MRF) Launched in 2023, the MRF is the first private philanthropic medical research fund in Singapore. It provides up to S$5 million per year for research addressing Asia-prevalent diseases across five focus areas: diabetes, oncology, maternal and child health, cardiology, and infectious diseases.

In its inaugural 2024 round — selected from over 100 applications — the MRF funded three projects:

1. Maternal fertility decline: Professor Brian Kennedy (National University of Singapore) — research into ovarian aging, aiming to identify causes of fertility decline and investigate safer reproductive interventions to preserve ovarian function, extend fertility, and mitigate menopause-related complications
2. Neonatal allergies: Associate Professor Ashley St John (Duke-NUS Medical School) — investigating maternal influences on neonatal allergies to develop prevention therapies
3. Cardiovascular risk in diabetes: Associate Professor Rinkoo Dalan (Tan Tock Seng Hospital) — colchicine for cardiovascular prevention in diabetes

The application process for the MRF 2025 cycle opened in September 2024. Research proposals may cover basic, translational, or clinical research.

TF Centre for Child and Maternal Health Programmes (CHaMP) Tanoto Foundation donated S$3 million to establish the TF Centre for CHaMP at KK Women's and Children's Hospital. The centre positions KKH as a leader in early childhood and maternal health through integrated research, clinical innovation, and community programmes.

Medical Philanthropy Forum In July 2024, Tanoto Foundation hosted its inaugural Medical Philanthropy Forum, convening researchers, clinicians, and philanthropists to discuss bridging funding gaps in medical research. This signals a broader ambition to catalyse a culture of medical philanthropy in Singapore — beyond its own giving.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Strong (particularly on research and evidence) Rationale: The MRF's explicit maternal and child health focus, the CHaMP Centre at KKH, and the Foundation's stated commitment to Asia-prevalent diseases create direct alignment with UNFPA's evidence and programme needs. The Foundation's Indonesian operations add regional credibility. Realistic funding scale: S$3–5 million over 3 years (via MRF grants or CHaMP-linked programmes) Access pathway: SingHealth Duke-NUS network; KKH research leadership; direct approach to Tanoto Foundation's Singapore office Key risk: The MRF is research-focused, not programme-focused. UNFPA engagement would likely need to be framed as evidence generation or translational research rather than direct service delivery.

3.3 Quantedge Advancement Initiative

Type: Private foundation (grantmaking charity) Established: 2020 (Quantedge Foundation established earlier; QAI is the international arm) Parent: Quantedge Capital (quantitative hedge fund) Focus areas: Global health and development; climate change action Geographic scope: Southeast Asia and beyond Awards: Charity Transparency Award 2022, 2023, 2024 (Charity Council) Website: quantedge.org

Health and Development Programmes

PAA Health for Human Potential (HHP) Community — Co-Lead Quantedge Advancement Initiative is one of five co-leads (alongside the Gates Foundation, Institute of Philanthropy, Tanoto Foundation, and Temasek Foundation) of the HHP Community, launched at the Philanthropy Asia Summit on 5 May 2025. The Community targets US$100 million by 2030 with two objectives: (1) reducing preventable deaths and disease burdens across Southeast Asia, focusing on maternal, newborn, and child health and nutrition (MNCHN), and (2) tackling infectious diseases.

The HHP Community's Collective Impact Framework — co-developed by its leads — defines a common mission, scopes the challenge, and sets clear metrics and timelines for progress. The Community welcomes new partners and aims to build a sustained, long-term coalition.

Nutrition International — Philippines QAI supports Nutrition International's "Bridging the Fortification Gap in the Philippines" project, which aims to improve the nutritional status and well-being of women and adolescents. This is a direct SRHR-adjacent investment in a climate-vulnerable ASEAN country.

Governance and Transparency Quantedge Foundation has won the Charity Transparency Award three consecutive years (2022–2024), indicating strong governance standards — an important factor for UNFPA partnership due diligence.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Very strong Rationale: QAI's co-leadership of the HHP Community places it at the centre of the most aligned funding coalition in Singapore. Its focus on global health and development, combined with Southeast Asia geographic scope and demonstrated investment in women's nutrition, creates near-perfect alignment with UNFPA's SRHR-resilience mandate. Realistic funding scale: US$5–15 million over 5 years (within the HHP Community framework) Access pathway: Via PAA HHP Community engagement; AVPN network Key risk: Quantedge is a relatively small team; its philanthropic capacity is significant but its operational bandwidth for partnership management may be limited. Engagement should be structured through the HHP Community mechanism rather than bilateral.

3.4 DBS Foundation

Type: Corporate foundation (bank-linked) Established: 2014 Parent: DBS Group Holdings (Southeast Asia's largest bank by assets) FY2024 commitment: S$102.6 million (top giver in Soristic 2025) Long-term pledge: S$1 billion over the next decade Focus areas: Essential needs for the underprivileged; financial and digital inclusion; social enterprise support Website: dbs.com/foundation

Maternal and Child Health Programmes

KidSTART Pregnant Mum & Baby Nutrition Programme (September 2025) DBS Foundation partnered with KidSTART Singapore to launch a programme targeting pregnant mothers from lower-income households. The initiative provides:

• Nutrition support through pregnancy and early infancy
• Mental wellness workshops (delivered by Singapore Association of Mental Health)
• Financial literacy training (delivered by SpedGrow, a 2024 DBS Foundation grant recipient)

This programme directly addresses the social determinants of maternal and child health in Singapore's most vulnerable communities.

Social Enterprise Grant Programme DBS Foundation's flagship grant programme provides SGD 50,000–250,000 to social enterprises and SMEs creating impact for vulnerable communities across Asia (China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan). Eligible businesses must demonstrate impact in areas including healthcare and nutrition. In 2024, 22 social entrepreneurs were selected from 1,500+ applicants, receiving S$4.5 million total. Past recipients include Project Baala (sustainable menstrual solutions for women and girls in rural India).

Scale of Commitment DBS Foundation's S$102.6 million commitment in 2024 makes it the single largest philanthropic disburser in Singapore. The bank also pledged 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the next decade. The foundation supports 16 new multi-year programmes and 22 Businesses for Impact across Asia.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Moderate Rationale: DBS Foundation's KidSTART partnership demonstrates direct interest in maternal and child nutrition. The SE Grant Programme could fund SRHR-related social enterprises. However, DBS Foundation's focus is primarily on financial inclusion and community resilience in a domestic Singapore context, with Asia-wide SE grants as a secondary channel. Realistic funding scale: SGD 50,000–250,000 per SE grant; larger programmatic partnership would require bespoke engagement Access pathway: DBS Foundation open grant calls (annual); DBS Private Bank philanthropy advisory for family office introductions Key risk: Corporate foundations operate within brand and compliance frameworks. SRHR-specific programming may face internal sensitivities at a publicly listed bank.

