National Council of Social Service
4ST Partnership Fund
A National Council of Social Service grant that funds innovative, collaborative and empowering solutions to improve outcomes for social service users, with Seed and Grow funding tracks. Focus areas include low-income families, mental health, and emerging needs such as addictions.
Overview
The 4ST (Social Service Sector Strategic Roadmap) Partnership Fund supports the co-development of innovative, collaborative and empowering solutions within Singapore’s social service sector.
Key features:
- Purpose: Mobilises the sector to innovate and collaborate to improve quality of life for service users, including families, children and youth, and persons with mental health needs.
- Funding tracks:
- Seed funding: For turning innovative ideas into working prototypes and testing feasibility.
- Grow funding: For further developing/validating prototypes or scaling proven solutions to reach more users.
- Funding support:
- Seed: Up to 100% of total operating expenditure (TOE), capped at $50,000; duration up to 1 year.
- Grow: Up to 90% of TOE, capped at $400,000 per year; duration up to 3 years.
- Separate evaluation budget of up to $80,000 for each approved project.
- Expected outcomes and deliverables include sharing sector learnings, improving the solution based on testing, adopting NCSS Service Standards, achieving outcomes under the Sector Evaluation Framework, submitting evaluation reports, and completing the OHFSS assessment.
- Priority areas (especially for Grow funding): Upstream support for low-income families, support for persons with mental health needs, and emerging needs such as addictions.
Scheme type
Who qualifies
Eligibility groups
Eligibility details
Applicants must be Social Service Agencies (SSAs), social enterprises, or ground‑up groups collaborating with another entity/individual. Lead applicants must be NCSS members with IPC status collaborating with another entity/individual; non‑NCSS members, including SEs and ground‑up groups without IPC/Charity status, may apply as co‑applicants. Organisations without charity status must declare the project is not‑for‑profit and serves local communities. Projects must be innovative, collaborative, empowering, and address identified service areas. Seed: projects turning ideas into prototypes and testing feasibility. Grow: projects further developing/validating a prototype or scaling a proven solution. Priority service areas for Grow include upstream support for low‑income families, support for persons with mental health needs, and emerging needs/gaps such as addictions.
How to apply
Two‑stage process: Stage 1 – submit a brief concept note with key project information. Selected applicants will be shortlisted. Stage 2 – shortlisted applicants submit a detailed application form for further evaluation. Refer to NCSS resources and past information session materials for guidance. Grant calls are periodic; check timelines on the NCSS website.
Agency details
Service area
Singapore
Important Information
Scheme details may change. Check the official agency website for the latest eligibility, benefits, and application information.
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