SINGAPORE - A foundation named after Singapore-born coal tycoon Low Tuck Kwong is the top private giver in a list of Singapore’s 10 biggest philanthropic organisations in terms of donations given.

The Low Tuck Kwong Foundation, set up in December 2022, gave $127.6 million in 2023 to educational and healthcare causes. 

The report by Soristic Impact Collective, a social impact consultancy, noted that in 2023, the foundation donated $101 million to the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, aimed at expanding opportunities for the next generation of Asian leaders in public service and beyond.

Other recipients of its support include hospitals in Singapore and the region. Mr Low built his wealth in the natural resources sector and is the founder of Bayan Resources, a coal mining company in Indonesia.

The third edition of the Singapore’s Biggest Philantrophic Organisations list, released on Dec 6, was compiled by Soristic Impact Collective based on publicly available data such as the groups’ latest financial year statements and annual reports. It can include grants given locally and internationally. 

In second place was the Lee Foundation, founded by late rubber tycoon Lee Kong Chian in 1952, which gave $41.7 million in 2023 to a host of charitable causes such as alleviating poverty and education. 

Data was compiled from publicly accessible sources, including annual reports and the Charity Portal, between September and November 2024.

The ranking is based on the most recent annual grant disbursements between financial years 2022 and 2024, with the majority of data from financial year 2023.

The report includes only philanthropic organisations that are registered as charities with the Commissioner of Charities or listed as grantmakers with the Inland Revenue Authority o...