Foundation
Creating Social Impact
It is endeavor from DBS Bank to make a lasting impact in addressing Asia’s evolving social needs.
With a growing Asia and its promising potential comes a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, which challenges traditional solutions. DBS Foundation recognizes that Social Enterprises (SEs) are important contributors to inclusive economic and social development. With commercially sustainable solutions, SEs provide jobs, goods and services to the disadvantaged. SEs address social issues that impact the communities we live and work in.
Our vision is to shape a better future for Asia. The DBS Foundation focuses on building a more inclusive Asia by championing social entrepreneurship. It is instrumental in helping us be a force for good and embed sustainability into the organisation. Check our Sustainability Fact Sheet.
DBS Foundation
The DBS Foundation, which was launched in 2014, is an endeavour from DBS Bank to make a lasting impact in addressing Asia’s evolving social needs.
With a growing Asia and its promising potential comes a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots, which challenges traditional solutions. DBS Foundation recognises that Social Enterprises (SEs) are important contributors to inclusive economic and social development. With commercially sustainable solutions, SEs provide jobs, goods and services to the disadvantaged. SEs address social issues that impact the communities we live and work in.
Our vision is to shape a better future for Asia. The DBS Foundation focuses on building a more inclusive Asia by championing social entrepreneurship. It is instrumental in helping us be a force for good.
What We Do
As the only corporate foundation in Asia dedicated to championing social entrepreneurship, we work with SEs and Social Entrepreneurs in Singapore, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, China and Taiwan to support their growth. This is similar to the way in which DBS has worked closely with SMEs in these same communities. Our programmes aim to grow social enterprises at each stage of their development. Through these programmes, we seek to:
- Create awareness and understanding of social entrepreneurship among public and commercial communities
- Encourage the incubation of innovative social enterprises
- Provide both funding and skilled volunteer support to social enterprises.
For more information on the Foundation, please visit https://www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation/.
Who We Work With
To further the mission of championing social entrepreneurship in Indonesia, we build partnerships with strong institutions like Usaha Kecil Menengah Center, Universitas Indonesia (UKMC UI/SME Center UI) as well as social enterprises that run interesting programmes of Change.
In 2014, DBS Foundation established a partnership with UKMC UI to develop a handbook on Social Entrepreneurship, covering the inspiring stories from Social Enterprises around the world and Indonesia, as well as practical guidance on how to start Social Enterprise based on the Indonesian ecosystem and available assistance from various organizations. The book will be launched in July 2015. Following the book, UKMC UI will also be the partner for Social Enterprise Boot Camp where expertise will provide workshops aimed to equip selected Social Enterprises with skills and capacity to develop robust business plan in order to pitch for financial assistance.
Aside from that initiative, DBS Foundation partnered with Greeneration Indonesia, a social enterprise championing environment issue that is now focusing on its subsidiary, Waste4Change to pursue a more comprehensive solution in waste management. Greeneration received grants from DBS Foundation in 2014 to roll out a campaign on responsible waste management (including the implementation) and social entrepreneurship concept to five schools in Bekasi. Up to date, this effort has reached up to 1,400 students, teachers and school officers since the programme’s launch in March 2015.
Through a structured grant programme from the foundation, we offer grants to social enterprises which are in various stages of growth. More on the DBS Foundation’s Grant Programme can be found here.
In addition we source products and services from social enterprises encouraging their business. We also feature various SEs in our internal and external publications giving their business and social mission the visibility they deserve.
Social Enterprise Stories
Sukkha Citta
Starting in Tuban, East Java, the DBSF Grant is funding SukkhaCitta's research to bring regenerative cotton planting back to eastern Indonesia, to some of the poorest areas of the country already feeling the effects of climate change.
With help from DBSF, Sukkha Citta was able to identify the cotton varieties and farming and intercropping systems best suited to each region and produce the best results for local farmers. Finally, the DBSF grant enabled them to increase the capacity of their weaving community, where they partially process cotton and turn it into fabric and ultimately sustainable clothing.
Together with DBSF, Sukkha Citta has created a space to experiment with combining regenerative cotton with other materials to meet market needs and ultimately, maintain long-term demand for cotton farmers so that the welfare of cotton farmers can be assured.
Meet Mama Yundri, one of the SukkhaCitta Mothers in West Timor who protect our land through their traditional knowledge. It is women like her that we have supported through the DBSF Grant program.
DuAnyam
Du'Anyam won a grant from DBSF in 2017 to catalyze the development of a B2B online wholesale platform and to increase Duanyam's production capacity. This innovation has enabled Du'Anyam's Lontar woven products to be sold in 52 countries, including in global furniture retailers. Duanyam products are also the official merchandise for the 2023 Asian Games.
To date, Duanyam has empowered more than 1,400 women in 30 remote villages in East Nusa Tenggara, providing them with significant economic opportunities. Together with DBS Foundation, Duanyam also successfully conducted the first export from Flores, opening wider international market access for Lontar woven products.
