Hub for non-profit organisations opens at former Elections Department building with over S$10 million donations

The former Elections Department building at Prinsep Link has been repurposed to serve as a hub for non-profit organisations which seek to address various challenges in the community.

Called The Foundry, the hub was launched by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Nov. 28.

It was established with over S$10 million in donations contributed by private philanthropists, foundations, individuals, and corporations.

According to President Tharman, this is a good example of the collaboration between the non-profit sector, the government, and the Tote Board.

He said it was also a good example of collaboration between non-profit groups and social service agencies, saying:

"This is a space which doesn't just bring people together, it also helps them to incubate ideas, to give each other ideas."

The Foundry will help to drive collaboration between non-profit organisations

A press release by The Majurity Trust, a philanthropic entity that works with donors and non-profit organisations, said that such organisations often struggle with limited resources and operate in isolation.

They may also lack essential support networks to further the work that they do.

The Foundry will therefore serve as a home base in providing its residents with "critical resources" to collectively incubate ideas, co-create and pilot solutions, drive innovation, and build communities.

The Majurity Trust added that The Foundry will eventually come to serve as a base for 24 non-profit organisations.

In addition, a new fund, called the Foundry Forward Fund, will also be set up to boost collaboration between non-profit organisations.

In highlighting the benefits of having so many non-profit organisations within the same space, President Tharman cited the example of Hatch, a social enterprise which provides digital skills training to groups like youths facing adversities and persons with disabilities.

He said those who undergo training at Hatch often need more than just digital skills, as they also face other problems.

"By being co-located with other groups, there are other groups that can help them with some of those other problems...

So bringing people together isn't just a convenience, isn't just saving them some costs as well — because there's some very useful services being provided to these small non-profits — but it also hatches ideas."

Ibrahim Dawood, the co-founder and managing director of BapaHebatSG, one of the 14 non-profit organisations currently housed at The Foundry, described the value of the space as such:

“With The Foundry, we have a 'fixed' home — a welcoming space to run our programmes, foster collaboration, and build a supportive community."

BapaHebatSG supports fathers in their parenting journey, and runs programs for incarcerated fathers to help them prepare for their release from prison, as well as fathering support groups, among other programs.

Ibrahim also said The Foundry will allow BapaHebatSG to "plug into a vibrant ecosystem" designed to support organisations like his, adding:

"By having a dedicated space, we can enhance our operations, host impactful events, and create lasting connections — all essential for realising our dream of stronger families and a more connected society."

Hub spans more than 17,000 square feet

The Majurity Trust added that the repurposing of the former Elections Department as The Foundry was completed within eight months.

The initiative received the support of the Singapore Land Authority, the Singapore Government Partnerships Office, and the Tote Board.

Construction expertise was provided by Woh Hup while coworking brand JustCo supported the Foundry team in space planning and interior design expertise.

Singapore-based architecture firm WOHA was also instrumental in offering its expertise to design the exterior of the building as a new social hub.

In total, the The Foundry spans over 17,000 square feet and is tailored to support a diverse range of non-profit organisations.

The hub includes office space for organisations of varying sizes, hot-desking areas for small startup non-profits, discussion pods, and meeting spaces.

Other features include a 100-seater event hall called The Refinery, designed for hosting larger gatherings such as townhalls, and The Collective, a 16-seater dining room.

There is also The Anvil, a 40-seater training room which will host masterclasses and learning sessions as the anchor space for capability and capacity-building for resident organisations.

The space will also be available for others in the sector to rent for training purposes.

Stressing the importance of providing such support to non-profits, particular the smaller organisations, President Tharman said:

"You also need the smaller players — startups, so to speak — because they come in with interest and passion of their own.

The founder, or founders, typically have an idea which they really feel they own, and they want to take it forward. So they are there not as employees, they are not just there as staff, they are there as people who really are motivated by a cause, and they add something different.

It's typically ground up. Some will succeed, some will fail, but we've got to incubate them and let them have the best chance of succeeding in the cause they're trying to fulfill."

Top left image by Mothership, right image by Donna Cheng/Google Maps