Frequently Asked Questions

Organisations can apply for Tote Board grants via the OurSG Grants Portal.

Tote Board has two types of grants:

1. General Grants

a. Intermediary Funding

Tote Board provides funds to fund administrators such as ministries and statutory boards, who will manage the disbursement of the funds. Examples include the Enabling Lives Initiative Grant, Tote Board Community Health Fund, Tote Board Arts Fund, among others. Please visit our Grants page for more information on the funds available.

b. Direct Funding

Tote Board’s funding flows directly to a service provider/ social service agency/ community care organisation or other intended grant beneficiaries running the programme, typically featuring more proactive programme curation and closer partnerships with grant recipients. Find out about Direct Funding. 

2. Enhanced Fund-Raising Programme (EFR) 

Tote Board offers matching support for charities that raise funds for supportable community causes. More on the Enhanced Fund-Raising Programme.

Tote Board touches lives and cares for Singaporeans through its broad-based funding support for social and community well-being. Its grantmaking philosophy centres on three core pillars:

Relevance: supporting projects that align with national priorities and its four strategic outcomes, addressing complex challenges and emerging needs in Singapore.

Innovation: prioritising social innovation and new initiatives that drive social change, experimenting with diverse grantmaking approaches and fostering cross-sector synergies for improved community outcomes.

Impact: collaborating with partners from the People, Private, Public, and Philanthropy sectors,  focusing on programmes that yield positive social outcomes. Tote Board's Impact Measurement Framework guides, manages and maximises the impact of its work, optimising resources for greater effectiveness.

The four strategic outcomes of Tote Board's grantmaking are:

CARE: Encouraging active participation in healthy living and well-being at all stages of life

COMPACT: Uplifting vulnerable members and their families in our society by maximising their opportunities and potential to make meaningful contributions towards our social compact

COHESION: Inspiring a sense of belonging where people care for and support one another, moving towards a cohesive society which is future-ready

CITY: Supporting causes and projects that create a sustainable living environment and a vibrant home and city for all to work, live, and play

For more information, please refer to our Grants page.

Tote Board does not have a pre-determined range for funding. It considers several factors in determining the funding amount, including previous funding to projects of similar nature, project budget and community impact.

All projects or programmes should be aligned with at least one of our grantmaking strategic outcomes.

The minimum grant amount for General Grants is $50,000.

Tote Board's Impact Measurement (IM) Framework provides a common approach to tracking impact and outcomes across our broad-based portfolio, aligning programmes with our goals and areas of impact.

The Framework is developed in consultation with our agency partners and successfully piloted with 15 partner agencies. It provides a structured approach for all partners in the giving ecosystem, including the People, Private and Public sectors, to align efforts in a more coordinated and impactful manner towards the vision of a caring and resilient society. 

Tote Board aims to extend the reach of the IM Framework to the broader ecosystem and bring about greater social impact in our communities. 

For more information, please visit the Tote Board website.

You can read stories on how Tote Board works with our grant partners to uplift lives in our annual reports, which feature our financial statements as well as facts and figures on our grantmaking activities.