The National Arts Council has released their Arts Philanthropy Study 2022, the second edition,
which aims to track the possible shift in corporate donors’ behaviour and tracking the giving
trends in Singapore’s art scene. The study provides insights to future arts giving trends,
corporate donor’s psychographic profiles, motivations and challenges as well as the
engagement strategies with corporate donors. Insights was collected from 475 respondents
from companies across 18 industries. These respondents were key decision makers and key
influencers of companies.
Summary of Key Findings:
1. There was an increase in the number of companies actively engaged in adhoc giving for
Singapore’s Arts scene, as well as new industries picking up interest in Arts
Philanthropy.
In 2021, 1 in 4 companies gave to the Arts and 1 in 2 companies intend to start giving to the arts
in the next three years. Companies in the Accommodation and Food Services as well as
Information and Communications industries show increased interest in contributing to the arts
scene in Singapore.
Since 2016, Arts philanthropy in Singapore saw an increase in engagement of ad hoc giving
from Limited Liability Companies (LLC), Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Multi
National Corporation (MNCs). 18% of LLCs engaged in adhoc Arts giving in 2022 as compared
to the 11% in 2016. SMEs increased to 25% in adhoc giving in 2022 compared to 10% in 2016
and MNCs increased to 38% in adhoc giving in 2022 compared to 17% in 2016.
2. Corporates recognising the importance of developing an arts scene in Singapore is
deemed as one of the motivators for companies to actively engage in Arts Philanthropy.
As of 2022, 17% of corporate givers contribute to the arts scene in Singapore, as it is believed
that creating a creative economy and vibrant city of arts can act as a catalyst for meeting
business objective as well as attract and retain talents, according to a qualitative interview with
SMEs, and secondary data retrieved from NVPC and Forbes. The study also showed that 59%
of respondents agree that contributing to small arts organisations is important as they are not
financially self-sustaining.
However, it is not one of the key motivators as the cause and effect for business development is
not as direct.
3. Cash donations are shown to be the most popular way of private fundings, however,
employee-based private funding programs are gaining interest from corporate donors.
The study shows 62% of companies gave cash donations in the past 12 months with a median
amount of $10,000 given in 2021. On the other hand, there is an increasing trend of 48% of
companies likely to donate employees’ unused time and 42% of companies likely to match
employees’ volunteerism or cash donations in the next three years. Financial and Insurance
companies are more likely to engage in matching employees’ volunteerism or cash donations.
4. Professional skills is shown to be the most popular way of in-kind giving, however,
capability building and technology are gaining interest from corporate donors.
35% of companies contributed through giving professional skills in the past 12 months
equivalent to a median amount of $10,000 given in 2021. On the other hand, there is an
increasing trend of 37% of companies likely to contribute through capability building and 36% of
companies likely to contribute through technology donations in the next three years. Financial
and Insurance, transportation and storage, as well as information and communications
companies are most likely to be engaged in capability building and technology donations.
5. Collaborative philanthropy is also gaining more interest from corporates as a preferred
way of contributing to Singapore’s arts scene.
28% of companies have started engaging in collaborative philanthropy in the past 12 months,
with a median amount of $11,000 given by corporations in 2021. Study has seen an increase of
companies showing interest, with 32% of corporates likely to engage in collaborative
philanthropy in the next three years, however 40% of corporates are still unlikely to engage in
collaborative philanthropy.
The Corporate Giving Study 2022: Arts Philanthropy report has enabled us to deepen our
understanding of the emerging trends of corporate giving habits and changes. Small arts
organisations can gain financial support and establish a partnership with these corporate
businesses by leveraging on the changes and trends mentioned in this report.
Check out the full report here.