CHAPTER 4: TIER 2 — SIGNIFICANT HEALTH GIVERS WITH POTENTIAL ALIGNMENT

These foundations are major health funders but do not currently have dedicated maternal, reproductive, or children's health programmes. Their existing portfolios — particularly in medical research, hospital support, and community health — create potential alignment that could be developed through targeted engagement.

4.1 Lee Foundation

Type: Private family foundation Established: 1952 (by Lee Kong Chian, founder of OCBC Bank) Total assets: S$13.6 billion — the largest foundation in Singapore by far FY2024 disbursement: S$33.2 million Focus areas: Education, healthcare, arts and heritage, disaster relief Website: Not publicly maintained; information via Givepedia and annual filings

Health-Related Giving

Lee Foundation's health philanthropy is substantial but broad:

• S$50 million gift to SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre — the single largest private gift to a Singapore medical institution, supporting healthcare innovation, discovery research, and pilot grants
• Lee Foundation Overseas Medical Bursary — provides bond-free financial aid to Singaporeans studying medicine overseas
• Regular donations to hospitals in Singapore and the region

Lee Foundation has been a consistent donor to the National University of Singapore since 1987, awarding approximately 240 scholarships to date. Its giving spans education, healthcare, arts, and community — it is a generalist foundation with significant health capacity rather than a health-focused foundation.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Moderate (high potential given asset base) Rationale: With S$13.6 billion in assets and a demonstrated willingness to make S$50 million+ health gifts, Lee Foundation has the capacity to make a transformative investment in SRHR-resilience. However, its historical giving pattern is institution-directed (hospitals, universities) rather than programme-directed. A proposal would need to be structured around institutional partnerships (e.g., funding an SRHR-resilience research programme at SingHealth Duke-NUS) rather than direct UNFPA programme funding. Realistic funding scale: S$5–20 million if structured as a named research programme or institutional gift Access pathway: SingHealth Duke-NUS leadership; NUS connections via LKYSPP Key risk: Lee Foundation is famously private and does not maintain a public website or open application process. Engagement requires warm introductions through institutional channels.

4.2 Moh Family Foundation

Type: Private family foundation Established: 2021 Founders: Family of the late Laurence Moh (furniture industry) FY2024 disbursement: S$22.4 million FY2023 disbursement: S$23.6 million Grant allocation (FY2023): Health 75.1%, Community well-being 14.2%, Social welfare 8.7% Website: Not publicly maintained

Health-Related Giving

The Moh Family Foundation is the most health-concentrated major foundation in Singapore, with over three-quarters of its grants directed to health causes. Despite being incorporated only in 2021, it has rapidly become one of Singapore's top 10 philanthropic organisations. The Foundation supports health, community well-being, and social welfare internationally.

Specific grant recipients and programmes are not publicly disclosed in detail. The Foundation's rapid emergence and health concentration suggest a deliberate strategic focus, though the specific sub-areas within health (e.g., hospitals, research, community health, public health) are not transparently reported.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Moderate to strong (under-explored opportunity) Rationale: The Moh Family Foundation's 75.1% health allocation and recent incorporation make it potentially the most receptive major funder for a new SRHR-resilience portfolio. Unlike established foundations with fixed giving patterns, a foundation incorporated in 2021 may be actively defining its strategic priorities. The key question — unanswerable from public data — is whether the Foundation's health giving is directed primarily at Singapore domestic healthcare or includes international health and development. Realistic funding scale: S$5–15 million if health portfolio includes or could include international SRHR Access pathway: Limited public information; likely requires intermediary introduction via CFS, AVPN, or private bank advisory Key risk: Opacity. The Foundation does not maintain a public website or publish programme details. Engagement is speculative without insider knowledge of its strategic direction.

4.3 Low Tuck Kwong Foundation

Type: Private family foundation Established: December 2022 Founder: Low Tuck Kwong (founder and chairman of PT Bayan Resources, Indonesia-based coal mining) FY2024 disbursement: S$23.2 million FY2023 disbursement: S$127.6 million (exceptional; ~30% of total Singapore philanthropy that year) Focus areas: Education, healthcare Website: Not publicly maintained in detail

Health-Related Giving

The Low Tuck Kwong Foundation was the top giver in the Soristic 2024 report, disbursing an exceptional S$127.6 million in its first full year of operation — the largest single-year philanthropic disbursement ever recorded in Singapore's tracking history. The majority went to a S$101 million gift to the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy for scholarships supporting public officers from Asia. Healthcare recipients include hospitals in Singapore and the region.

The Foundation's FY2024 disbursement of S$23.2 million suggests that the S$127.6 million was indeed a one-off launch-year commitment. The ongoing annual giving level is likely in the S$20–30 million range, which remains substantial.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Low to moderate Rationale: The Foundation's demonstrated interest in healthcare and its LKYSPP connection (via the S$101 million gift) create a potential touchpoint. However, the Foundation's health giving appears directed at hospitals rather than public health programmes. Its coal mining wealth source also creates potential reputational considerations for UNFPA partnership. Realistic funding scale: S$5–10 million if health portfolio can accommodate international public health Access pathway: LKYSPP institutional relationship (given the S$101 million gift); NUS leadership Key risk: Reputational due diligence required given fossil fuel wealth origins. New foundation (est. 2022) with limited track record in health programme design.

4.4 Shaw Foundation

Type: Private family foundation Established: 1957 (by the Shaw brothers — Run Run Shaw and Runme Shaw) FY2022 disbursement: ~S$5 million (most recent publicly available figure) Lifetime giving: Over US$150 million Focus areas: Education, healthcare, arts and heritage, welfare Website: shaw.sg/shawfoundation

Health-Related Giving

The Shaw Foundation is one of Singapore's oldest philanthropic institutions. Funding comes from investments and prime properties donated by the Shaw family, including Shaw Centre. Key health giving:

• National Kidney Foundation: The largest share of Shaw Foundation funding has gone to NKF
• Paediatric medical research: Through the late Tan Sri Dr Runme Shaw's 19-year chairmanship of the Singapore Turf Club, proceeds were directed to cardiac, cancer, liver, and paediatric medical research
• Hospitals and associations for the disabled: Regular support to healthcare institutions

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Low to moderate Rationale: Shaw Foundation's paediatric research funding and long institutional history in health create potential alignment, but its annual disbursement (~S$5 million) is modest compared to other Tier 2 foundations, and its portfolio is well-established. The Foundation would be a supplementary rather than anchor funder. Realistic funding scale: S$500,000–2 million Access pathway: Formal proposal; NUS connections Key risk: Established giving patterns; limited appetite for new programmatic areas.

