Singapore International Foundation - SIF

What Singapore International Foundation - SIF does

Singapore International Foundation (SIF) is a Singapore-registered non-profit foundation founded in 1991 that operates international development and people-to-people exchange programmes across 28 countries in Southeast Asia, China, and India. Its programmes are organized into six focus areas - Climate, Culture, Digital, Education, Health, and Youth - and are delivered through a network of more than 5,500 Singapore International Volunteers and over 700 institutional partners. Flagship initiatives include the ASEAN Youth Fellowship, Young Social Entrepreneurs Global (YSE Global), Asia's Rising Circle, BRIDGE bilateral exchange, SEAPAW (Southeast Asia Partnership for Adaptation through Water, co-launched with the World Economic Forum in June 2024), specialist healthcare volunteer missions, the Maths PLUS teacher-training programme in Sarawak, the Service-Learning programme for students from Singapore's Institutes of Higher Learning, and the Journalist Visit Programme. Cumulative impact claimed is more than 16.7 million lives positively affected over 30 years, with reported outcomes including S$3.91 social return per S$1 invested in YSE Global and an 86% enterprise survival rate among YSE Global grant recipients.

SIF holds Institution of a Public Character (IPC) status in Singapore, enabling 2.5x tax-deductible donations through 2026, and operates with a Board of Governors chaired by Janadas Devan and Patronship from Tharman Shanmugaratnam. Leadership transition is scheduled for 1 July 2026 with Wu Ye-Min succeeding Corinna Chan as CEO at the foundation's 35th anniversary. The core 'technology' is not a software product but rather a programme-delivery methodology - skills transfer via specialist volunteers, capacity-building curricula in healthcare and education, and multi-stakeholder convening platforms like SEAPAW. The organization does not maintain a public API or proprietary technology stack.

The business model is donation-funded and non-commercial. SIF does not charge programme beneficiaries; instead it receives voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations (e.g., Mapletree Investments' S$250,000 gift for the Mapletree Community Impact Programme in November 2025), and foundations, supplemented by programme-specific corporate sponsorships (e.g., Temasek as YSE Global funding partner) and strategic pro-bono contributions from consultancies (McKinsey, Bain) and healthcare institutions (Tan Tock Seng Hospital, SingHealth Duke-NUS). Distribution occurs via direct programme delivery, partnership-based implementation through local NGOs and ministries, and event-driven formats such as fellowships and hackathons. No revenue or budget figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

Singapore International Foundation - SIF

Legal name

Singapore International Foundation

Website

https://sif.org.sg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Singapore International Foundation is a non-profit foundation established in 1991 that runs people-to-people development programmes across 28 countries in Climate, Culture, Education, Health, and Youth, delivered through 5,500+ Singapore volunteers and 700+ institutional partners and funded by tax-deductible donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SIF relies primarily on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization is an Institution of a Public Character (IPC) in Singapore, offering 2.5 times tax deduction for donors in calendar years 2022-26. Major donors include Dr Ang Poon Liat & Dr Wu Eu Li, Mr Choo Chiau Beng & Dr Eileen Lim, Crocodile Foundation Ltd, Dou Yee International Pte Ltd, ICH Group, Italian Women's Group, Lew Foundation, Mapletree Investments, TAK Products and Services, TEAM LEWIS Foundation, and Mr Yeo Keng Joon & Ms Kong Yuet Peng.
2. Service-Learning Programme Fund: The organization receives endowed and expendable gifts specifically designated for Service-Learning programmes that engage students from Singapore's Institutes of Higher Learning. Funds support youth volunteers participating in overseas community projects mentored by Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs). Notable funds include the Choo-Lim Service-Learning Fund, Crocodile Foundation Youth Service-Learning Fund, and various named youth development funds.
3. Volunteer Programme Partnerships: SIF receives corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships for specific programmes. For example, Mapletree Investments donated S$250,000 for the Mapletree Community Impact Programme supporting healthcare volunteer projects in India and Vietnam. The organization also receives programme support from partners like Temasek, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company for the YSE Global initiative.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Singapore International Foundation runs volunteer-driven international development and people-to-people programmes across six focus areas (Climate, Culture, Digital, Education, Health, Youth). It connects communities in approximately 28 countries through skills transfer, leadership development, and cross-cultural exchange, delivered in partnership with 700+ corporates, governments, institutes of higher learning, and NGOs.

