Government allocates $150,000 in microgrants for youth-led projects to give back to society

The government will set aside $150,000 for a grant scheme that encourages youth to launch community projects they are passionate about. Each project can receive up to $1,000 to put solutions into practice.

The scheme is part of the SG Youth Plan, under which the government will allocate $20 million through the National Youth Fund over the next five years to support up to 3,000 projects and encourage young people to give back to society.

Low Yen Ling, Senior Minister of State for Energy, Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth, attended the local youth action marketplace Impact, IRL on Saturday (31 October). The event brought together about 2,440 young people, with more than 350 youth teams presenting ideas and projects focused on community needs and solutions.

In her speech, Low announced that the National Youth Council would launch the Microgrant scheme to make it easier for young people to start projects. Through a simple application process, they can receive up to $1,000 to make a meaningful difference on social issues they care about.

She encouraged young people with ideas to act on them. “Making a difference doesn’t have to start with something big. It can start by noticing a need, having an idea, and taking the first steps to solve the gap.”

Besides starting projects, young people and the wider public can also support charitable causes through donations.

The National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) launched its Micro-giving initiative at the event, offering another convenient way for young people to support existing charitable causes. Currently, 19 designated charities accept donations from as little as $1, with more charities set to join from next year.

Members of the public can donate to participating charities through Giving.sg. Even $1 donations can add up to make a bigger difference.

Low said, “Over time, we hope that givers will make it their lifestyle to give regularly; and as a society, we will see how our giving all adds up, for every dollar to charity counts.”

NVPC’s National Giving Study 2025 Youth Report found that young people in Singapore are willing to give, with 40% donating money.

The study also found that giving is influenced by social environments and reinforced through interactions. As young people grow older, their giving gradually shifts from mainly donating goods to donating money.

Mr Tony Soh, Chief Executive Officer of NVPC, said, “Whether through time, skills or even a single dollar on Giving.sg, small acts of generosity can build habits that stay with us for life. By nurturing the next generation of givers today, we are building a stronger culture of giving for Singapore’s future.”