MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
STRENGTHENING CHARITIES’ GOVERNANCE KEY TO GIVING
Giving to local charitable causes slowed somewhat in 2013, according
to the latest annual report released by the office of the Commissioner of
Charities. Tax deductible donations (TDD) totalled $970 million in 2013,
compared to the record high of $1,031 million in 2012. Notwithstanding this
fluctuation, TDD has displayed an overall uptrend over the past 10 years,
reflecting the public’s increasing support for local charitable causes over the
years.
2
Mr Low Puk Yeong, the Commissioner of Charities (COC) said, “Good
governance and transparency are keys to maintain and strengthen public confidence
and giving. Donors are no longer just going by the objects and programmes of the
charities but also how well-governed and transparent they are. Charities need to be
both effective and accountable. We will focus our attention on this area and hope
that more individuals and corporations will step forward to support charitable causes
that touch their hearts and resonate with their corporate culture and Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) programme.”
3
The report also highlighted several new areas of collaboration between the
COC’s Office and its partners to improve the governance standards of the charity
sector. One such collaboration included a study led by the Centre for Non-Profit
Leadership (CNPL) to take stock of the disclosure and governance practices of
charities in Singapore. With a better understanding of the existing gaps, agencies
including CNPL, the COC’s Office and Charity Council, will be able to better plan
their intervention efforts to address the key issues.
4
The Social Service Institute, the training arm of the National Council of Social
Service (NCSS), also worked with the COC’s office to develop a guide that helps
charities implement policies that guard against conflicts of interest, and puts in place
standard operating procedures to improve administration and control.
Such
provisions will allow charities to strengthen governance processes in their
organisations.
5
The COC’s office will continue in its efforts to enhance transparency and
accountability in the charity sector and bring about even stronger public support and
confidence. The COC’s office will also be working very closely with the Charity
Council to step up public education efforts on informed giving.
6
The latest COC Annual Report is available for reference on the Charity Portal
(http://www.charities.gov.sg).
The Office of the Commissioner of Charities
14 August 2014
For media queries, please contact:
1) Ms Valerie Yek
Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications Division
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
Contact Number: (65) 6837 8976
Email: Valerie_Yek@mccy.gov.sg
2) Mr Fong Weng Kiong
Deputy Director, Corporate Communications Division
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
Contact Number: (65) 6837 9859
Email: Fong_Weng_Kiong@mccy.gov.sg
About the Charity Council
The Charity Council was set up in March 2007 and comprises 15 representatives.
These representatives include the Chairman and nine other members from the
people sector who were chosen for their expertise in different fields, as well as past
experience in volunteer and charity work in varied sectors.
Roles of the Charity Council

Promote and encourage the adoption of good governance and best practices,
to help enhance public confidence and promote self-regulation in the charity
sector

Build capabilities of charities and IPCs to help them comply with regulatory
requirements and enhance public accountability

Advise the Commissioner of Charities (COC) on key regulatory issues