2025 Singapore Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals Charity and Philanthropy Report
Issued by Pridebay — Global Leading Research Institution on Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals’ Lifestyle
2025 Year-End Summary
Executive Summary
In 2025, against the backdrop of global geopolitical volatility, evolving societal needs, and a growing emphasis on sustainable and impact-driven giving, Singapore’s Ultra-High-Net-Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) — defined as individuals with a net worth exceeding US$30 million, excluding primary residence — have emerged as pivotal leaders in the nation’s charitable and philanthropic landscape. Singapore, already solidifying its position as a global philanthropy hub, has witnessed a notable shift in UHNWI giving behaviors: from traditional, ad-hoc donations to strategic, long-term philanthropy that aligns with personal values, family legacies, and global sustainable development goals (SDGs). This report, compiled by Pridebay based on in-depth surveys of 460 Singaporean UHNWIs, analysis of charitable donation data (including figures from key non-profit organizations and digital giving platforms), exclusive interviews with top philanthropists, charity executives, and industry experts, provides a comprehensive overview of the 2025 Singapore UHNWI charity and philanthropy landscape.
Key findings include: Singaporean UHNWIs contributed an estimated SGD 2.87 billion (US$2.27 billion) to charitable causes in 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 7.3%; giving was significantly boosted by SG60 celebrations, with digital platforms playing an increasingly critical role in mobilizing donations; education, healthcare, and social welfare remained the top three focus areas, while global issues such as climate change and biodiversity gained traction among younger UHNWIs; and strategic giving tools, including donor-advised funds (DAFs) and family foundations, became more prevalent as UHNWIs sought to maximize impact and ensure legacy continuity. The report also highlights the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of UHNWI philanthropy in Singapore, offering authoritative insights for charities, wealth managers, and policymakers.
1. Market Overview: Steady Growth and Evolving Philanthropic Ecosystem
2025 marked a year of steady growth and strategic maturation for Singapore’s UHNWI philanthropy sector, supported by the city-state’s stable governance, favorable policy incentives, and expanding ecosystem of charitable organizations. Singapore’s UHNWI population grew by 6.7% in 2025 to 4,950 individuals, and this expansion, coupled with a deepening culture of giving, drove robust charitable contributions. According to Pridebay’s research, UHNWIs accounted for approximately 38% of total charitable donations in Singapore in 2025, underscoring their outsized influence in the sector.
A key driver of growth in 2025 was the SG60 celebrations, which galvanized a nationwide “season of giving” and significantly boosted donation volumes. Singapore’s national digital giving platform, giving.sg, raised a record SGD 104.9 million (US$83.1 million) in 2025 — a 21% increase from 2024 — with over SGD 47.7 million raised during the three-month Great Singapore Give 2025 campaign, which marked the grand finale of SG60 celebrations. UHNWIs played a critical role in this surge, with many making large-scale donations and leveraging their influence to mobilize others, particularly during the year-end festive period when over SGD 32.3 million was donated nationwide.
Singapore’s philanthropic ecosystem continued to strengthen in 2025, with the total revenue of major non-profit organizations increasing by 1.90% compared to 2024. Key charitable institutions, including the National Kidney Foundation Singapore, St Andrew’s Mission Hospital, and the National Heritage Board, saw sustained funding support from UHNWIs, while the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) further expanded its reach, managing over 160 donor-advised funds (DAFs) and disbursing millions in grants to more than 300 grantees. Additionally, Singapore’s emergence as a global hub for charitable foundations — with top global philanthropists, including Bill Gates and Ray Dalio, relocating their foundations to the city-state — has fostered knowledge exchange and elevated the standard of strategic philanthropy among local UHNWIs.
Government policy incentives further reinforced UHNWI giving in 2025. The Singapore government extended its existing tax deduction scheme, allowing individuals and businesses to claim a 250% tax deduction on qualifying donations to institutions of public character (IPCs), while allocating over SGD 600 million in matching funds to amplify the impact of charitable contributions. A new pilot scheme also introduced a 100% tax deduction for individual and corporate donations to overseas humanitarian relief efforts, positioning Singapore as a hub for regional and global philanthropy. These policies, combined with Singapore’s stable regulatory environment and seamless integration of philanthropy with wealth management, have made the city-state an attractive base for UHNWIs to manage their charitable giving.
