DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant 2020 opens for submissions

DBS Foundation, the first foundation in Singapore dedicated to championing social entrepreneurship, is calling for social enterprises across the region to apply for the 2020 DBS Foundation Social Enterprise (SE) Grant.

Successful applicants will not only receive grant funding of up to SGD 250,000 each, but also be supported to scale their business and build business resilience especially in today’s challenging business environment.

Additionally, DBS will lend its support by raising awareness of the SEs through its various programmes and platforms, providing the SEs business opportunities, and assisting with capacity building.

The DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant is open to social enterprises across Asia that have a business product or solution that has been validated by the market. Applicants must also have clear plans to scale up the business, as well as a demonstrated commitment to social mission with a roadmap to increasing social impact.

Applications received before 15 May 2020, 11.59pm (Singapore time, GMT +8) will be evaluated from July to September 2020, with the awarding of grants in November 2020. Applications received thereafter will be evaluated in the next cycle.

What’s more, for the first time, DBS Foundation is introducing a new Zero Food Waste category of grants for social enterprises with innovative solutions that contribute to the global target of reducing food waste.

The initiative also dovetails with the vision set out in Singapore’s Zero-Waste Masterplan. Successful solutions may range from that which minimise food wastage to that which manage food surplus or upcycle food waste.

Last year’s grant attracted a record 600 applications from social enterprises across Asia.

Since its inception in 2014, the DBS Foundation has supported more than 60 SEs from Singapore, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, and Taiwan to achieve their goals for a more inclusive and sustainable world.

“In our recent conversations with social entrepreneurs supported by DBS Foundation, it became increasingly apparent that social enterprises, like most businesses, need holistic support to help them weather the uncertainties and challenges triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Karen Ngui, board member of DBS Foundation and DBS’ Head of Group Strategic Marketing & Communications.

“With this latest round of the DBS Foundation Social Enterprise Grant call and various other initiatives that the bank has put in place to nurture and grow the social enterprise ecosystem, we hope more social entrepreneurs will come forward to pursue their goals and succeed at building innovative businesses aimed at tackling Asia’s growing environmental and/or social issues,” she added.

To find out more about the DBS Foundation SE Grant Programme, as well as submission of applications, click here.