Charitable giving

There's a smart and easy way to give to charity – through a UBS Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). The UBS Optimus Foundation is a registered IPC charity under which you can establish a charitable account in a tax-efficient wrapper. This lets you donate to Singapore registered and overseas charities.

The DAF is an excellent, cost-effective and simple alternative to setting up your own private charitable foundations or grant-giving charities.

Simplicity and flexibility
Relax whilst we handle all the administration, governance and submission of any applicable tax benefits on your behalf. UBS will cover all the set up and ongoing maintenance costs, leaving you more time to focus on the causes important to you.
Anonymity
Name your sub-foundation (e.g. the X Family Foundation) and be recognized for your giving, or choose to remain anonymous.
Immediate tax relief
Enjoy an immediate tax deduction* for eligible donations, whilst you plan your giving strategy towards the charities that you wish to support.
Grow your capital
Invest** the capital in your DAF so that it can grow before it is granted out to your chosen charity.

The UBS Singapore Donor-Advised Fund offers you a truly flexible way to make charitable donations to your favorite causes. Whether you want to give money now or let it grow to give away later, you can manage your DAF easily and effectively.

Setting it up

Any Singaporean resident and domiciled taxpayer – whether an individual or a company – can open a Donor-Advised Fund with a UBS account.

Making your donation

As a client you can make charitable contributions to your UBS DAF account at any time. A one-off minimum donation of US$50,000 is required to set up a new DAF which can be granted out immediately to your chosen charities. Thereafter there is no minimum or maximum grant required into or out of your DAF. For new clients, a minimum deposit is required to open a UBS account.

Immediate tax deduction

Enjoy an immediate tax deduction* for eligible donations, whilst you plan your giving strategy towards the charities that you wish to support.

Grant making

Grants can be made to both Singapore-registered and overseas charities. The DAF’s governing board is required to approve all grants in line with the Charities Act. On rare occasions, they may refuse a grant request if the charity does not meet these criteria.

The UBS Social Impact and Philanthropy team can work with you to define your giving strategy.

Find out more – download the DAF factsheet here

Please watch our video, where Tom Hall, Global Head of Social Impact and Philanthropy Services and CEO of UBS Optimus Foundation, explains more about the benefits of charitable giving through our UBS Donor-Advised Fund.

If you can answer yes to some or all of these questions, the UBS Singapore Donor-Advised Fund might be right for you:

Do you have charitable giving goals, such as donating a percentage of your wealth to children's charities?
Would you like the option to make charitable donations anonymously?
Would you like to involve your family in your charitable contributions and decisions?
Would you like a charitable fund that continues after your death?
Would you like the flexibility to review and change the charities you give to?
Are you unsure about which charities to support but know that you want to put money aside now for philanthropic purposes?

For the next steps, please contact your client advisor for guidance on establishing your UBS DAF tailored to your charitable giving preferences.

UBS brings extensive experience and expertise in philanthropy and wealth management, and has been recognized as a leader in global philanthropy services.¹

Whatever your philanthropic objectives, we can help you manage and achieve your charitable contribution goals in a simple and effective way through the UBS Singapore Donor-Advised Fund (DAF).

Your capital is at risk. The value of an investment may fall as well as rise and you may not get back the original amount.

UBS does not provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your independent tax/legal advisor for specific advice before entering into or refraining from entering into any services or investments.

¹See: https://www.ubs.com/global/en/wealth-management/about-us/awards.html

*Based on our understanding of current tax legislation and applicable rates. These may change in the future and may not apply to your individual circumstances. UBS does not give tax advice.

**The price and value of investments and income derived from them can go down as well as up. Capital held in this account is therefore at risk.