4.5 The Ngee Ann Kongsi

Type: Teochew clan-based philanthropic organisation Established: 1845 FY2024 disbursement: S$40.6 million Focus areas: Education, culture, healthcare, community Website: thengeeannkongsi.com.sg

Health-Related Giving

The Ngee Ann Kongsi is one of Singapore's most generous philanthropic organisations, with a particular emphasis on education and medical infrastructure:

• S$40 million to SingHealth (via subsidiary Ngee Ann Development): Funded the Ngee Ann Kongsi Discovery Tower and auditorium at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, supporting medical research and education in ageing, population health, and AI for healthcare
• S$12.5 million to NTU for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (October 2024): A five-year commitment to advance TCM education, fund scholarships and bursaries, support clinical training, and expand community outreach

The Ngee Ann Kongsi's health giving is primarily directed at medical education and infrastructure rather than programmatic health delivery.

Assessment of UNFPA Alignment

Alignment strength: Low Rationale: The Ngee Ann Kongsi's giving is directed at Singapore-based medical education and infrastructure. Its Teochew community mandate and education-first orientation make it an unlikely partner for international SRHR programming. However, its S$40 million SingHealth gift demonstrates that it can make very large health investments when aligned with institutional priorities. Realistic funding scale: Unlikely for UNFPA-specific programming Access pathway: SingHealth Duke-NUS; NTU connections Key risk: Mission misalignment — the Kongsi's mandate is to serve the Teochew community and Singapore education.

CHAPTER 5: TIER 3 — ECOSYSTEM ENABLERS AND INTERMEDIARIES

These organisations do not directly fund maternal or child health programmes but serve as critical channels, connectors, and platforms through which funding can be mobilised and partnerships structured.

5.1 Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS)

Type: Community foundation (donor-advised fund sponsor) Established: 2008 FY2024 disbursement: S$28.4 million Lifetime donations raised: S$353 million+ Lifetime grants disbursed: S$210 million+ Website: cf.org.sg

Role in the Philanthropic Ecosystem

CFS is Singapore's first and largest holder of donor-advised funds (DAFs). It operates as a cause-neutral foundation — it does not earmark funds for specific sectors but channels giving based on donor preferences. CFS manages due diligence for grant recipients, provides tax-efficient giving structures for donors, and increasingly facilitates international philanthropy.

CFS offers four categories of grants: programme grants (funding specific activities), operating grants, capacity-building grants, and emergency grants. Applications undergo evaluation based on alignment with donor intent and CFS due diligence criteria.

Relevance to UNFPA

CFS is the most practical channel for structuring Singapore-based donations toward UNFPA-related programming. A donor-advised fund at CFS could receive contributions from family offices, foundations, and individual donors, with CFS managing compliance and disbursement. This is the lowest-barrier funding instrument available.

CFS's growing international grant portfolio also positions it as a channel for the new Overseas Humanitarian Assistance Tax Deduction (2025–2028), which could incentivise Singapore-based donors to fund international SRHR work through CFS.

Access pathway: Direct approach; family office referrals; SBF Foundation network Realistic role: Channelling vehicle for S$2–10 million per year in aggregated donor giving

5.2 Lien Foundation

Type: Private family foundation Established: 1980 FY2024 disbursement: S$24.4 million Focus areas: Eldercare, palliative care, seniors' mental well-being (formerly also early childhood development) Website: lienfoundation.org

Profile

Lien Foundation concentrates at "two ends of life's spectrum" — eldercare and end-of-life care, having progressively exited early childhood development since 2022 (citing increased government spending in that space). It is one of Singapore's most internationally active foundations, having funded water, sanitation, and urban poor programmes in ASEAN countries.

Lien Foundation's approach is characterised by innovation-seeking, risk-tolerance, and willingness to fund unconventional models — qualities that distinguish it from more conservative Singapore foundations. Recent initiatives include the Air Master cardiopulmonary rehabilitation programme in partnership with AWWA, Ren Ci Hospital, St Luke's ElderCare, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Relevance to UNFPA

Lien Foundation is not a direct SRHR funder, but its international orientation, ASEAN relationships, and innovation-oriented grantmaking philosophy make it a useful reference model and potential connector. Its exit from early childhood development may also signal availability of capital for new programmatic areas.

Access pathway: Direct approach; AVPN network Realistic role: Knowledge partner, connector to ASEAN civil society networks; potential co-funder if SRHR-resilience is framed as life-course innovation

5.3 AVPN (Asian Venture Philanthropy Network)

Type: Nonprofit membership network Established: 2011 Headquarters: Singapore Membership: 700+ organisations across 43 markets Website: avpn.asia

Profile

AVPN is Asia's largest social investment network, connecting philanthropists, impact investors, development organisations, and governments. Founded by Doug Miller (who also founded the European Venture Philanthropy Association), AVPN approaches social investment as a continuum of capital — grants, debt, and equity — to achieve social impact.

Health Initiatives

AVPN launched a US$1 million pooled fund to improve maternal, newborn, child health, and nutrition (MNCHN) in Southeast Asia. The network also convenes sessions on health equity, gender-lens investing, and climate-health intersections at its annual Global Conference.

Relevance to UNFPA

AVPN is the primary access point for engaging Singapore-based family offices and impact investors on health-related funding. Its membership network includes many of the foundations profiled in this report. The annual AVPN Global Conference is a high-value convening opportunity for relationship-building.

Access pathway: AVPN membership; conference participation Realistic role: Network access, deal flow facilitation, convening; not a direct funder

5.4 Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA)

Type: Multi-stakeholder philanthropy platform Established: 2022 (launched at first Philanthropy Asia Summit) Parent: Temasek Trust Website: philanthropyasiaalliance.org

Profile

The Philanthropy Asia Alliance is a Temasek Trust-linked platform that brings together Asia's major philanthropists, foundations, and development organisations to collaborate on high-impact challenges. PAA operates through thematic "Communities" — collaborative groups of funders, practitioners, and ecosystem partners working on shared missions.

