On 29 November 2018, the Charity Council held the 3rd Charity Transparency Awards (CTA) and 6th Charity Governance Awards (CGA) Ceremony. 47 charities were recognised for their exemplary disclosure and transparency practices with the CTA. Among the group of 47, three charities received the CGA for achieving the highest standards in governance and four charities conferred the Special Commendation Awards. Graced by Guest of Honour, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu, both sets of awards were given out at Gardens by the Bay's Flower Field Hall, venue sponsored by Gardens by the Bay. 323 guests from both charitable and non-charitable organisations attended the night of celebrations.
The Charity Council partnered Singapore Management University’s School of Accountancy to conduct an independent assessment for the awards. For this year's assessment, it was then validated by the Institute of Internal Auditors (Singapore). Shortlisted winners of the CTA were then invited to participate in the CGA assessment, co-developed with Ernst & Young, followed by an interview session with a panel of judges.
At the Awards Ceremony, MINDSET Care Limited, Club Rainbow (Singapore) and SATA CommHealth were conferred top honours for achieving the highest standards of governance in the small, medium and large charity category respectively.
Special Commendation Award (SCA) was also given to four charities for their achievements in specific areas of governance.
Please click
here to download the Charity Transparency and Governance Awards programme booklet for full details of the 47 CTA winners, 3 CGA main category winners as well as the 4 Special Commendation Award recipients.
CTA 2018 Winners
Each of the CTA 2018 winner received a certificate. Some of them were featured in a Charity Transparency Award video.
CGA 2018 Winners
Each of the CGA 2018 main category winner received a plaque and a cash prize of $10,000 to further their charitable causes, sponsored by Mr Robson Lee and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
Please find the video of the 3 charities that were conferred this prestigious award and more details about each of the winners below.
Small Charity Winner - MINDSET Care Limited
"What sets us apart is that we subscribe to the same high standard of good governance in our charity, MINDSET, as we do in our businesses. We believe that good governance is integral to our success and we continually review and refine our processes as part of our accountability towards our stakeholders." - Mr Alex Newbigging, Chairman, MINDSET Care Limited
(in picture: Mr Jeffery Tan, Company Secretary, MINDSET Care Limited)
Medium Charity Winner - Club Rainbow (Singapore)
"Our beneficiaries start their journey with us from as young as a newborn, all the way up to age 20. On this long journey, while we aim to provide the best programmes and services to empower and help them live their best possible lives, it is only through organisation-wide concerted efforts to uphold good governance and strategic initiatives that we are able to continue to carry out our purpose for our beneficiaries with chronic illnesses. Every member of our team is aware of our ultimate goal for our beneficiaries and actively contributes to our on-going efforts to ensure we continue to deliver the best for them."
- Dr Sashikumar Ganapathy, President, Club Rainbow (Singapore)
Large Charity Winner - SATA CommHealth
"The first seventy years of SATA CommHealth was focused on our core in health screening and diagnostics. The next seventy is about integrating our core with primary to long-term health and social care in the community, especially for our elderly and vulnerable. My diversified Board will exercise independent thinking, enforce exemplary governance practices yet support management to breakthrough and exercise innovative thinking in navigating the change."
- Ms Theresa Goh, Chairman, SATA CommHealth
Special Commendation Awards 2018
Clarity of Strategy - Silver Ribbon Singapore
"Proper governance is key to the survival of all entities. It is especially important in VWOs, where the board largely comprises of volunteers who may not have the requisite training or knowledge to manage it well, despite all good intentions. Hence, it is important that each organisation should have good, honest and competent staff backed up by dedicated and diligent board members who regularly conduct audits to ensure full compliance of governance codes in accordance with its vision and mission."
- Ms Ellen Lee, President, JP, PBM, Silver Ribbon (Singapore)
Clarity of Strategy - The National Kidney Foundation
"Good corporate governance is more than a goal in itself. It is the precondition and foundation upon which we formulate and execute our strategic plan in order to achieve our critical mission which is to provide holistic care for the well-being of our kidney patients."
- Mr Koh Poh Tiong, Chairman, NKF
(In picture: MR Johnny Heng, Board Member, NKF)
Governance and Management - Methodist Welfare Services
"MWS is constantly reviewing and improving its governance and management processes and strategies. We are committed to excellence in governance, management and service; and to building long-lasting relationships and trust with both internal and external stakeholders."
- Reverend Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon, Chairperson, Methodist Welfare Services
(In picture: Mrs Fong Loo Fern, Honorary Treasurer, Methodist Welfare Services)
Risk Management - HCA Hospice Care
"HCA Hospice Care endeavours to maintain a strong foundation in promoting the correct risk management mindset in our DNA across our organisation."
- Ms Angeline Wee, Chief Executive Officer, HCA Hospice Care
(In picture: Dr Tan Poh Kiang, President, HCA Hospice Care)
Special Acknowledgements
The Charity Council would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our Strategic Partners – IIA, SMU and EY, as well as all our CGA judges for making this Award possible.
(CGA Judges (L-R): Mr R. Dhinakaran, Managing Director, Jay Gee Melwani Group of Companies; Ms Angeline Chin, Head of Global Community Impact Asia Pacific, Johnson and Johnson; Mr Robson Lee, Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Minister Grace Fu; Mr Tay Woon Teck, Managing Director, RSM Risk Advisory; Dr Gerard Ee, Charity Council Chairman. Unable to attend: Mr Neo Sing Hwee, Partner, Ernst & Young Advisory Pte Ltd).
The Charity Council hopes that the best practices of good governance by the award recipients will inspire all to take action to raise the charity sector's standards of governance. A well governed and thriving charity sector is only achievable with the support and committee from all charities. Together, we can make a positive difference in the community.
Congratulations to our winners! Thank you for your passion, drive and commitment to pursuing excellence!