2. Key Philanthropic Trends Among Singaporean UHNWIs in 2025
2.1 From Ad-Hoc to Strategic, Impact-Driven Giving
A defining trend in 2025 was the shift among Singaporean UHNWIs from ad-hoc, reactive donations to strategic, impact-driven philanthropy. Approximately 79% of surveyed UHNWIs stated that they now approach charitable giving with a long-term strategy, focusing on measurable outcomes rather than one-off contributions. This shift is driven by a desire to maximize the social impact of their donations, align giving with personal values, and create a lasting family legacy.
UHNWIs are increasingly leveraging data and research to select charitable causes, with 68% reporting that they evaluate the effectiveness and transparency of non-profit organizations before making donations. Many are also adopting a “venture philanthropy” approach, providing not just funding but also strategic guidance, mentorship, and network access to the organizations they support — mirroring the hands-on approach they take in their business ventures. This trend is particularly evident in the education and social entrepreneurship sectors, where UHNWIs are partnering with non-profits to develop sustainable solutions to systemic challenges.
2.2 Rise of Family Philanthropy and Legacy Planning
Family philanthropy emerged as a key focus for Singaporean UHNWIs in 2025, with 72% of surveyed UHNWIs reporting that they involve their families in charitable giving decisions. This trend is driven by a desire to pass down values of empathy and social responsibility to the next generation, as well as to align family members around a shared purpose — a critical consideration amid rising family conflicts related to wealth management. Many UHNWIs are establishing family foundations to formalize their giving, with these foundations focusing on causes that reflect the family’s collective values, such as education, healthcare, or cultural preservation.
Next-generation involvement is also reshaping family philanthropy, with younger UHNWIs (aged 30-45) pushing for greater focus on global issues, such as climate change, biodiversity, and global inequality — a departure from the traditional focus on local causes by older generations. This intergenerational collaboration is creating more diverse and inclusive philanthropic portfolios, with families balancing local community needs with global challenges.
2.3 Digitalization Transforms Giving Behaviors
Digitalization has profoundly transformed Singaporean UHNWIs’ philanthropic behaviors in 2025, with technology streamlining donation processes, enhancing transparency, and expanding access to charitable causes. While large-scale donations are still often made through direct partnerships with non-profits or family foundations, digital platforms have become a critical touchpoint for discovery, engagement, and smaller, regular donations.
Giving.sg, Singapore’s national digital giving platform, was a key driver of this trend, with UHNWIs using the platform to mobilize their networks, track donation impact, and participate in collective giving campaigns. Additionally, blockchain technology is gaining traction for its ability to enhance transparency in donation tracking, with some UHNWIs using blockchain-powered tools to ensure their funds are used as intended. Social media has also become an important tool for UHNWIs to amplify their philanthropic efforts, with many sharing their giving journeys to inspire others and raise awareness for key causes.
2.4 Expansion of Global and Sustainable Philanthropy
In 2025, Singaporean UHNWIs increasingly expanded their philanthropic focus beyond local borders, with 43% of surveyed UHNWIs reporting that they donate to international causes — a significant increase from 31% in 2023. This shift is driven by a growing awareness of global interconnectedness, as well as Singapore’s position as a global hub for international philanthropy. Key global focus areas include climate change, biodiversity, global health, and education access in developing countries.
Sustainability has also become a core consideration in UHNWIs’ giving decisions, with 65% stating that they prioritize charitable organizations and projects that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Mission-aligned investing” — where UHNWIs ensure their charitable giving and personal investments are consistent with their sustainability values — has emerged as a key trend, with many integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria into both their philanthropic and investment strategies. This trend is particularly strong among younger UHNWIs, who are more likely to view philanthropy as a tool to address systemic global challenges.
2.5 Preference for Strategic Giving Tools
Singaporean UHNWIs increasingly turned to strategic giving tools in 2025 to maximize the impact, flexibility, and tax efficiency of their charitable donations. Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) and family foundations were the most popular tools, offering UHNWIs greater control over their giving while simplifying administrative processes.
The Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS) has played a key role in popularizing DAFs, managing over 160 such funds and raising over SGD 197 million in cumulative donations since its inception. Financial institutions, including UBS, Credit Suisse, and Standard Chartered, have also expanded their philanthropy advisory services, offering UHNWIs support in setting up sub-foundations under DAF structures and managing their charitable assets. These tools not only provide tax benefits but also allow UHNWIs to plan their giving over the long term, ensuring their philanthropic legacy continues beyond their lifetime.