The Health for Human Potential (HHP) Community

Launched on 5 May 2025 at the Philanthropy Asia Summit, the HHP Community is the most directly relevant funding mechanism for UNFPA's SRHR-resilience agenda in Singapore. Key details:

• Objectives: (1) Reduce preventable deaths and disease burdens in Southeast Asia, focusing on MNCHN; (2) Tackle infectious diseases
• Community leads: Gates Foundation, Institute of Philanthropy, Quantedge Advancement Initiative, Tanoto Foundation, Temasek Foundation
• Funding target: US$100 million by 2030
• Approach: Collective Impact Framework — common mission, scoped challenge, clear metrics and timelines
• Summit context: The 2025 Summit convened 1,000+ global and regional thought leaders, with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Bill Gates sharing perspectives on philanthropy's role in health and climate

Previously launched Communities include Blue Oceans, Sustainable Land Use, and Holistic & Inclusive Education (2024). The Just Energy Transition (JET) Community was launched alongside HHP in 2025.

Relevance to UNFPA

The PAA HHP Community is the single most important engagement target identified in this entire directory. Its objectives — reducing MNCHN-related preventable deaths in Southeast Asia — are directly aligned with UNFPA's mandate. The Community's co-leads include foundations already profiled as Tier 1 partners. The Collective Impact Framework approach means UNFPA could position itself as a technical partner or implementing agency rather than a funder, contributing expertise and programme infrastructure in exchange for access to the US$100 million capital pool.

Access pathway: Temasek Trust; PAA Secretariat; through any of the five Community leads Realistic role: Technical partner, programme co-designer, implementing agency within the HHP Community framework

CHAPTER 6: TIER 4 — CIVIL SOCIETY AND OPERATIONAL CHARITIES

These organisations operate programmes in maternal health, reproductive health, children's welfare, or women's rights. They are potential implementing partners, knowledge partners, or advocacy allies for UNFPA-linked programming — not funding sources.

6.1 AWARE Singapore

Type: Advocacy organisation (Company Limited by Guarantee) Established: 1985 Full name: Association of Women for Action and Research Focus areas: Gender equality, women's rights, sexual and reproductive rights, workplace harassment, GBV Website: aware.org.sg

AWARE is Singapore's leading gender equality advocacy organisation. It operates the Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) — Singapore's first and only specialised care service for sexual violence survivors — and provides counselling, legal advice, and training to women. AWARE's advocacy extends to reproductive rights, including critiques of state population policies, advocacy for informed choice in family planning, and research on women's health policy.

AWARE's 2024–2025 advocacy includes responses to government policy on women's representation, the "motherhood penalty" in workplace advancement, and reproductive autonomy. The organisation is well-positioned as a knowledge partner on SRHR advocacy framing in the Singapore context — particularly given Singapore's cautious political environment around reproductive rights.

Relevance to UNFPA: Knowledge partner for SRHR advocacy strategy; research partner on women's health policy; potential co-convenor for SRHR policy discussions in Singapore.

6.2 KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH)

Type: Public hospital (SingHealth cluster) Established: 1924 (as Kandang Kerbau Hospital — celebrated centenary in October 2024) Beds: 830 Specialisation: Obstetrics and gynaecology, neonatology, paediatrics Website: kkh.com.sg

KKH is Singapore's largest public hospital specialising in healthcare for women and children. Its philanthropic profile surged in October 2024 when, at its centenary celebration (graced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam), KKH announced 15 new population health programmes backed by S$30 million+ in philanthropic funding. These programmes target:

• Metabolic health: PELiCAN (Paediatrics & Endocrinology Life-Course Action Network)
• Preterm birth prevention: Preterm Pregnancy Prevention Programme
• Community midwifery: EMPOWER2 pilot — KKH nurses delivering personalised, evidence-based anticipatory care to new mothers in their homes (400 postnatal mothers in Kallang, Sengkang, Punggol, commencing early 2025)
• Health literacy: Community-based education programmes

KKH also hosts:

• SingHealth Duke-NUS Maternal and Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) — established 2021, conducting research across the maternal-child health spectrum
• Tanoto Foundation Centre for CHaMP — S$3 million for child and maternal health programmes
• Temasek Foundation IMCWH — integrated maternal and child wellness screening hub
• Kidz Horizon Appeal — raised S$17 million+ over 20 years for children with chronic illnesses

Relevance to UNFPA: KKH is the anchor clinical and research institution for any Singapore-based maternal and child health initiative. Its partnership with WAH Foundation demonstrates cross-border training capability. The EMPOWER2 community midwifery pilot is directly relevant to UNFPA's midwifery strengthening work. KKH's SingHealth Duke-NUS network provides access to Lee Foundation, Tanoto, and Ngee Ann Kongsi philanthropic relationships.

6.3 WAH Foundation

Type: Nonprofit organisation (registered in Singapore and Cambodia) Established: 2009 Founder: Christopher Wilson Focus areas: Water, healthcare, maternal health, midwifery training Geographic focus: Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia Website: wahfoundation.org

WAH (Water and Healthcare) Foundation is the most concrete example of Singapore-based cross-border maternal health programming. Founded in 2009, WAH has partnered with KKH and Mount Alvernia Hospital Singapore since 2013 to train midwives and paediatric nurses in rural Cambodia.

Key achievements:

• 400+ individuals trained in midwifery and emergency infant care
• 200+ midwives and paediatric nurses trained across Kampong Chhnang province
• 90% drop in maternal mortality related to childbirth in the province
• Train-the-trainer model: 10 Cambodian Core Trainers now deliver training in Khmer, enabling sustainability
• WAH Emergency Life Kits: Designed in 2017 with KKH and Mount Alvernia Hospital to save mothers and infants in isolated rural communities during childbirth
• 10 emergency midwife students qualified through International University in Kampong Chhnang

WAH's model is directly relevant to UNFPA's work: it demonstrates that Singapore-based clinical expertise (via KKH) can be deployed to reduce maternal mortality in developing Asia through a train-the-trainer approach — exactly the kind of knowledge-transfer PPP the LKYSPP team is designing.

Relevance to UNFPA: Implementation model and proof-of-concept for Singapore-to-ASEAN maternal health partnership. Potential implementing partner for midwifery training components of a resilience PPP.

