Community Stewardship
Our not-for-profit gifts aim to Connect People, Uplift Communities, Protect Our Planet, and Advance Capabilities, in Singapore and beyond.
As a global investor, our social licence to operate depends on our ability to create value for all stakeholders, including our communities. We believe in seeding social capital to foster a more inclusive and resilient world, so every generation prospers.
Our journey in building social capital began over 20 years ago, when we adopted a deliberate and structured approach to giving back, anchored on the twin pillars of governance and sustainability.
Since 2003, we have been setting aside a portion of our net positive returns above our risk-adjusted cost of capital for community gifts. Approved by the Temasek Board, these gifts are donated largely to Temasek Trust (TT) to achieve our community objectives of Connecting People, Uplifting Communities, Protecting Our Planet, and Advancing Capabilities (CUPA).
Temasek’s primary community stewardship arm is the Temasek Trust Collective (TTC), an ecosystem of organisations united by a shared purpose of building better for every generation. The TTC mirrors Temasek’s CUPA objectives through their four strategic priorities of Planet, People, Peace, and Progress. By harnessing the TTC’s diverse capabilities, TT builds capacity, convenes partnerships, mobilises capital, and catalyses solutions for lasting impact.
Beyond the TTC, we give directly to our partners in the Public, Private, and People sectors to maximise the impact of our capital, network, and insights.
Doing Good in Our Communities
As a responsible corporate citizen, we support local charities through donations and employee volunteerism across our global offices. We cultivate a culture of giving at Temasek by actively incorporating volunteering opportunities into our giving efforts, as well as through T-Touch, an employee-led volunteer initiative driven by the passion and commitment of our people.
When our employees initiate a fundraising effort for a charity or cause, Temasek will provide a matching donation.
As our programme reach and partnerships continue to widen, we must ensure that our gifts truly make a difference to communities. We have developed an impact framework for community gifts to guide the measurement of their impact against our community objectives. This framework allows us to evaluate, refine, and maximise the effectiveness of initiatives we support. We work closely with our partners, including TT, to apply the framework.
Our community gifts empower the Temasek Trust Collective (TTC) to address complex challenges.
In 2007, we established two independent entities — Temasek Trust (TT) and Temasek Foundation (TF) — recognising that managing funds and delivering community initiatives require distinct expertise. This governance structure enables TT to focus on the financial stewardship of our gifts, while TF focuses on delivering community programmes.
Over time, additional non-profit entities and endowments have been established as part of the TTC. The TTC is an ecosystem of organisations that enhances our collective ability to respond to emerging needs, catalyse solutions, and deliver lasting impact in Singapore and beyond.
To date, Temasek’s gifts to TT have impacted about 5 million lives across Singapore and beyond.
Our Philanthropic Governance Model
Established by Temasek Holdings in 2007, TT is a steward of philanthropic assets. As a Company Limited by Guarantee49, TT provides governance and financial oversight of non-profit endowments and gifts from Temasek and other donors.
This governance model separates the financial management of philanthropic assets by TT from the programme design and delivery by the TTC, and enables the respective entities to develop clear focus and capabilities. The TTC organisations are separate, independent entities from Temasek, each with their respective board and management team. Temasek does not direct their day-to-day operations.
TT deploys funding both directly and through the TTC and TT IPC Ltd. Its philanthropic assets are managed by Temasek Trust Asset Management (TTAM).
TT IPC Ltd. is a registered charity and Institution of a Public Character50 regulated by the Commissioner of Charities in Singapore.
TTAM is a professional investment house regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as a Capital Markets Services licence holder.
In forging new pathways in impact investing and philanthropy, TT aims to promote catalytic philanthropy as a force for good.
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Temasek Foundation (TF)
TF supports a diverse range of programmes that uplift lives and communities in Singapore and beyond. TF’s programmes strive towards achieving positive outcomes for individuals and communities now, and for generations to come. Collectively, TF’s programmes strengthen social resilience, foster international exchanges and regional capabilities, advance science, and protect the planet.
As a programming engine, TF delivers and develops programmes through strategic partnerships, working closely with programme partners to catalyse solutions for transformative impact. TF goes beyond traditional grant-making by nurturing innovation and catalytic interventions upstream to demonstrate proof of value for mainstreaming partners.
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Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory (TLL)
TLL undertakes cutting-edge bio-molecular science research and its applications across a range of life science disciplines. Its work seeks to uncover new translatable knowledge, turning scientific discoveries into real-world impact that benefits people and communities across Asia and beyond.
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Steward Leadership Institute (SLI)
SLI, formerly known as Stewardship Asia Centre, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to research, education, and advisory on steward leadership. Its steward leadership framework — doing well by doing good — enables profitable growth, business longevity, and personal fulfilment in an increasingly transparent and interconnected global economy.
