According to data from the Singapore Commissioner of Charities (COC), the number of registered charities in Singapore has been rising steadily. In the latest COC report (2017), there were 2,263 registered charities in Singapore, a slight but consistent increase from last year (2,247 registered charities).
Most charities and non-profit organisations typically set up in Singapore under the public company limited by guarantee option.
A Singapore public company limited by guarantee is one which carries out non-profit making activities that have some basis of national or public interest e.g. promoting art or charity.
Advantages of a public company limited by guarantee include a separate legal status and limited liability for its members. Also, there is no share capital. When the company is wound up, each member is only liable to pay the amount guaranteed by him per the memorandum of association of the company. This amount could be as little as S$1.
A charity setting up under the company limited by guarantee option must lodge a Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A) in order to register the company.
It must include the name of the company and the amount of money each member has undertaken to contribute to the company’s assets in case the company is to be wound up.
The objectives of the company must also be clearly stated as it must be exclusively charitable or be of benefit to the community in order to be registered as a charity.
The M&A must also state whether the legal responsibility of the members of the community is limited or unlimited.
The company management must include a minimum of three persons to act as trustees. Two of them must be Singapore citizens or permanent residents. Their duties and terms of office must also be clearly defined.
Companies that register under this option must ensure that amendments to the M&A are approved by the Commissioner of Charities or the respective Sector Administrator.
They must also clearly set out the circumstances under which the company can be dissolved and any remaining funds and assets (after settling debts and legal responsibilities) which should be given to other charitable groups or charities with similar objectives.
The company may then apply to be given a status as a charity three months after incorporation.
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