3. Core Characteristics of Singaporean UHNWI Philanthropists
3.1 Demographic Profile
Pridebay’s research reveals distinct demographic characteristics of Singaporean UHNWI philanthropists in 2025, which shape their giving preferences and behaviors:
Age Distribution: The majority of UHNWI philanthropists are aged 46-65 (59%), a cohort that primarily focuses on local causes such as education, healthcare, and social welfare. However, younger UHNWIs (30-45 years old) are a fast-growing segment, accounting for 32% of UHNWI philanthropists. This younger group is more likely to support global, sustainable causes and use digital platforms for giving, reflecting their global perspective and tech-savviness.
Wealth Source: UHNWIs’ wealth primarily comes from finance and fintech (35%), technology and innovation (27%), real estate (18%), and family businesses (14%). Technology entrepreneurs and family office leaders are particularly active in philanthropy, often leveraging their business acumen to drive impact through strategic giving and venture philanthropy approaches.
Education and Cultural Background: 77% of surveyed UHNWI philanthropists hold a bachelor’s degree or above, and 64% have international education or work experience. This global exposure has broadened their philanthropic focus, with many supporting both local and international causes. Additionally, Singapore’s multicultural heritage has influenced giving preferences, with many UHNWIs supporting causes that promote cultural preservation and social inclusion.
3.2 Giving Preferences and Focus Areas
Singaporean UHNWI philanthropists exhibit clear preferences in their giving, with a focus on causes that align with their personal values, life experiences, and legacy goals. The top focus areas in 2025 are as follows:
Education (28%): Education remains the top focus area for UHNWIs, with donations supporting scholarships, school infrastructure, vocational training programs, and educational equity initiatives. Key beneficiaries include local universities such as the Singapore University of Technology and Design and the Singapore University of Social Sciences, which received significant funding in 2025. UHNWIs view education as a powerful tool for social mobility and economic development, with many focusing on supporting disadvantaged students and promoting access to quality education.
Healthcare (24%): Healthcare is the second-most popular focus area, with donations supporting hospitals, medical research, and access to affordable healthcare for low-income communities. Key organizations include St Andrew’s Mission Hospital, the National Kidney Foundation Singapore, and善济医社 (Shan Ji Medical Society), which received SGD 14.5 million in donations from the 2025 Extraordinary Goddess International Competition. UHNWIs are particularly interested in supporting medical research for chronic diseases and initiatives that align with Singapore’s “HealthSG” and “AgingSG” programs.
Social Welfare (21%): Social welfare donations focus on supporting vulnerable communities, including low-income families, the elderly, people with disabilities, and migrant workers. Organizations such as the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) Charitable Fund, which raised SGD 438.4 million in 2025, are key beneficiaries. However, some non-profits, including客工援助组织 ItsRainingRaincoats, reported a 10-15% decrease in donations in 2025, attributed to economic uncertainty and rising living costs.
Environment and Sustainability (12%): This category saw the fastest growth in 2025, with donations increasing by 23% year-on-year. UHNWIs are supporting initiatives focused on climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. This trend is driven by younger UHNWIs and the global shift toward ESG-conscious giving.
Culture and Heritage (8%): Donations to cultural and heritage causes support museums, art preservation, and cultural events. The National Heritage Board, which received SGD 204.8 million in 2025, is a key beneficiary, reflecting UHNWIs’ commitment to preserving Singapore’s cultural identity.
Other Causes (7%): This includes international humanitarian aid, animal welfare, and social entrepreneurship. The 2025 pilot tax deduction scheme for overseas humanitarian donations has encouraged more UHNWIs to support international causes.
4. Market Drivers and Challenges
4.1 Key Market Drivers
Several factors have driven the growth and evolution of Singaporean UHNWI philanthropy in 2025:
Favorable Policy Incentives: Singapore’s government has introduced a range of policies to encourage charitable giving, including tax deductions, donation matching funds, and support for non-profit organizations. The extension of the 250% tax deduction scheme and the new overseas humanitarian aid tax incentive have significantly boosted UHNWI giving.
