Diabetes Singapore strives to be as transparent as one can be to all of our stakeholders.

Purpose of the Charity Transparency Framework

Transparency refers to the disclosure of important information about the charity, which helps stakeholders like donors and beneficiaries better understand the charity’s setup, work and process. Transparency, as with accountability, is an important element of good governance. Charities and Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs), as community organizations working for public benefit, are expected to be well-governed, transparent and accountable to the public and their stakeholders.

The Charity Transparency Framework with its Charity Disclosure Scorecard act as a guide for charities to define their policy and approach to transparency, and to take active steps to improve charity transparency. Charities should use this document in conjunction with the Code of Governance for Charities for Charities and IPCs (Code of Governance).

Objectives of the Charity Transparency Framework

The Charity Transparency Framework aims to achieve 3 key objectives:

1. Serves as a self diagnostic tool for charities to assess themselves against identified good disclosure standards
2. Serves as a public education tool for charities and the public by highlighting key areas of disclosure that will aid in safer giving
3. Boost public confidence in the charity sector by setting standards of transparency for charities

Find out more about the Charity Transparency Framework

What is Charity Governance?

• Charity governance differs across countries because every country has its unique social, economic, cultural and political contexts that shape its perspectives
• In Singapore, governance in the charity sector refers to the framework and processes concerned with managing the overall direction, effectiveness, supervision and accountability of an organisation (Charity Council, 2017a)
• The Charity Council developed the Code of Governance for Charities and Institutions of a Public Character (IPCs) in 2007. Two refinements were made, in 2011 and 2017, to provide greater clarity about good governance to the charity sector (Charity Council, 2017a)
• The Code operates on the principle of ‘comply or explain’, and is not mandatory. It is meant to help charities prepare themselves to cater to an increasingly discerning public (Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, 2017)
• It is also organized into 9 sections, with the guidelines tiered according to charity or IPC status and size

Charity Governance Practices

1. Conflict of Interest

Find more about our Whistle-blowing Policy here

2. Strategic Planning

Click here for Diabetes Singapore Mission and Vision.

3. Programme Management

At Diabetes Singapore, we continue to seek improvement in our practices and always ensure that it aligns with our values mission and stakeholder’s expectations.

4. Disclosure and Transparency

Diabetes Singapore strives to be as transparent as one can be to our their stakeholders, including partners, donors and beneficiaries.

5. Fundraising

We take our obligation as fundraisers at Diabetes Singapore very seriously.

We do our very best to ensure that:

Any information provided to donors/the general public is accurate and not misleading
We are transparent with out intended use of funds and whether any commercial fundraiser has been engaged in soliciting the donation
Donor information is kept confidential
Proper accountability and prevention of loss/theft
We disclosure our financial statements
At Diabetes Singapore, we always keep our fundraising efficiency ratio below 30% – known as the 30/70 rule. The fundraising efficiency ratio is the total fundraising expenses to the total gross receipts from fundraising and sponsorships of Diabetes Singapore for that financial year.

https://www.charities.gov.sg/Pages/Fund-Raising/Fund-Raisers-Duties-and-Obligations.aspx#

6. Public Image

At Diabetes Singapore, we have sub-committee members that support us through advising us best practice governance. Find out more about our sub-committee members here

Have enquiries? Have feedback? Email us at enquiry@diabetes.org.sg