6.4 Singapore Children's Society

Type: Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) Established: 1952 FY2024 reach: 20,187 children, youth, and families Focus areas: Child welfare, youth development, family support, mental health Website: childrensociety.org.sg

Singapore Children's Society is the nation's leading child welfare charity. As a designated KidSTART agency, it reaches children from low-income households — starting from pregnancy — with outreach covering nutrition, child development, and parent-child interaction. Services include:

• Sunbeam Place: Residential care for children aged 2–21
• Counselling and casework for families
• Flourishing Minds: Mental health literacy programme
• Community-based programmes across multiple centres

Relevance to UNFPA: Potential implementing partner for child health and early childhood programmes in Singapore. Its KidSTART role provides a direct connection to the government's early childhood infrastructure.

6.5 Club Rainbow Singapore

Type: Voluntary Welfare Organisation Focus: Children and youth with chronic illnesses Website: clubrainbow.org

Club Rainbow supports and empowers children with chronic illnesses and their families through holistic services — medical, educational, psychosocial, and financial support. It serves as a supplementary care network for families navigating long-term paediatric health challenges.

Relevance to UNFPA: Limited direct alignment, but relevant as part of the broader children's health ecosystem in Singapore.

6.6 KidSTART Singapore

Type: Government-linked programme Focus: Early childhood development for low-income families (children under 6) Website: kidstart.sg

KidSTART is an MSF-linked programme providing holistic, age-appropriate support to families from pregnancy onward — including nutrition guidance, child developmental screening, and parent-child interaction coaching. It operates through designated agencies (including Singapore Children's Society) and partners with DBS Foundation on the Pregnant Mum & Baby Nutrition Programme.

Relevance to UNFPA: Demonstrates Singapore's government-philanthropic partnership model for early life intervention. The DBS Foundation partnership is a live example of corporate philanthropy funding maternal-child health through government channels.

6.7 Ishk Tolaram Foundation

Type: Private family foundation (Company Limited by Guarantee, charity status) Established: 2017 Parent: Tolaram Family Trust (25% beneficiary) Focus areas: Education, healthcare, skills training Geographic scope: Indonesia, Nigeria, Singapore, Estonia Website: ishktolaram.com

Ishk Tolaram Foundation empowers underserved communities through education, healthcare, and skills training. Its healthcare work includes:

• 1,250+ cataract surgeries in Nigeria (in partnership with Tulsi Chanrai Foundation)
• Eyecare programme development in Indonesia
• Exploration of prosthetic limb camps in Nigeria

The Foundation is both an operating and grantmaking organisation, registered as a Grantmaking Philanthropic Organisation with IRAS.

Relevance to UNFPA: Demonstrates the model of Singapore-registered foundations funding healthcare in developing countries. Its Nigeria and Indonesia operations parallel the geographic areas where UNFPA has significant programmes. Potential co-investor in Southeast Asian health initiatives.

6.8 Octava Foundation

Type: Private foundation Established: Within the last decade Focus areas: Equitable quality education, mental well-being promotion Geographic scope: Singapore (primary); Southeast Asia (supporting) Website: octavafoundation.org

Octava Foundation works across two interconnected tracks: equitable quality education and early promotion of mental well-being. It partners with organisations that integrate innovative solutions into existing systems. While not a health funder per se, its mental well-being focus intersects with maternal mental health — a growing priority in Singapore's public health agenda (as evidenced by KKH's EMPOWER2 programme targeting postnatal depression).

Relevance to UNFPA: Potential alignment on maternal mental health and adolescent well-being. Secondary priority for engagement.

CHAPTER 7: CROSS-CUTTING ANALYSIS

Where the Money Goes: Funding Flow Patterns

Singapore's health philanthropy flows overwhelmingly toward domestic institutions — hospitals, medical schools, and research centres. The five largest health-related gifts identified in this research are all directed at Singapore-based institutions:

International health funding from Singapore-based philanthropy is a small fraction of total giving. The WAH Foundation's Cambodia midwifery programme, Ishk Tolaram's Nigeria healthcare work, and Quantedge's Philippines nutrition project are exceptions rather than the norm. The PAA HHP Community (US$100M target for Southeast Asia) represents the first large-scale attempt to channel Singapore-based philanthropic capital toward international health outcomes.

The Reproductive Health Gap

A critical finding of this analysis: no Singapore-based foundation has an explicit focus on reproductive health, family planning, or SRHR as understood in the UNFPA mandate. Maternal health receives attention through Temasek Foundation's Richard Magnus Endowment and Tanoto Foundation's MRF, but reproductive health — contraceptive access, family planning, adolescent SRHR, comprehensive sexuality education — is conspicuously absent from Singapore's philanthropic landscape.

This gap has structural explanations:

1. Political sensitivity: Singapore's government maintains careful control over reproductive health policy (population incentives, pronatalist messaging). Foundations — particularly government-linked ones like Temasek Foundation — avoid areas that could conflict with government positioning.
2. Domestic orientation: Singapore's own maternal mortality is extremely low (estimated 8 per 100,000 live births). Domestic philanthropy for maternal health focuses on innovation and quality improvement rather than access — the urgent challenge in UNFPA's programme countries.
3. Absence of SRHR advocacy infrastructure: Unlike countries with strong reproductive rights movements (US, UK, Nordics), Singapore has no dedicated SRHR advocacy foundation. AWARE covers reproductive rights within a broader gender equality mandate but is not a funder.

Implication for UNFPA: The LKYSPP team should frame SRHR-resilience proposals using the language of "maternal and child health" and "health system resilience" rather than "reproductive health" or "SRHR" when engaging Singapore-based funders. The HHP Community's MNCHN framing — which avoids politically charged terminology while encompassing the substance of SRHR programming — is a model to follow.

Concentration Risk

Singapore's philanthropic landscape is highly concentrated. The top 10 organisations account for S$316 million — 75% of total tracked giving. A single foundation (DBS Foundation at S$102.6M) accounts for nearly 25% of the total. This means:

• A relationship with 3–5 key foundations could unlock the majority of available health philanthropy
• Loss of one anchor partner could significantly reduce the funding pipeline
• The LKYSPP team should prioritise depth of relationship with Tier 1 and Tier 2 foundations over breadth

Gender Lens

Explicit gender-lens philanthropy is nascent in Singapore. Among the foundations profiled:

• AWARE has the strongest gender mandate but is an advocacy organisation, not a funder
• DBS Foundation funded Project Baala (menstrual health for women in India) through its SE grant programme
• Temasek Foundation and Tanoto Foundation fund maternal health but frame it through a health lens rather than a gender lens
• AVPN explicitly includes gender as a cross-cutting theme and mobilises capital to improve outcomes for women and girls

No foundation profiled has a dedicated gender-lens investing strategy or a fund specifically for women's health and rights. This is another gap the LKYSPP team could address in its PPP design — potentially by proposing a gender-lens health resilience fund as a structured vehicle at CFS.

