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Can I apply if my business is creating any
kind of
social or environmental impact?
DBS Foundation will only review applications
of
social enterprises (SEs) or small and medium enterprises
(SMEs)
that are enabling positive change in vulnerable
communities, as
relevant in your market., Focus areas include providing
essential needs such as food security, shelter,
education and
mental health; as well as fostering financial inclusion
– for a
more inclusive world.
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My business is registered as a
not-for-profit
organisation, can I apply?
Entities that are registered as
not-for-profit, sole
proprietorship, charities, religious organisations for
religious
purposes, election campaigns, general fund-raising
drives or
event sponsorships will not be eligible for the grant.
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My business is not a social enterprise but
has CSR
programmes. Can I apply?
The Grant is for businesses for impact,
including
social enterprises and traditional small and
medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) creating a commercial social impact
solution,
which work on the model of creating both profit and
impact.
Please refer to the definitions below:
Social enterprises are businesses that have a social
mission at
their core and use sustainable commercial models to
achieve this
social mission. Their primary objective is to achieve
positive
social, cultural, community economic and/or
environmental
outcomes. As such, income generation should play a key
supporting role to achieve their social mission.
Other businesses for impact that can apply
include
traditional small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
creating a
commercial impact solution. While their focus may be on
delivering profits to shareholders, they are looking to
transform their existing businesses into sustainable and
inclusive models with which to drive impact on a
commercial
scale.
Businesses for impact should also be independent and
commercial
entities that are not owned by any state governments.
While
social enterprises should be able to sustain themselves
through
commercial operations, we recognise that some reliance
on grants
in the early pilot/start-up stages is common.
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If I have already obtained a grant from another
organisation,
will it limit my chances of being selected for this
programme?
The grants you have received from other
organisations will not influence your application. You
are
required to disclose this information in the application
and
substantiate how the grant from DBS Foundation can be
prudently
used to achieve the outcomes you intend.
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Can I apply to this programme if I am a
past grant
awardee of DBS Foundation?
SE and SME applicants which have previously
received
grants from DBS Bank and its affiliates, subsidiaries
(“DBS”)
and/or DBSF, may apply for the Grant, only if previously
awarded
grant(s) has expired. Being a former DBSF grantee
awardee does
not guarantee successful application to future grants.
Every
application will be assessed independently on its own
merits.
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I applied to the Grant before but was not awarded a
grant, can I
apply again?
Yes. Each year, applications are reviewed independently.
You may
submit a new application again.
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Can I apply as an individual before incorporating my
business?
We award grants to for-profit businesses only and not to
individuals. We only accept applications from social
enterprises
and SMEs that are registered as legal business entities
in at
least one of the following markets: China, Hong Kong,
India,
Indonesia, Singapore and Taiwan.
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My business is currently based in India,
but I have
not obtained an approval under Foreign Contribution
Regulation
Act (FCRA). Can I still apply?
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Business entities in India are required to provide
evidence
of having FCRA approval, or the ability to meet the
following criteria:
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Profitability of the business is dependent solely on
the
sales revenue and not on account of the income
receivable by
way of grants and/or awards;
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Does not have a definite cultural, economic,
educational,
religious or social (“CEERS”) programme; and
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Grant not be used towards funding any other persons
and/or
entities which would need to be registered to obtain
FCRA
registration or approval.
DBS Foundation is unable to award grants to entities
that do not
meet the above criteria.