Youth groups participating in the Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes programme must execute a community project that supports a Singapore-registered Voluntary Welfare Organisation (VWO) with Institute of Public Character (IPC) status.

What is a VWO?
VWO is the acronym for Voluntary Welfare Organisation and refers to an organization that:

• is a voluntary set-up and governed by an elected volunteer board
• is non-profit making
• promotes and provides social and community services in financial, emotional, educational, health and social aid and support
• caters for those in need, distress or at-risk and helps the disadvantaged and disabled to be independent
• is driven by a strong spirit of volunteerism and
• works with volunteers, government authorities, public and private organisations and the community.

What is Institute of Public Character (IPC)?
If an organisation is set up in Singapore exclusively for non-profit purposes and carries out activities to achieve these purposes, it is mandatory for them to be registered with the Commissioner of Charities (at the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore office) under the Charities Act. Upon registration, Voluntary Welfare Organisations are conferred Institute of Public Character (IPC) status, which authorises them to receive tax-deductible donations.

IPC status ensures a high standard of governance, fund-raising practice and financial accountability of a Voluntary Welfare Organisation, which protects public money.

Why do we require participating groups to support Voluntary Welfare Organisations with IPC status?
All participating community projects of the Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes programme will be given a blanket fund-raising license from the National Council of Social Services during the project execution period from 24 May to 12 Sept 2010. This fund-raising license is conferred only on projects that support Voluntary Welfare Organisations with IPC status.

By supporting a Voluntary Welfare Organisation with IPC status, you also ensure members of the public and donors of the integrity of your community project.

IMPORTANT: With the fund-raising license, it is mandatory for all participating groups to submit an income and expenditure statement, attached with the original receipts of all items expensed and funds collected, by the end of their projects. These income and expenditure statements will be audited by the Citi-YMCA Youth For Causes organisers and submitted to the National Council of Social Services and the Citigroup Foundation.