SINGAPORE - Donations to environmental causes in Singapore have lagged behind areas like social service and welfare, accounting for 4 per cent of giving here in 2023.

Giving to environmental causes accounted for just $510,000, or about 1.78 per cent of grants dispersed between April 2024 and March 2025 by the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), which pools and facilitates donations.

Noting the low support, CFS on June 10 held its first trip for donors to learn – occasionally hands-on – about efforts in the environmental and climate space, in a bid to accelerate giving to these areas.

More than 30 people, comprising private and corporate donors, as well as CFS’ partners, participated in the visit to ITE College East in Simei, where they attended talks and a tour of the campus’ sustainability initiatives.

Addressing current and prospective donors on the visit, NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions deputy director Adrian Loo said: “I think the environment is like planting a tree.

“You don’t plant it for this generation, you plant it for the next generation.”

The former National Parks Board director recalled how visitors would take refuge in the coolness of Singapore’s forests during the Covid-19 pandemic, instead of parks. It was a demonstration of the key role that nature can play for people.

Dr Loo called on donors to support the centre’s “active work”, which goes beyond research to help other communities in South-east Asia take stock of their biodiversity and earn revenue from biodiversity credits.

Also among those looking to raise funds is chief executive of Waterways Watch Society, Mr Eugene Heng, who heads the volunteer group that patrols waterways in Kallang, Punggol and Jurong to ensure that they remain clean.

Showing donors images of rubbish floating in these channels, Mr Heng said the non-profit’s efforts to organise litter-picking programmes help people of all ages take ownership of Singapore’s waters.

He noted that pre-schools have in recent years subscribed to the group’s activities more often than primary and secondary schools, even though they tend to lack the budget for these programmes.

Mr Heng added: “What we’re looking for is sustainable donors, because it’s very hard for us to plan for three to five years.”

The non-profit, which has benefited from CFS’ grants, hopes to raise $147,700 for its waterways clean-up and learning trail, whi...