Geographic Orientation

The concentration of aligned foundations in the "Southeast Asia + broader Asia" category is encouraging for UNFPA's regional agenda. The PAA HHP Community's explicit Southeast Asia focus aligns with UNFPA's APRO (Asia-Pacific Regional Office) geography.

CHAPTER 8: THE FAMILY OFFICE LAYER

Scale and Structure

Singapore hosts an estimated over 2,000 single-family offices (up from ~1,400 in 2023) (SFOs) registered under MAS Section 13O/13U tax incentive schemes, with total AUM estimated at USD 200–400 billion (precise figures not publicly disclosed). The sector grew from approximately 400 SFOs in 2020, driven by geopolitical diversification from Hong Kong and wealth migration from China, Indonesia, and India.

MAS incentive schemes require qualifying FOs to:

• Invest a minimum percentage in Singapore-domiciled assets
• Meet minimum AUM thresholds (S$20 million for 13O; S$50 million for 13U)
• Increasingly demonstrate philanthropic or community investment activity

The Philanthropy Tax Incentive Scheme (2023) allows SFOs to receive 100% tax deduction for overseas donations — directly incentivising international philanthropic giving from the family office sector.

Health Investment Appetite

Qualitative evidence from industry surveys (Campden Wealth, UBS/PwC) suggests:

• Most FOs prioritise capital preservation and commercial returns; ESG is a secondary overlay
• An estimated 10–20% of Singapore FOs have genuine impact investing appetite
• Climate is the dominant impact theme; health/SRHR is uncommon
• A small but growing number of FOs have dedicated philanthropy teams or philanthropic mandates
• Healthcare/life sciences is a growing allocation sector, driven by Asian ageing demographics and biotech opportunities
• The next generation is reshaping priorities — pushing for greater ESG and impact investing engagement

Named Family Offices and Foundations with Potential Health Relevance

MAS does not publish a public registry of SFOs. The following are publicly known Singapore-based family offices and foundations identified through media reporting, corporate filings, and philanthropic announcements. This is not exhaustive — most of the 2,000+ SFOs operate privately.

Tier A: Directly Health-Relevant or Already Philanthropically Active in Health

Tier B: Significant Wealth in Singapore with Broader Philanthropic Activity

Tier C: Known SFOs Without Public Health/Philanthropy Mandates

Key insight: AJ Capital Singapore is notable — it is reportedly launching a US$100 million fund for healthcare and education investments in Asia, which could be directly relevant to UNFPA's agenda if the fund accepts development-oriented deal flow.

Regulatory Framework for FO Philanthropy

Philanthropy Tax Incentive Scheme (PTIS, 2024):

• 100% tax deduction for overseas donations from approved SFOs
• Capped at 40% of donor's statutory income or S$50 million (whichever is lower)
• Five-year scheme
• Uptake has been slow: Only 9 applications and expressions of interest received by MAS as of August 2024

Grantmaker Scheme:

• The Commissioner of Charities reported approximately 5 new charities per year registered under the Grantmaker Scheme over the past three years
• This scheme relaxes certain regulatory requirements to encourage philanthropy

13O/13U Conditions:

• SFOs under tax incentive schemes must declare AUM, local expenditure, and investment professional headcount to MAS and IRAS annually
• MAS is tightening oversight: ~3% of 1,300 applications flagged; 2 SFO funds linked to sanctioned individuals had incentives ceased

Access Pathways

Family offices are private, non-transparent entities with no public registry of investment mandates. Engagement requires intermediaries:

What Family Offices Could Fund

Based on the analysis in UNFPA-R-03, realistic family office contributions include:

1. Catalytic grants through CFS DAFs: Family donates to their DAF; DAF grants to SRHR-resilience programme. S$500,000–5 million per family. Lowest barrier.
2. First-loss capital in blended finance vehicles: FO takes concessional position to attract DFI co-investment. Requires dedicated philanthropy team.
3. Endowment contributions: Patient capital for a regional SRHR-resilience platform. 10–25 year horizon.
4. In-kind expertise: FO principals with healthcare or logistics backgrounds contributing advisory capacity.

What Is Not Realistic

Expecting family offices to design, structure, or lead SRHR programming. They are capital providers, not programme architects. UNFPA and the LKYSPP team must build the investment-ready vehicle; the family office role is to provide patient capital into it.

CHAPTER 9: NEGATIVE LIST — FOUNDATIONS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR UNFPA ENGAGEMENT

This chapter catalogues prominent Singapore-based foundations and philanthropic organisations that the LKYSPP team will encounter in Singapore's networks but that are not appropriate targets for UNFPA SRHR engagement. Understanding why these organisations are excluded prevents wasted engagement effort and sharpens the team's focus on the Tier 1–3 targets.

9.1 Government-Linked Entities with Structural Incompatibility

Tote Board (Singapore Totalisator Board)

Type: Statutory body Annual disbursement: S$183.2 million (FY2023) across 27 programmes and 772 fundraising projects Focus areas: Arts, community development, education, health, social service, sports Source of funds: Gambling proceeds (Singapore Pools, Singapore Turf Club)

Tote Board does fund health programmes — the Tote Board Community Health Fund supports innovative community health pilots, the Tote Board Better Health Fund supports ageing-in-place services, and the Our Healthy Singapore Fund (via HPB) targets health behaviour change. However, all Tote Board grants are exclusively domestic — they fund Singapore-based programmes for Singaporean beneficiaries only. Tote Board has no international grant-making mandate and no mechanism to fund cross-border health programming. It also primarily funds innovation pilots that, if successful, are mainstreamed by the Singapore government — a model incompatible with UNFPA's developing country programme structure.

Exclusion reason: Domestic-only mandate; no international grant-making mechanism.

GIC (Government of Singapore Investment Corporation)

Type: Sovereign wealth fund AUM: Estimated USD 700 billion+ (not publicly disclosed) Focus: Commercial returns

GIC is a commercial investment vehicle for Singapore's reserves. It has begun integrating ESG considerations into investment analysis but has no philanthropic mandate, no grant-making function, and no social investment arm. GIC cannot fund development programmes and would not consider concessional investments in SRHR. See UNFPA-R-03 for a detailed analysis of GIC's potential role in blended finance structures (which would require commercial-return tranches).

