THINKING LUXURY

Exploring the transformative power of business, philanthropy, the arts and sustainability through the works of five recipients of Robb Report Singapore's inaugural Thinking Luxury awards.

- Alvin Wong

Chew Sutat

CHAIRMAN, COMMUNIT Y CHEST

It is important for one’s heart to be in the right place for philanthropic work, but clear-headed decision-making can take your altruism a long way, notes Chew Sutat, chairman of Community Chest.

Chew, who took on the role in 2022, has spent his professional career in the world of finance, holding leadership positions in Singapore Exchange (SGX) and Standard Chartered Bank, as well as serving at OCBC and DBS. His experience of being a numbers person becomes increasingly evident as he details the changing demands of philanthropic work and the role of Community Chest.

“When people give, they want to know where their donations go,” he says. “We are very focused on impact and every programme that we do has clear output indicators that we are able to report against.”

One of Singapore’s longest-serving charity organisations, Community Chest marked its 40th anniversary last year. As much as Chew recognises the positive impact that it has made through the years, he also thinks that the organisation needs to “build new muscles, new skill sets”.

To address this, Chew shares the impetus to build “a culture of sustainability” by way of what he calls the “Three I model” (“informed, impactful, intermediary”). “We are a platform for people and companies to come together. Many Singaporeans don’t know that we are 100 per cent pass-through. Meaning, 100 per cent of donations and resources channelled to Community Chest goes to the end beneficiary,” he says.

To that end, he advocates for a paradigm shift from a cause-biased take on philanthropy towards an organised, needs-driven approach that is backed by data. One example is the Sustainable Philanthropy Framework, introduced in June by the National Council of Social Service to help businesses rethink ad-hoc giving.