Charities, non-profit groups in S’pore can better measure their impact with new guidebook
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Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Dinesh Vasu Dash speaking on Aug 15 at the launch of the Guide to Impact Measurement – From Intent to Impact for Non-Profits.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
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SINGAPORE – Charities and non-profit organisations here are getting a better yardstick with which to measure their impact, beyond simply looking at how many people have benefited from their programmes.
A guidebook was launched on Aug 15 that aims to provide them with tools to assess the goals and impact of any one of their programmes, as well as the resources required.
The Guide to Impact Measurement – From Intent to Impact for Non-Profits, jointly launched by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) and Tote Board, was developed after consultations with 36 charities, seven sector administrators and seven grant makers to ensure the guide is practical.
Non-profit organisations play an important role in improving the lives of others and the community, and the charity sector plays a pivotal role in mitigating social inequalities and supporting those who may not be able to look after themselves, said Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Dinesh Vasu Dash.
Speaking at the launch of the guidebook at the Glass Dome at Far East Square, he said that the growth in sector-wide efforts to support non-profits in adapting to changing needs and expectations is encouraging, and the new guidebook is timely.
The guidebook will help non-profits understand the extent of their impact, beyond the number of beneficiaries served by a particular initiative, he said.
It will also help non-profits allocate their limited resources more efficiently and effectively, and help with the engagement of potential donors
One such non-profit that has benefited from better understanding its impact is Lions Befrienders, which helps seniors.
The organisation used a tool called the Theory of Change to identify the resources needed to achieve intended outcomes for their Group Drumming for Seniors programme.
The tool helps users lay out why and how a change or outcome happens, and allows them to think of variables that must be constant in order for that certain outcome or goal to happen.
The Government has made moves over the years to better support non-profits, like funds and grants to help charities strengthen their operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.
This includes a training grant under the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth’s Charities Capability Fund, which allows charities to send their staff and board members to take courses in areas like programme and volunteer management.
The Singapore Government Partnerships Office also supports ground-up movements by being an entry point for them to access government support and resources.
More charities have been operating in Singapore in the past decade, with the Commissioner of Charities reporting an increase in the number of registered charities from around 2,200 in 2015 to almost 2,400 by the end of 2023.
About half of these are non-religious charities.
The sector’s total revenue rose from $13.9 billion in 2013 to $22.17 billion in 2023.
In an increasingly complex environment of geopolitical uncertainty and social mobility, non-profits must now ensure that every dollar and every effort is deployed effectively, said the chief executive of the NVPC, Mr Tony Soh.
Non-profits must also ensure donors and resource providers understand and appreciate the impact of their work.
(From left) Tote Board CEO Tan Choon Shian, Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Dinesh Vasu Dash and National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre CEO Tony Soh launching the guidebook on Aug 15.
ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG
Mr Soh said that NVPC has heard consistent feedback from charities and funders that conventional reporting methods like counting beneficiaries do not always tell the full story.
“We want to raise the standards of effective reporting across the sector.
“It is a shift from merely asking ‘What did we do?’ to also asking, ‘What impact did we create?’,” he said.
For example, there is a difference between saying a charity conducted training sessions for 1,000 individuals, and saying that the sessions have translated into a certain percentage of these individuals securing employment, Mr Soh added.
He said NVPC will work hard to further strengthen capabilities in the charity sector.
NVPC is targeting to support 400 additional non-profits by 2028 through initiatives like structured training in partnership with educational institutions, and more collaboration within the non-profit network.
More details on this will be shared later.
The guide is available at /