In addition, more than 300 scholarships have been distributed to the children of the women involved in the venture, helping them to access better education.
Duanyam's achievements have also been widely recognized, winning the CECT Sustainability Award for best creative industry social enterprise in 2019 as well as the DBSF Honouree in 2024. These achievements show how Duanyam continues to grow as a leader in women's empowerment and cultural preservation through sustainable innovation.
Waste4Change
“When I saw the news about the waste problem in Jakarta, I suddenly realized that this was the code, the signal (to act). I knew that inside me there was interest and energy to be part of the solution,” Mohamed Bijaksana Junerosano, Founder.
Waste4Change won a grant from the DBSF Grant Program in 2020 and was also awarded as one of the 10 DBSF Honourees in 2024. The support from the DBS Foundation Grant has catalyzed significant growth with the following achievements
- Growth of Recycling Partners: More than 10-fold increase, from 50 partners to 500 partners.
- Waste Reduction: Successfully reduced more than 10,000 tons of waste per year.
- Operation Expansion: From only 2 cities, now expanded to 10 cities in Indonesia.
- Training and Empowerment: Trained over 550,000 people on responsible waste management and increased the income of 918 waste pickers.
- Rapidly Increasing Income: Monthly revenue grew more than 10 times between 2021 and 2023.
Waste4Change is also the waste management vendor for all DBS offices in Indonesia, demonstrating the tangible implementation of sustainability practices.
With an innovative and sustainable approach, Waste4Change continues to contribute to a greener future and support the well-being of vulnerable communities in Indonesia.
MYCL
MYCL's strength lies in its focus on sustainability, using natural raw materials while reducing agricultural waste. This innovation has caught the attention of the global market, making MYCL a partner of various well-known brands, and successfully expanding into international markets, including Japan, Singapore, and Europe.
As a pioneer in impact business, MYCL has been awarded the DBS Foundation Grant Program in 2016 and 2018, which has been a key driver in its growth and success. In 2024, MYCL was also one of the finalists in The EarthShot Prize, a prestigious award for sustainable innovation.
Through support from the DBS Foundation, MYCL has created 65 new green jobs and improved the lives of 195 farmers. MYCL has also achieved B-Corp certification, demonstrating its commitment to high standards in social responsibility, environment and performance. With a blend of cutting-edge technology and a commitment to sustainability, MYCL continues to deliver innovative solutions that support a greener future for the fashion and construction industries.
Programme Stories
SHE CAN In West Kalimantan
She Can Programme’ Launches in West Kalimantan to Benefit 80,000 Vulnerable Women with Financial Resilience Skills
Programme partnership between The Asia Foundation and DBS Foundation in Indonesia
May 2025 - In West Kalimantan, lots of women from low income and marginalised family continue to face significant barriers in accessing and using financial services. A qualitative study conducted in March 2025 under the SHE CAN Program, which involved in-depth interviews with 40 women experiencing socioeconomic barriers—including micro-entrepreneurs, plantation workers, informal teachers, and female heads of households—found that only about two-thirds of respondents reported owning a bank account, while fewer had ever accessed loans from credit cooperatives, pawnshops, or banks, and only a few reported using e-wallets or conducting digital transactions. This gap between access and capability highlights the urgent need for targeted financial education and empowerment programs.
To address the challenge, The Asia Foundation (TAF), with support from the DBS Foundation, has launched the She Can program, running from 2024 to 2027. The initiative aims to reach 80,000 women across the region with financial literacy education, entrepreneurship training, and personalized mentoring. By equipping women with essential financial knowledge and skills, the program seeks to enable informed decision-making, foster economic independence, and build stronger, more resilient communities.
Bridging the Literacy Gap Through Women's Empowerment
Financial management within families—earning income and managing household expenses—involves women significantly. However, this involvement often comes with a double burden. Women are active income earners but still bear the share of domestic responsibilities, in the absence of an equitable household labor division. One of the findings from the scoping study is the perceived decline in physical violence against women. Despite the decline in gender-based violence, the lack of support structures continues to hinder their full economic participation.
Many women express a clear aspiration to improve their financial capabilities. Their goals include sending their children to college, building long-term assets such as homes and businesses, preparing for saving for a pension, and fulfilling religious obligations like pilgrimages and hajj. Yet, basic financial practices such as tracking income and expenses, budgeting, or maintaining records of debt and assets remain uncommon. The low habit of recording these results is a lack of awareness about whether their households operate in surplus or deficit, hindering long-term financial planning.
Thus, introducing core concepts like budgeting and financial planning becomes crucial, not only for cultivating saving habits and building financial vision, but also for laying the foundation for economic resilience. While interest in budgeting is strong, the most in-demand topics for financial education among women include increasing income through entrepreneurship and investments.
