Committee of Supply 2024 debate, Day 7: Alvin Tan on partnering Singaporeans to shape a better Singapore

The community and corporates are answering the call to "give back", using the platforms and tools available, and the Government will do more to grow philanthropy and foster collaboration, said Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Alvin Tan. It will help donors better appreciate the needs of society and direct their resources through the Collective for a Stronger Society. The Collective is put together by the Community Foundation of Singapore, in partnership with the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Community Chest, and supported by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth. It will connect donors with causes - donors can navigate causes on the ground that uplift lower-income families, direct their resources to non-profits, social enterprises and other partners that lead impactful initiatives, identify gaps in the landscape and come up with fresh solutions that address unmet needs in society. Mr Tan, who announced this initiative in Parliament on Thursday (Mar 7), said The Collective is one platform for the community and corporates to “give back”. Another platform is the Singapore Government Partnerships Office, launched in January to partner citizens and stakeholders who are keen to work with the Government to turn their ideas into reality. It acts as a “first stop” for citizens or stakeholders with such ideas and helps to connect them to the right agencies or partners to put their ideas into action.