DBS Foundation disburses IDR11.2 billion to 5 social enterprises and businesses for impact to promote inclusion of vulnerable communities in Indonesia | Bahasa
12 years of the DBS Foundation Grant Program: strengthening sustainability and inclusion through 5 social enterprises and businesses with social impact in Indonesia to expand acce
Indonesia, 10 Mar 2026 -
“More than just a financial partner, Bank DBS Indonesia is committed to fostering broader inclusivity. Our sustainability pillar, Impact Beyond Banking, is about empowering impact-driven businesses to expand and strengthen their positive reach. Through twelve years of the DBS Foundation Grant Program, we have witnessed how critical support can unlock opportunities and inspire hope. For us, this is not merely a grant program, it is about building a collaborative ecosystem where private companies, communities, and institutions can collectively create sustainable solutions to address Indonesia’s social challenges,” said Mona.
DBS Foundation’s Partnerships for a More Prosperous Indonesia
DBS Foundation (DBSF) actively supports the growth of social enterprises and innovative BFIs in Indonesia. This support includes SGD 4 million in grants awarded to 28 social enterprises and BFIs, as well as an additional allocation of SGD 2 million through blended finance to further support social enterprises and BFIs in Indonesia.
Apart from the DBS Foundation Grant Program, DBS Foundation is also broadening its contributions through strategic collaborations with various partners. These include financial literacy and inclusion Programs reaching more than 220,000 women and youths in partnership with The Asia Foundation, Mercy Corps, and Plan Indonesia; a free IT training scholarship Program with Dicoding Indonesia to develop 70,000 young digital talents; initiatives to improve access to nutritious and sustainable food while empowering 28,000 smallholder farmers and farming families in Flores together with Yayasan Humanis; as well as Programs to enhance child well-being, including nutrition and education, in collaboration with UNICEF.
All of these initiatives are part of the long-term commitment of DBS Bank Ltd (Bank DBS), which has allocated up to SGD 1 billion and 1.5 million hours of employee volunteer work for the next 10 years.
For more information about DBS Foundation and the DBS Foundation Grant, please visit dbs.com/foundation/grants or the official social media accounts on LinkedIn and Instagram.
About DBS Foundation
Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.
In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.
Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations.
For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation.
About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.
Established in 1989 as part of the Singapore-based DBS Group, PT Bank DBS Indonesia (Bank DBS Indonesia) is one of the banks with the longest history in Asia. Currently operating 1 Operational Head Office, 13 Branch Offices, 14 Sub-Branch Offices, 32 ATMs spread across major cities and 2.861 active employees in 15 major cities in Indonesia, Bank DBS Indonesia provides comprehensive banking services that focus on the customer experience to 'Live more, Bank less'. We also see a purpose beyond banking and are committed to supporting our customers, employees, and the community towards a sustainable future.
PT Bank DBS Indonesia is licensed and supervised by The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK), and an insured member of Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS).
DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.
Amid mounting social and economic challenges in Asia, the need for sustainable business models that create social impact is becoming increasingly relevant. To address the issue, DBS Foundation has once again provided SGD 4.9 million, or around Rp65 billion, in grants for 22 social enterprises and businesses for impact (BFIs) in Asia through DBS Foundation Grant Program 2025. In Indonesia, DBS Foundation provided SGD850,000 or approximately Rp11.2 billion in grants for five social enterprises and BFIs, namely Parongpong RAW Lab, KONEKIN, Nazava Water Filters, DoctorTool, and Sosial Business Indonesia (SOBI). This financial support is projected to reach more than 1.9 million beneficiaries.
“We believe that businesses can be a force for good. Amid the increasingly complex social and economic challenges, we need business models that can not only survive but also create measurable and sustainable social impact. That is why, through the DBS Foundation Grant Program, we not only provide funding but also strengthen the foundations of social enterprises and BFIs through mentoring and access to networks so that they can grow healthily while expanding their impact. As a purpose-driven bank, PT Bank DBS Indonesia is committed to growing with the community and building a more inclusive ecosystem. We hope that the grant recipients can bring about real and sustainable change for society,” saidHead of Group Marketing & Communications PT Bank DBS Indonesia Mona Monika.
The benefits of DBS Foundation Grant Program 2025 for Indonesia
The grant disbursement is not only part of DBS Foundation's ongoing commitment but also demonstrates the growing maturity of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Indonesia. In 2023, the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) recorded that there were around 20,000 social entrepreneurs in Indonesia, up from 15,000 in the previous year. This growth shows that businesses are strengthening the commitment to making social impact an integral part of their business models and this requires the right support to enable sustainable growth.
