- Pauline Tan is a social sector researcher and founder of Soristic (www.soristic.asia). She is also a visiting research associate with Asia Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and... morePauline Tan is a social sector researcher and founder of Soristic (www.soristic.asia). She is also a visiting research associate with Asia Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Philanthropy, NUS. She has conducted impact evaluation study in Singapore and manages multi-stakeholder projects. She co-authored “Philanthropy on the Road to Nationhood”, “Innovation in Asia Philanthropy” as well as "The Landscape of Social Enterprises in Singapore". She had been responsible for evaluating and short listing charities for the Charity Governance Award between 2012 and 2014. Her research interests are philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, impact evaluation, financial inclusion and development issues.edit
This study looks at an emerging trend in which wealthy families, individuals, and corporations in Asia set up foundations to institutionalise their giving. This giving is motivated by a myriad of factors beyond prestige and status,... more
This study looks at an emerging trend in which wealthy families, individuals, and corporations in Asia set up foundations to institutionalise their giving. This giving is motivated by a myriad of factors beyond prestige and status, including the desire to give back to society, religion, family and personal values, the desire to drive change, personal experience, and/or affiliations.
This study finds that philanthropic foundations in Asia can be characterised by their operational model, governance structure, and philanthropic focus. In emerging economies in Asia like Myanmar and China, these foundations tend to give nationally and operate their own programmes. On the other hand, foundations in developed economies like Singapore and Hong Kong tend to give both regionally and nationally via grants to civil society organisations that operate programmes, as opposed to running programmes themselves. Further, families tend to retain significant control of foundations in Singapore and Hong Kong, while programme funding serves as the preferred funding mode.
This study also discusses the various challenges and opportunities faced by the nascent philanthropic sector in Asia that can address some of the developmental and structural gaps left by the public, private, and people sectors.
This study finds that philanthropic foundations in Asia can be characterised by their operational model, governance structure, and philanthropic focus. In emerging economies in Asia like Myanmar and China, these foundations tend to give nationally and operate their own programmes. On the other hand, foundations in developed economies like Singapore and Hong Kong tend to give both regionally and nationally via grants to civil society organisations that operate programmes, as opposed to running programmes themselves. Further, families tend to retain significant control of foundations in Singapore and Hong Kong, while programme funding serves as the preferred funding mode.
This study also discusses the various challenges and opportunities faced by the nascent philanthropic sector in Asia that can address some of the developmental and structural gaps left by the public, private, and people sectors.
Research Interests:
This paper reviews the current state of impact investments by foundations in Singapore and Hong Kong. It further looks at the trends and challenges, and presents a list of recommendations that would enable the impact investment sector to... more
This paper reviews the current state of impact investments by foundations in Singapore and Hong Kong. It further looks at the trends and challenges, and presents a list of recommendations that would enable the impact investment sector to take off.
Research Interests:
This report paints the picture of the current state of social enterprises in Singapore and the ecosystem supporting the sector. It provides a detailed look at the organisational profiles, business stages, outcome areas, beneficiaries,... more
This report paints the picture of the current state of social enterprises in Singapore and the ecosystem supporting the sector. It provides a detailed look at the organisational profiles, business stages, outcome areas, beneficiaries, geographical reach, and financial profiles of social enterprises. In addition, it provides a glimpse of the people behind these social enterprises as well as highlights their stories that embody the spirit of inclusiveness. It also presents the priorities and challenges of social enterprises with strategies offered by fellow social entrepreneurs who have successfully overcome these challenges. Lastly, the report provides an overview of the opportunities ahead based on insights provided by stakeholders of the social enterprise sector in Singapore.
Research Interests:
Asia is facing simultaneously huge growth potential and increasing inequalities, with often weak national solutions to the social issues at hand. Social purpose organisations (SPOs) – which includes but are not limited to non-profit... more
Asia is facing simultaneously huge growth potential and increasing inequalities, with often weak national solutions to the social issues at hand. Social purpose organisations (SPOs) – which includes but are not limited to non-profit organisations, charities and social enterprises - are seen to solve these issues sustainably. Social incubation is seen as a tool to help SPOs grow and potentially build a pipeline for social investors. Yet, how does social incubation in Asia work?
The insights presented here are the first insights from surveying 15 social incubators in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore which have existed for at least two years. Four incubators supported idea-stage SPOs, while seven focused on entrants with prototypes.
Two had SPOs in all stages and another two served post-revenue organisations.
So are they effective? The strongest indicator was that seven out of ten incubators reported that their graduating SPOs had progressed by at least one to three stages between idea-, prototype-, postrevenue and growth-stage from their status at entry to the incubator...