Localized Solutions and Sustainable Strategies
Findings from early assessments of the She Can program have been translated into a comprehensive curriculum framework. This includes refining criteria for identifying marginalized women, such as those older, victims of child marriage, not involved in micro or small enterprises, or living in remote areas, and designing strategies for long-term program sustainability. Additional participant feedback points to the importance of involving men at least during early socialization stages, promoting saving habits in varied forms, developing grassroots mentorship cadres, and clarifying the definition of "marginalized women."
While urban areas in West Kalimantan benefit from better access to banks and credit unions, rural and peri-urban regions still face substantial challenges. In these areas, traditional practices like ijon (the advanced selling of crops) and physical cash savings (e.g., using piggy banks) are still widespread but not effectively leveraged for long-term financial growth. Furthermore, the adoption of digital financial services remains low, hindered not only by infrastructure gaps but also by negative experiences, poor perceptions, and limited community support.
Collective Commitment to Change
At the program's launch in Pontianak on April 15, 2025, Hana Satriyo, Country Representative of The Asia Foundation Indonesia, emphasized the broader vision: "The She Can program is part of our commitment to empowering women through skills and leadership, creating real change in their lives and communities."
Mona Monika, Head of Group Strategic Marketing & Communications Bank DBS Foundation, emphasized that the initiative aligns with DBSF Indonesia's vision to create a positive impact beyond banking by supporting the development of more inclusive, empowered, and resilient communities. "We believe that women's empowerment is key to creating sustainable change. As a purpose-driven bank, we are committed to accelerating financial inclusion by expanding women's access to education, training, and economic opportunities," she stated.
Amurwani, Deputy for Gender Equality at the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, reinforced the importance of this effort: "Better financial literacy will help women compete, improve their well-being, and access equal opportunities."
Echoing this, the West Kalimantan Provincial Government expressed strong support for the program, recognizing its alignment with local priorities for promoting gender equality and integrating women's empowerment into sustainable development goals.
Empowering Women to Build Resilient Communities
TAF and the DBS Foundation are committed to supporting the development of inclusive, empowered, and resilient communities. The She Can program will include a series of integrated trainings, mentoring sessions, and financial literacy education to help improve financial knowledge and skills among vulnerable women in West Kalimantan.
She Can represents a vital step toward dismantling systemic barriers and enabling women to take charge of their financial futures. By marrying practical financial education with localized mentoring and community engagement, it not only addresses gaps in financial literacy but also lays the groundwork for inclusive and lasting development across West Kalimantanan.
People of Purpose
People of Purpose (PoP) is a staff volunteer movement organised by DBS that promotes our values, engages our employees, and leverages our staff’s time and expertise - all while making meaningful contributions to the communities in which we live and work.
At the moment, DBS Indonesia is partnering with Indorelawan.org to channel the interests and talents of DBSI staff in volunteering and leaving positive impacts for the community.
In 2014 while partnering with Happy Hearts Foundation, over 100 staff from DBS Indonesia participated in rebuilding a pre-school located in Jakarta’s suburb area. The school had a single classroom for 63 children and minimal infrastructure. Efforts were therefore placed to provide a better environment for the children and the immediate community. Staff from DBS Indonesia helped build 2 new classrooms and made way for construction of more classrooms thereby creating adequate space for the children.
In another programme, staff walked the talk by participating in the Social Entrepreneurship drive with Provisi Education where they gave their time to mentor and guide 400 high school students who were placed in social entrepreneurship workshops and related training.
Dare to Become a Social Enterprise & Profit for Social Enterprise Handbook
Social entrepreneurship is a business concept that involves communities and the marginalized in order to develop their skills and improve welfare, collectively drives businesses that generates profits while remains balanced and creates a positive impact. The emergence of social entrepreneurship has aided a myriad of social issues ranging from better employment opportunities to protecting the environment. Such business methods are the backbone of a sustainable economy.
Developing a social business is not an easy task as many are still not familiar with the definition, criteria, so much as the business model that makes it a social enterprise. In addition, people’s understanding of social entrepreneurship can be said to be quite low and often misinformed. Therefore, Bank DBS Indonesia collaborated with the University of Indonesia SME Center to create a guidebook that is expected to adequately educate social entrepreneurs and other business actors in Indonesia. This e-book includes various information and knowledge on social entrepreneurship, providing steps by steps and tips to become a good business actor.
In 2016, DBS Foundation launched a book titled "Berani Jadi Wirausaha Sosial" with the aim of enthusiasts and business players to learn everything there is to know or the A to Z’s of social entrepreneurship. This first book has successfully received more than 400,000 downloads. Continuing those action, amidst this COVID 19 pandemic situation, DBS Foundation launched another e-book, a follow-up series called “Profit Untuk Misi Sosial (Profits for Social Missions)” where it explores the ins and outs of business as well as how to balance it with an impact for companies to prosper even more in recent context.
Don't hesitate, download both books right now! Together with the DBS Foundation, we #SupportSocialEnterprise #DBSDukungBisnisSosial
Download Dare to Become a Social Enterprise Handbook
Download Profit, for Social Enterprise Handbook