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Mandai Nature (MN)
MN is the conservation arm of Mandai Wildlife Group and was jointly established by Temasek and Mandai Wildlife Group in 2020. MN advocates for and supports biodiversity conservation in Asia through conservation programmes with partners, as well as by convening partnerships and collaborative alliances to address critical conservation outcomes.
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Centre for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP)
CIIP was established to foster impact investing knowledge, communities, and practices. It aims to encourage and enable effective deployment of private capital by investors, companies, and philanthropists towards positive impact outcomes for the environment and well-being of communities in Asia and beyond.
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Philanthropy Asia Alliance (PAA)
PAA fosters collaborative philanthropy and catalyses system-level solutions for Asia and from Asia through multi-sector partnerships. PAA is now a global alliance of more than 110 members and partners, accelerating change through its roles as an impact catalyst, trusted convenor, and global thought leader.
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Temasek Shophouse (TSH)
TSH is a social impact hub in the heart of Singapore working closely with partners from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to convene changemakers, foster collaborations, and catalyse partnerships and solutions for positive impact.
Key Initiatives Over the Year
In September 2025, TT, TF, and TTAM jointly published the inaugural Impact Highlights to showcase the TTC’s shared efforts to design and deliver programmes for positive impact. The report illustrates how philanthropic capital and partnerships can unlock, scale, and sustain systems-level change.
TF supported about 150 community programmes over the last financial year. Among these was a clinical trial, in partnership with the Institute of Mental Health, to pilot a precision brain stimulation treatment for individuals with treatment-resistant depression in Singapore. The pilot aims to evaluate the treatment’s efficacy for adoption as a mainstream clinical practice.
Another programme supported by TF was NextGen Para Talent in partnership with the Singapore Disability Sports Council. The programme nurtures next-generation para-athletes through a four-year pilot launched in April 2026. Selected athletes will receive individualised training, structured coaching, and access to strength and conditioning as well as physiotherapy services. Through collaborations with mainstream schools, the programme aims to create more inclusive sporting pathways for youths with disabilities.
Following its reopening last year, the expanded TSH continues to serve as a convening platform for like-minded partners. For example, in November 2025, TSH hosted Singapore’s largest sustainability festival, GREEN-HOUSE, bringing together 19,200 people from the community to amplify social and environmental impact.
Besides co-working spaces and a media studio, TSH also houses two new event venues which can accommodate up to 180 people each. The additional capacity enables impact organisations to amplify their outreach to the community, and allows the public to meaningfully engage with causes close to their hearts. One example was the film premiere and subsequent public screenings of A Singapore Dementia Story, which was viewed by more than 850 people and helped raise greater awareness and support for people living with dementia.
In 2025, CIIP and PAA announced three new mentee cohorts for The Amplifier, a global mentorship programme that helps impact businesses to scale via catalytic capital, expert mentorship, and capability-building. The impact businesses span three thematic areas: innovation and circularity in textiles, sustainability transformation for small and medium enterprise suppliers in tourism, and inclusive employment.
Temasek directly supports initiatives where our philanthropic capital, network, and industry insights can make the most impact.
Beyond the Temasek Trust Collective (TTC), Temasek works directly with partners from the Public, Private, and People sectors to advance our community objectives.
Advancing Capabilities
As part of T-Spring, our S$150 million gift to advance capabilities in Singapore and build a resilient and future-ready workforce, we have awarded scholarships to Singaporean polytechnic students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), both locally and abroad. We have also awarded graduate scholarships to Singaporean PhD candidates with a STEM research focus.
A key pillar of T-Spring focuses on workforce skills development as a foundation for Singapore’s long-term competitiveness. Over the year, Temasek partnered with the National Trades Union Congress to increase workforce participation among seniors by training them in behavioural and job readiness skills. Amidst structural and technological shifts in the offshore and marine sector, Temasek partnered with the Institute of Technical Education to provide upskilling for workers in small and medium enterprises to enhance sector resilience.
Our inaugural Temasek Fellow, Professor Henrik Christensen — a leading figure in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics from the University of California, San Diego — engaged corporates, tertiary institutions, and social service organisations in Singapore to share insights on the application of AI and robotics. He also advanced the development of AI curricula among local institutes of higher learning.
The President’s Challenge Springboard Fellowship, supported by T-Spring, empowers remarkable individuals to bounce back from setbacks in life. This year, the fellowship will provide four individuals with the tools, training, and networks to embark on new pathways and rebuild their lives. Besides formal training, they will be mentored by volunteers across Temasek, our portfolio companies, and the TTC.
Our T-Ignite Fund provides recoverable grants to impact enterprises, empowering them to deliver sustained impact at scale. Temasek employees have also volunteered to evaluate potential grantees and provide strategic guidance. T-Ignite has supported two impact enterprises to date, with encouraging results so far: Wateroam has doubled its production capacity for water filters to reach more communities in need, while Foreword Coffee has established Singapore’s first dedicated barista training academy for persons with disabilities.