Product overview

The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) offers a diverse portfolio of international development and people-to-people programmes rather than a unified technology product. The core offerings span six focus areas: Climate (SEAPAW), Culture (Journalist Visit Programme, Voices of Us, Our Singaporean Identity), Education (Maths PLUS, Specialist Programmes), Health (Specialist Healthcare Programmes), and Youth (ASEAN Youth Fellowship, Asia's Rising Circle, BRIDGE, Service-Learning, YSE Global). These programmes operate independently, each addressing specific development goals through volunteer cooperation, leadership development, and cultural exchange, unified by SIF's mission to connect communities worldwide and drive positive social impact.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SEAPAW: Southeast Asia Partnership for Adaptation through Water - a regional multi-stakeholder platform addressing climate change with focus on water-related issues, in collaboration with World Economic Forum.
• ASEAN Youth Fellowship
• YSE Global
• Asia's Rising Circle
• Voices of Us

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 16.7 million lives positively impacted across 28 countries over 30+ years
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Co-hosting the second annual Asia-Pacific Global Health Innovation Hackathon on maternal and child nutrition scheduled for September 18-19, 2026 in Singapore. The initiative brings together 12-15 teams to develop data-driven solutions with prizes up to SGD 25,000 and a six-month incubation programme.
• World Economic Forum (WEF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2024SIF and WEF jointly launched SEAPAW (Southeast Asia Partnership for Adaptation through Water) on 19 June 2024 at Singapore International Water Week. The partnership focuses on addressing climate change through water-related issues, catalyzing solutions by convening diverse stakeholders including governments, financial institutions, and philanthropies. SEAPAW aims to foster cross-border projects and accelerate adaptation financing through public-private-philanthropic models.
• Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIF co-hosted the SEAPAW launch event with WEF and GCEW on 19 June 2024 at Singapore International Water Week, positioning water as a critical climate adaptation investment opportunity.
• National Youth Council (NYC) SingaporecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ASEAN Youth Fellowship is organized by SIF in partnership with NYC Singapore. The fellowship brings together exceptional young changemakers from across Southeast Asia for leadership development, with the 8th edition scheduled for November 2026 in Singapore and Manila, Philippines.
• AMII (Academic Medicine Development Office)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three SingHealth Duke-NUS institutes co-hosting the Asia-Pacific Global Health Innovation Hackathon.
• SDGHI (SingHealth Duke-NUS Global Health Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three SingHealth Duke-NUS institutes co-hosting the Asia-Pacific Global Health Innovation Hackathon.
• Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingapore International Volunteers from TTSH are implementing the Training Healthcare Professionals to Advance Nephrology Care (THAN) project in Vietnam and the Singapore-India Palliative Care Accessibility Core Training (PACT) project. TTSH volunteers provide specialist training in nephrology, palliative care, and clinical skills.
• McKinsey & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMcKinsey provides mentorship support to YSE Global participants, with consultants sharing business strategy and scaling expertise with social entrepreneurs.
• Bain & CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBain & Company serves as a programme partner for YSE Global, providing business consulting expertise and mentorship to social entrepreneurs.
• Singapore PolytechniccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSingapore Polytechnic is a Singapore partner for SIF's Service-Learning Programme, with students participating in mental health awareness projects in Cambodia alongside Singapore International Volunteers.
• Institute of Technical Education (ITE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerITE students participate in SIF's Service-Learning Programme through various projects including Water for Life in Cambodia. The partnership enables youth volunteers to engage in community development overseas.
• Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), Sarawak, MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for the Maths PLUS programme in Sarawak, Malaysia. The programme trains primary school teachers to improve pedagogical abilities, aiming to benefit at least 80,000 students.
• Water for CambodiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for SIF's Water for Life project in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Water for Cambodia collaborates with SIF volunteers and student participants to install bio-sand water filters and conduct water quality testing.
• Caritas Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for SIF's Mental Health project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. CCAMH collaborates with SIF volunteers and Singapore Polytechnic students to develop youth-friendly mental health resources.