The insights presented here are the first insights from surveying 15 social incubators in Indonesia, Thailand, India, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore which have existed for at least two years. Four incubators supported idea-stage SPOs, while seven focused on entrants with prototypes.
Two had SPOs in all stages and another two served post-revenue organisations.
So are they effective? The strongest indicator was that seven out of ten incubators reported that their graduating SPOs had progressed by at least one to three stages between idea-, prototype-, postrevenue and growth-stage from their status at entry to the incubator...
Research Interests:
This paper attempts to address the gap in knowledge on the contributions by philanthropic players to national development in Singapore. Using grounded research, it explores the evolution of giving by individuals, the community and the... more
This paper attempts to address the gap in knowledge on the contributions by philanthropic players to national
development in Singapore. Using grounded research, it explores the evolution of giving by individuals, the
community and the private sector in Singapore from the end of World War II in 1945 to today. It looks at how
each group gives towards prevailing social needs, unexpected events and crises as well as government calls
for community support across five key phases in Singapore’s journey to nationhood. To provide context to the
giving, the political and socio-economic situation of each time frame and concurrent government social welfare
provisions in each phase are also described.
The data collected shows evidence of complementary efforts across the people, public and private sectors over
time, from the rebuilding of Singapore after the war to the formation and running of the Singapore Council of
Social Service, the Community Chest, Singapore Community Foundation, ethnic self-help groups and various
social movements. In the immediate post-war period (1945-1959), all three sectors worked in tandem to rebuild
Singapore. In the first years of independence (1959-1975), the public sector took the lead to build basic social
and economic infrastructure with the people and private sectors filling in the gaps. Once Singapore had achieved
economic stability, the government corralled the community and corporates to first unite in (1975-1990) and
then initiate support for the underprivileged (1990-2004). In the last decade, there has been clear evidence of
civil society taking the lead in advocating for social inclusion with the government responding with strategies
that ensure economic growth without compromising the social and emotional well-being of the people.
From fighting fires in the kampong to containing the SARS epidemic and from donating trishaw-riding wages
to build Nanyang University to emptying one’s piggy bank to help the underprivileged, the sense of community
spirit and initiative has been strong and enduring in Singapore since the end of World War II. Philanthropy has
been both responsive and transformative, transcending time, age, social status and circumstance.
development in Singapore. Using grounded research, it explores the evolution of giving by individuals, the
community and the private sector in Singapore from the end of World War II in 1945 to today. It looks at how
each group gives towards prevailing social needs, unexpected events and crises as well as government calls
for community support across five key phases in Singapore’s journey to nationhood. To provide context to the
giving, the political and socio-economic situation of each time frame and concurrent government social welfare
provisions in each phase are also described.
The data collected shows evidence of complementary efforts across the people, public and private sectors over
time, from the rebuilding of Singapore after the war to the formation and running of the Singapore Council of
Social Service, the Community Chest, Singapore Community Foundation, ethnic self-help groups and various
social movements. In the immediate post-war period (1945-1959), all three sectors worked in tandem to rebuild
Singapore. In the first years of independence (1959-1975), the public sector took the lead to build basic social
and economic infrastructure with the people and private sectors filling in the gaps. Once Singapore had achieved
economic stability, the government corralled the community and corporates to first unite in (1975-1990) and
then initiate support for the underprivileged (1990-2004). In the last decade, there has been clear evidence of
civil society taking the lead in advocating for social inclusion with the government responding with strategies
that ensure economic growth without compromising the social and emotional well-being of the people.
From fighting fires in the kampong to containing the SARS epidemic and from donating trishaw-riding wages
to build Nanyang University to emptying one’s piggy bank to help the underprivileged, the sense of community
spirit and initiative has been strong and enduring in Singapore since the end of World War II. Philanthropy has
been both responsive and transformative, transcending time, age, social status and circumstance.
Research Interests:
The buzz around social enterprises in Singapore is growing louder and more insistent. Yet one does not have to scratch too far beneath the surface of this energy and enthusiasm to realise that there is little consensus even amongst the... more
The buzz around social enterprises in Singapore is growing louder and more insistent. Yet one does not have to scratch too far beneath the surface of this energy and enthusiasm to realise that there is little consensus even amongst the most ardent supporters on what the primary characteristics of an organisation that calls itself a social enterprise are or should be. In this study, the authors explore the diverse landscape and eco-system that have developed since the first known social enterprises appeared in Singapore almost 90 years ago. The study sheds light on the core principles underpinning a social enterprise and presents the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in Singapore.