Exclusion reason: Purely commercial investment mandate; no philanthropy function.

Singapore International Foundation (SIF)

Type: Government-linked foundation Focus: Volunteerism, knowledge exchange, people-to-people diplomacy

SIF supports Singaporeans sharing expertise with developing countries through volunteer programmes and exchange fellowships. While it has health-adjacent activities (training health officials), it is not a grant-maker for health programmes. SIF could serve as a soft diplomatic connector (referenced in UNFPA-R-03 as a "soft entry point") but should not be approached as a funder.

Exclusion reason: Not a grant-maker; volunteerism and diplomacy platform only.

9.2 Corporate Foundations with Non-SRHR Mandates

Keppel Care Foundation

Type: Corporate foundation (Keppel Group) Annual giving: S$4.8 million (2024) Focus: Environment, education, arts and culture, underprivileged

Keppel Care Foundation funds dementia support (S$1 million over 3 years to Dementia Singapore), wildlife conservation (S$300,000 to Mandai Nature), digital literacy (S$100,000 to Digital for Life Fund), and kidney health awareness (NKF partnership). Its health-adjacent giving is entirely domestic and targets specific conditions (dementia, kidney disease) unrelated to SRHR. No international health mandate.

Exclusion reason: Domestic focus; health giving limited to specific conditions (dementia, kidney); no SRHR or international health alignment.

OCBC #OCBCCares Programme

Type: Corporate philanthropy programme (OCBC Bank) Focus: Vulnerable communities (seniors, special needs, low-income families), environment

OCBC's community philanthropy includes the Families100 Programme (social uplift for 100 lower-income families with MSF), Healthcare With Minds (domestic mental health), and the #OCBCCares Environment Fund (mangrove restoration in Singapore and Malaysia). No international health programme. The bank does have private banking philanthropy advisory services that could be relevant as an intermediary (for introducing family office clients to SRHR opportunities) but the corporate philanthropy arm itself has no UNFPA alignment.

Exclusion reason: Domestic focus; environment-primary orientation; health component limited to mental health; no SRHR mandate.

UOB Heartbeat / UOB Foundation (est. 2026)

Type: Corporate philanthropy programme / forthcoming corporate foundation Lifetime fundraising: S$23.3 million+ (via Heartbeat Run since 2007) Focus: Art, children, education

UOB's philanthropic identity is built around Southeast Asian art (UOB Painting of the Year, museum partnerships), children's art education, and digital learning. The forthcoming UOB Foundation (operational second half of 2026) will focus on scholarships, digital learning, and financial literacy — not health. The "children" pillar is arts-based, not health-based. No maternal, reproductive, or children's health programmes.

Exclusion reason: Arts-first identity; children focus is arts/education, not health; no health mandate in current or planned foundation.

Mapletree CSR Programme

Type: Corporate CSR programme (Mapletree Investments) Lifetime CSR allocation: S$41.3 million Focus: Arts, education, environment, healthcare

Mapletree's four CSR pillars include healthcare, but in practice this pillar is small-scale and domestic — community health initiatives during Mapletree Community Month, endowed bursaries at Singapore universities, and arts patronage (National Arts Council Patron of the Arts Award since 2012). The primary identity is arts and education, not health. Annual CSR is formula-based (S$1 million per S$500 million PATMI), limiting capacity for large health investments.

Exclusion reason: Healthcare pillar is marginal and domestic; primary identity is arts patronage; formula-based CSR limits scale.

Singtel Touching Lives Fund (STLF)

Type: Corporate philanthropy fund (Singtel) Lifetime fundraising: S$58 million+ (since 2002) Focus: Special education for children with special needs

STLF is one of Singapore's most successful corporate philanthropy programmes — but its mandate is extremely specific: funding six special education (SPED) schools serving 1,800+ students annually. It has expanded into digital enablement and online safety for vulnerable groups, but its core remains SPED education. No maternal health, reproductive health, or international health component. Singtel's broader community impact includes disability employment and migrant worker support — none aligned with SRHR.

Exclusion reason: Hyper-specialised mandate (SPED schools); no health or international dimension.

CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF)

Type: Corporate foundation (CapitaLand Group) Lifetime giving: S$64 million+ across 150+ initiatives (since 2005) Focus: Education, health, well-being for children, youth, seniors; community resilience

CHF is the most borderline case on the negative list. In February 2025, it launched a S$3 million Community Resilience Initiative for vulnerable children and youth across China, India, Singapore, and Vietnam — the closest any foundation on this list comes to UNFPA alignment. However, CHF's health component is focused on social inclusion and community resilience (access to education, food security, shelter) rather than clinical maternal or reproductive health. Its geographic scope (CapitaLand's operational markets) does not match UNFPA's priority countries. CHF could potentially be a marginal connector for UNFPA work in Vietnam or India, but should not be a primary engagement target.

Exclusion reason: Health focus is social inclusion, not SRHR; geographic scope tied to CapitaLand's markets; too marginal for primary UNFPA engagement.

9.3 Private/Family Foundations with Education-Only Mandates

Kuok Foundation

Type: Private family foundation (Kuok family — Robert Kuok, founder of Shangri-La and Wilmar) Established: 1970 (Malaysia; operates across Malaysia and Singapore) Focus: Education and poverty alleviation through education

Kuok Foundation's activities since 1970 have been almost entirely focused on scholarships and study awards — full-fee scholarships at Singaporean public universities, Malaysian public and private universities, and UK institutions. The Foundation also provides funding for welfare homes and rehabilitation centres, but has no health programme, no SRHR mandate, and no international health investment. Its Singapore activities are limited to university scholarships.

Exclusion reason: Purely education/scholarship-focused; no health mandate; no SRHR alignment.

Wilmar International CSR

Type: Corporate CSR programme (Wilmar International — world's largest palm oil processor) Annual CSR budget: ~US$10 million Focus: Education (70+ schools in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Africa), community welfare, sustainable agriculture (NDPE policy)

Wilmar's CSR is directed at operational communities — plantation workers, rural families in production regions. It manages 70+ schools and provides healthcare for workers and local communities. While this includes some maternal and child health in plantation settings, it is embedded in corporate operations rather than structured as grantable philanthropy. Additionally, Wilmar's palm oil sector creates significant reputational risk for UNFPA partnership — deforestation and labour rights concerns (despite the NDPE policy) would create public relations exposure.

