Singapore’s business community is setting a bold example in corporate purpose, with a record 393 companies recognised at the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre’s (NVPC) Company of Good Awards 2025.
The ceremony, held on 17 July at Fairmont Singapore, highlighted the nation’s growing commitment to integrating social impact into business strategies, a movement aligned with the Forward Singapore vision.
SMEs Drive Growth in Purpose-Driven Business
This year’s awards saw a 36% increase in recognised companies, with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) making up 77% of recipients, a clear signal that businesses of all sizes are embracing sustainability, ethical governance, and community engagement as core priorities.
Notably, 52% of the highest-tier Champions of Good were SMEs, proving that purpose and profitability go hand in hand.
Key milestones from NVPC’s Collective Impact Report 2024-2025 include:
- $357 million in donations and $73 million in-kind support for local communities.
- 1.07 million volunteer hours contributed by employees.
- $1.05 billion invested in R&D for sustainable solutions.
Among the awardees were AM Collective, a boutique digital and social media agency awarded Company of Good – 1 Heart, and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, which earned the prestigious Champion of Good title. For full disclosure, AM Collective is the parent company of Alvinology.com, of which I am one of the co-founders and owners, while RSP is my employer in my day job, making it double the celebration for me.
Guest of Honour Mr Ong Ye Kung, Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health, emphasised that real impact requires collaboration across public, private, and people sectors.
“Businesses are no longer just profit-driven; they are stewards of societal progress,” he noted.
The surge in purpose-driven businesses reflects a broader shift in Singapore’s economic ethos, one where companies measure success not just by revenue, but by their positive footprint on people, planet, and governance. With global ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) standards rising, Singapore’s leadership in corporate purpose positions it as a model for Asia’s sustainable business future.
For more on the Company of Good initiative, visit the official website.