• Pallium IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner for the PACT project in India. Pallium India collaborates with SIF's Singapore International Volunteers to train healthcare professionals in palliative care across India.
• Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh CitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost partner for the THAN project in Vietnam. Cho Ray Hospital receives nephrology training from TTSH volunteers, with the project expected to benefit 11,000 lives by 2027.
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member contributing expertise on climate adaptation financing. BCG and WEF published joint research on Adaptation through Water identifying a $6.4 billion funding gap in Southeast Asia.
• Asia Investor Group on Climate ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member working on climate adaptation financing and mobilizing private sector investment for water-related climate initiatives.
• Conservation InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member contributing environmental conservation expertise and nature-based solutions for water and climate resilience.
• Mae Fah Luang FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member contributing expertise on environmental sustainability and community-based conservation in Thailand.
• Thrive Networks / East Meets WestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member focused on clean water access and environmental sustainability solutions in Southeast Asia.
• Singapore Water AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member representing Singapore's water industry expertise and best practices.
• Forum for Climate Change AdaptationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member focused on climate adaptation policy and implementation frameworks.
• Malaysian Water Association Sarawak BranchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSEAPAW member contributing water management expertise from Malaysia.
• Ministry of Health, IndonesiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Singapore-Indonesia healthcare collaborations strengthening maternal and child health services in Tamil Nadu, India, with over 1.2 million lives uplifted.
• Government of Tamil Nadu, IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost government for SIF's healthcare and education projects in India, including maternal and child health collaboration and early childhood education projects in West and East Java.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AIESEC: Global youth-led organization running international exchanges and leadership programmes for students and recent graduates. Comparable to SIF's ASEAN Youth Fellowship, Asia's Rising Circle, BRIDGE, and Service-Learning programmes targeting young changemakers.
• Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO): International NGO that sends skilled volunteers to deliver education, health, and livelihoods programmes in developing countries. Directly comparable to SIF's specialist volunteer-driven health, education, and youth programming model.
• Ashoka: Global organization supporting leading social entrepreneurs with stipends, networks, and programmes. Directly comparable to SIF's YSE Global programme, with a deeper social-enterprise pipeline but similar fellowship-style support.
• Asia Foundation: San Francisco-headquartered international development nonprofit working across Asia on governance, economic development, and cross-border programmes. Closely comparable to SIF as a multi-country Asia-focused development foundation reliant on grants, partnerships, and volunteer-style engagement.
• AFS Intercultural Programs: International nonprofit operating intercultural exchange and youth leadership programmes across 90+ countries. Closely comparable to SIF's Youth, Culture, and Service-Learning work in building cross-cultural understanding and people-to-people ties.

Broad incumbents

• Peace Corps: US government agency sending American volunteers abroad for community development, health, and education assignments. Comparable to SIF's model of skilled-volunteer deployment for capacity building, though at significantly larger scale and government-funded.
• British Council: UK state-linked organization delivering cultural exchange, education, and English-language programmes globally. Comparable to SIF's Culture (Journalist Visit Programme, Voices of Us) and Education focus areas, with broader geographic reach and government backing.
• Nippon Foundation: Japan-based major philanthropic foundation funding international cooperation, education, and disaster recovery across Asia. Comparable as a large Asia-rooted foundation with multi-sector grant programmes and government-aligned international engagement.

Regional players

• Temasek Foundation: Singapore-based philanthropic foundation funding community, healthcare, education, and climate programmes regionally and globally. Closest domestic peer, sharing Singapore base, IPC status, and donor overlap (Temasek already funds YSE Global).
• Lien Foundation: Singapore philanthropic foundation focused on healthcare, education, and eldercare innovation. Comparable as a Singapore-headquartered foundation with similar donor base and Asia-focused grantmaking orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/singaporeinternationalfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/30733
• Xx.com/siforg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments5 records

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Frequently asked questions about Singapore International Foundation - SIF