Exclusion reason: CSR tied to corporate operations, not grantable; palm oil sector reputational risk; no structured health philanthropy.

9.4 Summary: Negative List Quick Reference

CHAPTER 10: STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR UNFPA

Note: Chapter numbering updated to accommodate the Negative List (Chapter 9). The original Chapters 9 and 10 are now Chapters 10 and 11.

Priority 1: Integrate with the PAA Health for Human Potential Community (Immediate)

The HHP Community is the single most aligned and well-resourced funding mechanism available. Recommended actions:

• Position UNFPA as a technical partner within the HHP Community's Collective Impact Framework, contributing programme design expertise, country-level implementation infrastructure, and MNCHN evidence
• Engage through Temasek Trust and the PAA Secretariat — the LKYSPP team's institutional connection to the Temasek ecosystem is its strongest asset
• Participate in HHP Community working sessions to shape the portfolio of projects that will receive funding
• Timeline: Engagement should begin immediately; the Community is in its framework co-development phase (2025–2026), which is the optimal window to influence priorities

Priority 2: Build Bilateral Relationships with Temasek Foundation and Tanoto Foundation (6–12 months)

These two foundations have the most direct maternal and child health mandates:

• Temasek Foundation: Propose a co-funded programme extending the IMCWH model to climate-vulnerable communities in Southeast Asia — leveraging the Richard Magnus Endowment's focus on mothers and children with UNFPA's regional resilience agenda
• Tanoto Foundation: Propose a joint research programme under the MRF focused on maternal health in climate-affected Asian settings — linking the CHaMP Centre's clinical expertise with UNFPA's programme data
• Access: Through LKYSPP institutional relationships, SingHealth Duke-NUS network, and KKH research leadership

Priority 3: Structure a CFS Donor-Advised Fund for SRHR-Resilience (6–18 months)

Create a dedicated DAF at CFS that can receive contributions from multiple donors (family offices, foundations, individual philanthropists) toward SRHR-resilience programming in Asia:

• Simplest funding instrument available — no investment return expectation; pure grant
• Tax-efficient for Singapore-based donors (250% IPC deduction for domestic contributions; 100% deduction for overseas humanitarian donations under the new scheme)
• Scalable: S$2–10 million per year at realistic mobilisation; more if an anchor family donor is engaged
• CFS manages due diligence and compliance, reducing operational burden on UNFPA

Priority 4: Explore the Moh Family Foundation (Opportunistic)

The Moh Family Foundation's 75.1% health allocation and recent incorporation (2021) make it a potential first-mover partner for SRHR-resilience:

• Approach through intermediaries (CFS, AVPN, private bank advisory) to understand the Foundation's strategic priorities
• If receptive, propose a named programme or co-funded initiative
• Risk-adjusted: This is speculative given limited public information — pursue only if intermediary conversations indicate interest

Priority 5: Leverage KKH and WAH Foundation as Proof-of-Concept Partners (Ongoing)

KKH's clinical expertise and the WAH Foundation's midwifery training model are concrete demonstrations of Singapore's maternal health export capability:

• Include KKH/WAH case studies in any pitch to Singapore-based funders — they answer the question "has this ever been done before?"
• Explore formal partnership with WAH Foundation for midwifery training components of the resilience PPP
• Connect UNFPA's midwifery strengthening work (documented in UNFPA-W-09) with KKH's EMPOWER2 community midwifery pilot

Messaging Framework

When engaging Singapore-based funders, the LKYSPP team should:

CHAPTER 11: CONCLUSION

Singapore's philanthropic landscape offers genuine — but carefully bounded — opportunities for UNFPA's SRHR-resilience agenda. The landscape is characterised by:

Strengths: Significant capital (S$419 million in annual giving; S$5.4 trillion in AUM), a growing policy infrastructure supporting international philanthropy (overseas tax deductions, matching grants), and the emergence of the PAA Health for Human Potential Community — a US$100 million multi-funder coalition explicitly targeting MNCHN outcomes in Southeast Asia.

Constraints: Domestic orientation of most giving, political sensitivity around reproductive health terminology, absence of a dedicated SRHR philanthropic champion, and concentration of capital in a small number of foundations.

The strategic opportunity: The PAA HHP Community represents a once-in-a-decade alignment between Singapore's philanthropic capital, government priorities (ASEAN health resilience), and UNFPA's mandate. The LKYSPP team's role is to position UNFPA as the indispensable technical partner that can translate philanthropic capital into measurable health outcomes across Southeast Asia.

The foundations profiled in this report — from Temasek Foundation's S$100 million endowment for mothers and children, to the WAH Foundation's midwives saving lives in rural Cambodia — demonstrate that the building blocks for a Singapore-based SRHR-resilience partnership already exist. The task is not to create something from nothing, but to connect what already exists into a coherent, funded, and accountable programme.

APPENDIX A: FOUNDATION QUICK-REFERENCE TABLE

APPENDIX B: METHODOLOGY AND DATA SOURCES

Primary Data Sources

Limitations

1. Private data: Family office investment mandates, private foundation strategies, and internal funding pipelines are not publicly disclosed. Estimates of family office impact investing appetite are based on industry surveys with self-selection bias.
2. Soristic coverage: The Soristic reports track only organisations above certain disbursement thresholds and that file public financial statements. Smaller foundations, informal giving, and cross-border philanthropy structured outside Singapore may not be captured.
3. Timeliness: Financial data is based on FY2023–2024 filings. Programme announcements are current through April 2026. Foundation strategies may have evolved since the latest public disclosures.
4. SRHR-specific data: No Singapore foundation publishes a breakdown of giving by SRHR sub-area. Health allocations are reported at the sector level (e.g., "health" or "healthcare") without granularity on maternal, reproductive, or children's health specifically. The Moh Family Foundation's 75.1% health allocation is the most granular public data point available.
5. Evidence quality: Strong on foundation-level financial data (audited statements, official announcements). Moderate on family office behaviour (survey-based). Weak on whether Singapore-based philanthropy can be effectively mobilised for international SRHR at scale — the PAA HHP Community is the first real test, and outcomes data does not yet exist.

End of Report

Document version: 1.0 Last updated: April 2026 Author: LKYSPP Policy Innovation Lab (UNFPA Challenge B research team) Parent document: UNFPA-R-05 — Singapore-Based Foundations and Charities Directory for Maternal, Reproductive, and Children's Health