The grant disbursement is not only part of DBS Foundation's ongoing commitment but also demonstrates the growing maturity of the social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Indonesia. In 2023, the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) recorded that there were around 20,000 social entrepreneurs in Indonesia, up from 15,000 in the previous year. This growth shows that businesses are strengthening the commitment to making social impact an integral part of their business models and this requires the right support to enable sustainable growth.
The DBS Foundation Grant Program is an initiative launched by DBS Foundation in 2014 to support hundreds of social enterprises and BFIs in Asia that provide solutions to a multitude of social challenges, ranging from access to clean water, food security, financial inclusion, to inclusive employment. This year, five grantees with diverse solution approaches were selected to expand their impact in various regions in Indonesia, from Sumatra and Java to Eastern Indonesia. DBS Foundation is also expanding its support to the health sector through DoctorTool, a leading startup in healthtech, as part of its efforts to strengthen primary health services and expand access for underserved communities.
Below is the list of social enterprises and BFIs that received grants through DBS Foundation Grant Program 2025:
- Parongpong RAW Lab, increases fishermen's income by recycling ghost nets into high-value and environmentally friendly building materials (Prototile).
- Koneksi Indonesia Inklusif (KONEKIN) is an impact platform focused on creating a more inclusive work environment for 17 million people with disabilities of working age in Indonesia through training, assessment, and guidance on equitable and fair recruitment practices.
- Nazava Water Filters, provides access to affordable clean water through water filtration technology that purifies well water, tap water, river water, or rainwater without the need to boil the water or to buy plastic water bottles. Nazava filters are the only drinking water filters made in Indonesia certified by the WHO. Nazava focuses specifically on ensuring that low-income families have access to safer and more affordable drinking water.
- DoctorTool, a healthtech startup that focuses exclusively on transforming primary healthcare services through the use of technology to improve the quality and accessibility of care, particularly for underserved communities and JKN participants.
- Social Business Indonesia (SOBI), focuses mainly on developing inclusive supply chains and sustainable agriculture to improve the welfare, resilience, and food security of smallholder farmers.
“More than just a financial partner, Bank DBS Indonesia is committed to fostering broader inclusivity. Our sustainability pillar, Impact Beyond Banking, is about empowering impact-driven businesses to expand and strengthen their positive reach. Through twelve years of the DBS Foundation Grant Program, we have witnessed how critical support can unlock opportunities and inspire hope. For us, this is not merely a grant program, it is about building a collaborative ecosystem where private companies, communities, and institutions can collectively create sustainable solutions to address Indonesia’s social challenges,” said Mona.
DBS Foundation’s Partnerships for a More Prosperous Indonesia
DBS Foundation (DBSF) actively supports the growth of social enterprises and innovative BFIs in Indonesia. This support includes SGD 4 million in grants awarded to 28 social enterprises and BFIs, as well as an additional allocation of SGD 2 million through blended finance to further support social enterprises and BFIs in Indonesia.
Apart from the DBS Foundation Grant Program, DBS Foundation is also broadening its contributions through strategic collaborations with various partners. These include financial literacy and inclusion Programs reaching more than 220,000 women and youths in partnership with The Asia Foundation, Mercy Corps, and Plan Indonesia; a free IT training scholarship Program with Dicoding Indonesia to develop 70,000 young digital talents; initiatives to improve access to nutritious and sustainable food while empowering 28,000 smallholder farmers and farming families in Flores together with Yayasan Humanis; as well as Programs to enhance child well-being, including nutrition and education, in collaboration with UNICEF.
All of these initiatives are part of the long-term commitment of DBS Bank Ltd (Bank DBS), which has allocated up to SGD 1 billion and 1.5 million hours of employee volunteer work for the next 10 years.
For more information about DBS Foundation and the DBS Foundation Grant, please visit dbs.com/foundation/grants or the official social media accounts on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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About DBS Foundation
Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.
In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.
Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations.
For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation.
About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia” award by Global Finance for 17 consecutive years from 2009 to 2025.
DBS provides a full range of services in consumer, SME and corporate banking. As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets.
Established in 1989 as part of the Singapore-based DBS Group, PT Bank DBS Indonesia (Bank DBS Indonesia) is one of the banks with the longest history in Asia. Currently operating 1 Operational Head Office, 13 Branch Offices, 14 Sub-Branch Offices, 32 ATMs spread across major cities and 2.861 active employees in 15 major cities in Indonesia, Bank DBS Indonesia provides comprehensive banking services that focus on the customer experience to 'Live more, Bank less'. We also see a purpose beyond banking and are committed to supporting our customers, employees, and the community towards a sustainable future.
PT Bank DBS Indonesia is licensed and supervised by The Indonesian Financial Services Authority (OJK), and an insured member of Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS).
DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.
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World's Best Bank 2025, 2018 - 2022
Euromoney, Global Finance, The Banker
Asia’s Safest Bank, 2009 – 2025
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