Read more about how we support community programmes that build a more inclusive workforce
Supporting Local Communities
Temasek’s community gifts extend beyond Singapore, as we seed social capital to advance the well-being of the communities in markets where we operate. Our international offices partner with local charities across the globe to address community needs ranging from youth development to social inclusion and rural revitalisation.
In China, we supported social enterprises that enhance the employability of vulnerable individuals, increase environmental awareness, and promote sustainable livelihoods. One such initiative equipped local farmers with eco-friendly methods that improved cultivation across 300 acres of land in Inner Mongolia.
Our London office supported Haven House Children’s Hospice to fund the training of healthcare professionals and student nurses providing palliative care to children. These sessions enabled healthcare workers to develop specialist knowledge and gain confidence in providing frontline support to patients and their families, building enduring impact through better primary care delivery.
Read more about how our offices support their local communities
Strengthening Climate Action
We also deploy community gifts to protect our planet.
Last year, we supported the Green Investments Partnership (GIP), a blended finance partnership under Singapore’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership initiative, with a commitment from our Concessional Capital for Climate Action. GIP aims to increase the bankability of green and sustainable projects in Southeast Asia and South Asia.
Our gifts also supported five new climate technology start-ups in the latest cohort of the Breakthrough Energy Fellows - Southeast Asia programme. Their goals span a wide spectrum, from sustainable manufacturing to agriculture, including converting agricultural waste to carbon nanomaterials that can boost plant growth and yield.
With support from Temasek’s T-Ignite Fund, Foreword Coffee is expanding pathways to meaningful work for persons with disabilities.
Brewing Inclusivity, Cup by Cup
Before Su Wei Chiang found a job as a barista, he spent years searching for a workplace where he could fit in.
The 22-year-old has a mild intellectual disability that affects how he processes information and communicates. Wei Chiang’s mother, Su Su Aung, Angiee, encouraged him to explore different jobs through co-curricular activities — from cake decorating to customer service — during his time at APSN (formerly known as the Association for Persons with Special Needs) Tanglin School. However, these jobs were too fast-paced and left him feeling overwhelmed and discouraged.
The turning point came when Wei Chiang was in secondary three. Attending a barista workshop hosted by Foreword Coffee — an inclusive social enterprise that runs nine cafés — sparked an immediate interest in latte art and introduced him to the possibility of a career as a barista.
After graduating in 2024, he signed up for Foreword Coffee’s month-long Basic Barista Skills Training Programme and was subsequently hired as a junior barista.
To date, Foreword Coffee has employed about 80 persons with disabilities. It is supported by T-Ignite, a recoverable grant initiative established and funded by Temasek to help impact enterprises strengthen their business models and achieve financial sustainability. Its funding has enabled Foreword Coffee to set up Foreword Academy to train new baristas and expand its operational team.
The first few months at Foreword Coffee were particularly challenging. Wei Chiang could only manage one order at a time and froze when faced with multiple tasks. He also struggled to communicate with others.
“When I first started, I was very quiet and didn’t know how to speak up and ask for help,” said Wei Chiang.
Recognising his challenges, his supervisors and colleagues stepped in to coach Wei Chiang.
“We explained the café workflow to Wei Chiang in small steps. We showed him how to take orders, prepare drinks, and manage busy periods. We also repeated instructions if he did not understand at first,” said Lim Wei Jie, founder of Foreword Coffee.
Angiee also nurtured Wei Chiang’s love for latte art by enrolling him in extra barista courses, where he learnt to create more latte art designs.
Over time, Wei Chiang began to flourish in his role. After more than a year, he has been promoted to barista and now works three to five days a week at Foreword Coffee’s Esplanade outlet. He handles most of his tasks independently, including cashiering, preparing drinks, and making latte art.
Wei Chiang has grown in confidence, taking on new responsibilities and forming friendships at work. He shares his passion for tea with his colleagues by organising tea-tasting sessions for them after their shifts. He also mentors the café’s interns and teaches them how to prepare drinks and make latte art.
Now that Foreword Coffee has helped me, I want to help others. I guide our new interns and tell them that it is okay to learn slowly and take things step by step, as long as you have the heart.
– Su Wei Chiang
For Angiee, Wei Chiang’s progress at Foreword Coffee is proof that he can build a fulfilling career with the right support. “I am thankful for Foreword Coffee because they are willing to give inclusivity a chance.”
Treating Depression Anew
Reviving Hope with Personalised Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
For people with treatment-resistant depression, standard treatment may not be enough. Learn about Raj’s journey through Personalised Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, piloted by the Institute of Mental Health and the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, in partnership with Temasek Foundation.