Record nominations for the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards this year

16 awardees were celebrated at the President’s Volunteerism and Philanthropy Awards (PVPA) 2025, hosted by National Volunteer And Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) with this years awards not only marking the introduction of a new award category, but the highest number of nominations in the event’s history, demonstrating Singapore’s giving landscape is evolving.

The awards were presented by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, alongside Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education David Neo. The overall submissions hit a record of 451, marking an increase of over 50% as compared to the number of nominees in 2024 and may reflect how public attitudes toward philanthropy, volunteerism, and civic responsibility are shifting for the better.

Communities of good

This year’s awards introduced a new Communities of Good pillar, which recognises the work of Large Charities, Small and Medium Charities, and Groundups. This pillar is an expansion from the previous single category for non-profits under the Organisations of Good pillar. 

Within this new pillar, the Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) were awarded in the Small and Medium Charity category for their holistic approach to suicide prevention. Their efforts have contributed to a 32% drop in suicide deaths in 2022. 

In the Groundup category, 24Asia was honoured for empowering migrant workers through skills training, digital literacy, health support, and community engagement, having trained more than 3,500 workers to date.

“With the addition of the Communities of Good Pillar, we are proud to celebrate the world of charities and groundups in Singapore, reflecting their outstanding contributions to making our society kinder and more inclusive,” said Tony Soh, CEO of NVPC. “Our hope is that the awards will inspire everyone to give, so that we can continue to grow the culture of giving and strengthen the Singapore spirit.

Organisations for Good

Under the larger Organisations for Good pillar, Bettr Barista received the Small and Medium Enterprise award for its social empowerment initiatives, which includes the training of marginalised groups, and ethical sourcing practices for their coffee beans. These practices have actually also awarded them a B-Corp certification, the first in South-East Asia to have received the title. 

UOB received the award for the Large Organisation category under this pillar, being recognised for championing art, education, youth development, digital inclusion, and environmental sustainability across the region.

Continued good

In addition to recognising individuals and organisations, the NVPC also unveiled a new partnership with the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) to provide structured mentorship and learning opportunities for both winners and finalists, with the goal of supporting winners and finalists to grow their initiatives.

Individuals aged 21 and above will have access to a curated list of courses, which cover leadership, community development, and social impact. Younger recipients will benefit from one-on-one mentorship with SUSS faculty and can attend the sponsored Masterclass by SUSS in Resilience for Change and Design Thinking.

“The PVPA recipients exemplify how individual passion can transform communities, and their journey reminds us that changemaking flourishes through continuous learning and collaboration,” said Professor Tan Tai Yong, President of SUSS. “Through this partnership, we aim to strengthen their capabilities with structured learning pathways, mentorship and sector-relevant resources. Beyond recognising their achievements, we are investing in them as catalysts who can amplify their impact and help shape a more caring and resilient Singapore.”