Giving.sg charity portal: 13 charities for Covid-19 donations in Singapore
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PUBLISHED ONApril 20, 2020 4:56 AMByEugenia Liew
The Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak has shined light on the most vulnerable people in society, such as the ill, elderly, disabled, etc. If you are young, healthy and your only complaint is cabin fever, then you’re extremely lucky.
For others — from the migrant workers to those who’ve lost their jobs to the crisis — the current situation is dire. With three budget announcements in two months, the government has done quite a bit to cushion the impact on those affected, even tapping into precious past reserves.
If you happen to be among the privileged who can do away with the recent $600 Solidarity Payment, we urge you to consider donating what you can to the less fortunate.
How can I help others affected by Covid-19?
The easiest way to do so is via Giving.sg, a charity platform hosted by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC).
Understandably, when it comes to fundraising, a common concern is the legitimacy of the charity. NVPC is registered as one of the Institutions of Public Character (IPC), so you don’t have to worry about getting scammed.
How to use Giving.sg (as a donor)
- Sign up as an individual.
- Create an account with your email or Facebook account.
- Browse the charities and donate to a cause you are passionate about.
Tip: Search for SG United via Giving.sg
There are over 500 non-profits registered on Giving.sg, so it’s impossible to list them all here. However, we’ve compiled a list of some that are more relevant to the current Covid-19 crisis.
You can filter to these coronavirus-related campaigns via the SG United Giving.sg page, where you’ll find a compilation of registered charities to choose from. SG United is a government initiative set up in response to the Covid-19 crisis.
10 Charities for cash donations in Singapore
| Charity organisation | Donations go to… | Donation link |
| The Community Foundation of Singapore: The Sayang Sayang Fund | Charities whose operations have been affected by the strict Covid-19 measures | https://www.giving.sg/community-foundation-of-singapore/sayang_sayang_fund |
| Food from the Heart | Food aid to ensure needy families have access to food in this tough period | https://www.giving.sg/manage-campaigns?orgId=3083868 |
| Community Chest: The Courage Fund | Providing relief to vulnerable individuals and families, including healthcare workers, frontline workers and volunteers | https://www.giving.sg/community-chest/thecouragefund |
| The Food Bank Singapore: Feed the City | Providing food to vulnerable communities as well as to F&B retailers badly hit during this outbreak | https://www.giving.sg/the-food-bank-singapore-ltd/covid-19_relief_feed_the_city_take-away_edition_ |
| Home Nursing Foundation | Purchasing essential medical supplies and encouraging nurses with travel tokens | https://www.giving.sg/home-nursing-foundation |
| AMKFSC Community Services | Low income families, community and senior citizens | https://www.giving.sg/web/amkfsc-community-services |
| Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics | Providing shelter for domestic workers unable to go home as well as financial and legal assistance for migrant workers | https://www.giving.sg/humanitarian-organisation-for-migration-economics/covid19andbeyond |
| YMCA: Project Makan | Free meals for needy children and their families | https://www.giving.sg/ymcasg/project_makan |
| Migrant Workers’ Assistance Fund | Displaced migrant workers who are unable to recover their salary, food and accommodation for workers who are unable to head home and daily necessities for staying in | https://www.giving.sg/mwaf/migrantswecare |
| O’ Joy Care Services | Counselling sessions via phone or video call to calm fears and anxiety of those suffering the invisible psychological damage | https://www.giving.sg/web/o-joy-care-services |
If you don’t really care where the money goes, just close your eyes and pick one. Alternatively, you can contribute to a cause that’s still far from their fundraising target.
The registered charities can list multiple campaigns for different causes, and each will specify a fundraising goal.
You can also make donations in-kind
If you prefer to donate supplies directly (instead of money), you can also make donations in-kind.
There are several initiatives that collect different items for different groups of people, depending on their needs.
| Charity organisation | Donations in-kind | Donation link |
| City of Good | Depends on ongoing requests (usually food, electronics and hygiene products) | https://cityofgood.sg/sgunited/ |
| Engineering Good: Computers against Covid | Old laptops and/or accessories | https://engineeringgood.org/computers-against-covid/ |
| Contribute.sg | Surgical or N95 masks and hand sanitisers | https://contribute.sg/ |
1. SG United via City of Good
This is like the Giving.sg equivalent for donations in-kind. Basically, SG United reached out to charities to find out what are some things they need, and compiled the requests all in one page on CityofGood.sg.
Some of the in-demand items include hygiene products and supplies like masks, wet wipes and disposable gloves, as well as IT equipment like laptops and phones.
If you want to donate items that aren’t requested for, you can fill up a donation in-kind offer form.
ALSO READ: Singaporeans donate their Solidarity Payment to charities
2. Engineering Good: Computers against Covid
Engineering Good is collecting used laptops and parts to assemble and/or fix and distribute to those who cannot afford them. This has become a more urgent need since we don’t know how long students must rely on home based learning.
You can also donate accessories like computer mice and laptop bags. They’re also accepting volunteers to help coordinate these efforts.
If you want to donate money to Engineering Good, they’re on Giving.sg as well.
3. Contribute.sg
Contribute.sg is collecting surgical or N95 masks and hand sanitisers for the following groups of people:
- Voluntary welfare organisations, non-governmental organisation, medical institutions
- Frontline workers like healthcare / essential service providers and taxi / private hire vehicle drivers
- Others like home bound patients and low-income families
For hygiene and convenience, you should pack them in ziplock bags instead or donating them in loose pieces. To donate, you must drop them off at 8 specified venues, 5 of which are community centres.
To date (Apr 12, 2020), they’ve distributed 38,932 masks and 1,934 bottles of hand sanitisers.
Of course, there are a ton of other charities and initiatives that are doing their part to help those in need. If you know of any, feel free to share them in the comments so others reading this article can consider them too.
For the latest updates on the coronavirus, visit here.
This article was first published in MoneySmart.