Social ties, support are key drivers of giving in Singapore: Study

The 2025 edition adopted a wider approach than previous years by looking at both structured giving, such as volunteering and donations, and informal acts of mutual aid.

Researchers also refined the methodology to focus on what people actually did, rather than how they interpret terms like volunteering or donating, in order to provide a more inclusive picture of how people contribute.

DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERING

While much of giving in Singapore takes place through informal channels, the study also examined more structured forms of participation.

More than 20 per cent of respondents volunteered in the past year, with a median of seven hours spent.

Meanwhile, 45 per cent made monetary or in-kind donations, with a median contribution of S$120 (US$93).

Donations were made slightly more frequently than volunteering, with a median of four instances compared to three volunteer sessions over the year.