March CEF Evaluation Panel Meeting Closing date for applications: 13 February 2009
June CEF Evaluation Panel Meting Closing date for applications: 15 May 2009
A social enterprise is a business which fulfills social causes. Social enterprises have two bottom lines - one of profit generation and one of using business principles and methods to achieve social change. They are revenue-generating businesses, not charities.   Social enterprises may also provide skills training and/or employment opportunities to the needy disadvantaged who are work-capable, but face higher than usual barriers to employment. This could be for reasons such as lack of interview skills and education (e.g. older, single mothers), or discrimination due to their inherent characteristics (e.g. psychiatric conditions) or past history (e.g. criminal record).   Social enterprises offer a more conducive and encouraging environment for these individuals to become self-reliant and reintegrate them into mainstream society. Please refer to the Report of the Social Enterprise Committee for more details.
ComCare Enterprise Fund (CEF)
The ComCare Enterprise Fund, or CEF, aims to provide seed funding for sustainable new social enterprises that train and/or employ the needy disadvantaged in Singapore so as to assist these social enterprises in starting their operations. In particular, priority is given to new businesses which provide skills training and employment opportunities to needy disadvantaged Singaporeans to help them become self-reliant. Needy disadvantaged Singaporeans could refer to ex-offenders, older or less educated workers, needy single mothers, people from multi-problem families or people with psychiatric conditions. The CEF does not fund social enterprises with objectives that fall in the arts, cultural, health or environmental sectors.   CEF provides approved social enterprise start-ups with up to 80% of the total project cost (capital expenditure and up to first two years' operating costs), capped at $300,000. CEF-funded social enterprises enter into a 5-year contract with MCYS, with obligations to submit regular reports of the status of their operations.   Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on ComCare Enterprise Fund (CEF) for more information.
For what?
To provide seed funding to social enterprise start-ups that provide employment and training opportunities to disadvantaged Singapore Citizens, who could be ex-offenders older, less educated recovering from psychiatric illnesses Approved social enterprises can get up to 80% of the total project cost, subject to a maximum of S$300,000.
Facts & Figures
CEF has funded 71 social enterprises since 2003. To date, 45 are active. (Source: Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dec 2008) CEF has supported a wide range of social enterprises including, but not limited to: Food caterers and cafes Specialised education providers Apparel and handicraft makers Beauty and spa service providers Retailers
Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions on Social Enterprises for more information.
Eligibility for CEF
As CEF provides seed funding, applications should be limited to new social enterprises. The social enterprise would need to incorporate as a business or organisation registered with the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA). To be eligible for funding from the CEF, applications must show that the social enterprise has: A Compelling Social Objective(s) The focus of CEF is on social enterprises which provide employment opportunities and skills training to needy disadvantaged Singaporeans. A Viable Business Proposition The social enterprise must have a strong business model and feasible operations plan. Reasonable organisational capabilities and capacity to carry out its plans to achieve sustainability and growth A Committed Team The applicant(s) should have experience and expertise in the market/ industry that the social enterprise would be in. The team should also possess some experience in working with the target beneficiaries. The team should demonstrate a mindset geared towards results, accountability and sound business and social principles. The detailed criteria are available in the CEF Business Plan Template for further reference.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Applying For ComCare Enterprise Fund (CEF)
Before you apply
Ensure that your social enterprise qualifies for funding by using the Frequently Asked Questions for CEF as a guide. Draw up your business plan using the CEF Business Plan Template.
Applying for CEF
Preliminary Assessment
Submit your business plan using the template provided to comcare@mcys.gov.sg. The CEF Secretariat will conduct a preliminary assessment to see if your social enterprise qualifies for funding. If it qualifies, proceed to the next step. Refine your CEF business proposal if necessary. The CEF Secretariat will guide you through the process.
CEF Panel Evaluation
Submit your final CEF business proposal to the CEF Secretariat. Your proposal will be submitted to the CEF Evaluation Panel for evaluation. Make a presentation of your business proposal to the CEF Evaluation Panel, if requested to do so. The CEF Secretariat will inform you if you are required to make a presentation and the date of the presentation. Await the decision of the CEF Evaluation Panel. The CEF Secretariat will inform you of the outcome in 3 working days.
Upon Successful Application
Register your social enterprise with ACRA. Prepare the legal documents as directed by the CEF Secretariat. E.g. lease agreement, partnership agreement, inter-bank GIRO form etc to facilitate signing of the CEF contract with MCYS. Start operations of your social enterprise so that CEF funding can be disbursed according to the contractual terms. Keep proper financial records. E.g. expenses, invoices, receipts relating to the social enterprise. Keep proper operational records. E.g. employment records, training records, deliverables, progress reports, evaluation reports. Submit quarterly progress reports and annual audited financial statements during the 5 year contract period. Keep the CEF Secretariat informed of any changes to your social enterprise.