About The Empowering Communities Fund
How do I apply2025 marks a year of celebration as Singapore celebrates milestones commemorating its 60th birthday, the 100th anniversary of the Singapore Co-operative Movement and the United Nations’ designation of 2025 as the International Year of Co-operatives.
Announced at the Co-operative Movement Night 2024, the $1m Empowering Communities Fund is set up by the Singapore National Co-operative Federation and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, with the funding support from the Central Co-operative Fund, Government and Singapore Labour Foundation (SLF). The fund aims to support co-operatives (“co-ops”) to kickstart ground-up initiatives or programmes that benefit vulnerable communities in Singapore. The fund complements Government’s efforts in strengthening Singapore’s social compact and building a more resilient and inclusive society.
Funding Categories and Quantum
Co-ops can tap on ECF for up to 2 projects:
a. Submit only one application which can be from Category A, B or C; or
b. Submit two applications, which can be from Category A and B; or Category A and C
Interested co-op can submit a completed Application Form to SNCF (appointed Secretariat of the ECF). Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by the ECF Secretariat and submitted to the ECF Committee for approval.
1Established entity may refer to Government body, society or companyEligibility Criteria
Designed to support co-ops to give back to the communities and do their part in strengthening Singapore’s social compact, the ECF shall be made available to all co-ops, including those with negative net worth and/or those that did not contribute to the CCF due to operating deficits or waiver from CCF contributions by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth.
This is with the exception of Co-ops that:
In addition, all applications submitted must satisfy the following conditions:
Should your co-op meet the eligibility criteria outlined above and is interested to embark on an ECF initiative or project, we strongly encourage you to contact your respective Co-operative Relationship & Solutions Partners to find out more.
Key Dates
How to Apply
Alternatively, you may email us at ECF_Support@sncf.org.sg, and we will send the form to you directly.
All co-ops may apply for ECF except for those that have already been issued a winding-up order, are dormant and/or have ceased operations and currently settling outstanding matters before winding up.
A co-op may choose to partner with:
- One or more co-op(s)
- Charity or Established entity - Government body, society or company
Co-ops are advised to partner with an eligible organization that can meaningfully support the project in achieving its intent to empower the target community. The partner’s role and collaboration should be clearly outlined in the application form.
All approved projects must be completed by 31 October 2026.
You may contact your respective Co-operative Relations & Solutions Partner or email ECF_Support@sncf.org.sg for more information about ECF.
i) Speak with your Co-operative Relations & Solutions Partner to discuss the project(s) your co-operative is interested in. Following your discussion, they will provide you with the Application Form. Completed form should be submitted to ECF_Support@sncf.org.sg.
Co-op needs to submit the application form which consists of 3 sections namely:
- Project Proposal and Budget Plan,
- Supporting Documents and
- Declaration Form for Applicant.
Before submitting an appeal for an unsuccessful application, you may wish to consider the reasons why the previous application was rejected. Please note that projects that do not align with the intent of the Empowering Communities Fund (ECF), or those that have already commenced, will not be supported. For further clarification, kindly contact your respective Co-operative Relations & Solutions Partner.
The $1 million operates on a “first-approved, first-serve” basis. Once a project is approved, the allocated funding amount will be earmarked in full, regardless of disbursement tranches.
The ECF application will be open until 31 October 2025 or until the fund is fully allocated – whichever comes first.