Growing UHNWI Population: The steady growth of Singapore’s UHNWI population has expanded the pool of potential donors, with new UHNWIs — particularly from the technology and fintech sectors — bringing fresh perspectives and resources to the philanthropy sector.
SG60 Celebrations: The nationwide SG60 celebrations galvanized a culture of giving, with the Great Singapore Give 2025 campaign and partnerships between organizations like NVPC and Mediacorp driving record donations on digital platforms such as giving.sg.
Global Philanthropy Hub Status: Singapore’s emergence as a global hub for charitable foundations has attracted top international philanthropists and fostered knowledge exchange, elevating the standard of strategic philanthropy among local UHNWIs.
Next-Generation Influence: Younger UHNWIs are increasingly influencing family giving decisions, pushing for greater focus on global, sustainable causes and driving the adoption of digital and strategic giving tools.
4.2 Key Challenges
Despite the positive growth trajectory, Singapore’s UHNWI philanthropy sector faces several challenges in 2025:
Economic Uncertainty: Lingering global economic volatility and rising living costs have led some UHNWIs to adopt a more cautious approach to giving, with smaller non-profits and those supporting niche causes reporting declines in donations. This caution is particularly evident in ad-hoc donations, while strategic, long-term giving remains resilient.
Volunteer Shortages: Charitable organizations in Singapore faced significant volunteer shortages in 2025, with the Boys’ Brigade reporting a 75% gap in volunteers for Christmas gift deliveries. This shortage, attributed to increased overseas travel and busy schedules, has hindered the ability of non-profits to deliver services, even as funding remains stable.
Transparency and Accountability Demands: UHNWIs are increasingly demanding greater transparency and accountability from non-profit organizations, with 68% reporting that they evaluate an organization’s effectiveness before donating. This places pressure on smaller non-profits to invest in data collection and impact measurement, which can be resource-intensive.
Philanthropic Talent Gap: Singapore’s non-profit sector faces a shortage of professional talent, particularly in areas such as impact measurement, strategic planning, and digital engagement. While the government has launched initiatives to attract charitable talent, the gap remains a challenge for organizations seeking to scale their impact.
Balancing Local and Global Priorities: As UHNWIs expand their focus to global causes, some face challenges in balancing global giving with support for local communities, particularly amid growing needs in Singapore’s social welfare sector.
5. Future Outlook (2026-2027)
Looking ahead to 2026-2027, Pridebay forecasts that Singapore’s UHNWI philanthropy sector will continue to grow steadily, with several key trends expected to shape its evolution:
Continued Growth in Strategic and Impact-Driven Giving: UHNWIs will further embrace strategic philanthropy, with a greater focus on measurable impact, long-term partnerships, and venture philanthropy approaches. Donor-advised funds and family foundations will become even more prevalent, as UHNWIs seek to formalize their giving and ensure legacy continuity.
Expansion of Sustainable and Global Philanthropy: Sustainability will become a core requirement for UHNWI giving, with more donors integrating ESG criteria into their philanthropic strategies. Global causes, particularly climate change and biodiversity, will continue to gain traction, supported by government policies and next-generation influence.
Deeper Digital Integration: Digital platforms will play an even more critical role in UHNWI philanthropy, with blockchain technology expanding to enhance transparency, and social media continuing to be a key tool for mobilization and awareness-raising. Giving.sg and other digital platforms are expected to see continued growth in donation volumes.
Strengthened Public-Private-Philanthropic Partnerships: Partnerships between UHNWIs, corporations, and the government will become more common, as stakeholders collaborate to address complex societal challenges such as aging, educational equity, and climate change. These partnerships will leverage the strengths of each sector to drive greater impact.
Focus on Philanthropic Talent Development: The government and key philanthropic organizations will invest in developing the non-profit talent pool, addressing the current gap and enhancing the sector’s capacity to deliver impact. This will include training programs for non-profit leaders and initiatives to attract young talent to the sector.
Overall, Singapore’s UHNWI philanthropy sector is poised for sustainable growth and strategic maturation in the coming years. As UHNWIs continue to evolve their giving behaviors — embracing digital tools, focusing on impact, and balancing local and global priorities — they will play an increasingly critical role in building a more inclusive, sustainable, and compassionate society in Singapore and beyond. Singapore’s position as a global philanthropy hub will also continue to strengthen, attracting international UHNWIs and fostering innovation in charitable giving.
