With the digital revolution, banking is being fundamentally redefined. At 50, DBS, like banking, is at a crossroads. The "Live More, Bank Less" ethos embodies the belief that the bank needs to remain at the forefront of change in the next 50 years. This includes providing the next generation with opportunities to come together to create innovative solutions that solve sustainability issues. The DBS Foundation is an endeavor from DBS Bank to make an even greater impact in addressing Asia's evolving social needs, by enabling social entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life through grants, banking services, mentorship and a platform to showcase their work.
One initiative from DBS Foundation is the annual Social Enterprise Grant Programme, which supports social enterprises in one of their crucial needs – capital. Our grants enable social enterprises to develop prototypes around innovative ideas, build organisational capacity or improve innovation capability that would in turn enhance their social impact.
By inviting social entrepreneurs across Asia to Make History Now, this campaign sparks the entrepreneurial spirit among aspiring changemakers and calls on existing social entrepreneurs to create sustainable and scalable solutions to social problems in their community while tapping on the support from DBS Foundation. As a competitive call for innovative social enterprises that address issues like inequality, pollution, illiteracy, poor healthcare, and hunger across the region, applicants must first answer the question – Can Your Business Make History?
The month-long competitive call for entries took place online, complemented by offline activities. Teaser posts were published a week before, with a video being launched later. Local versions of the campaign material were adapted and spread in each market through our social enterprise community, like-minded organisations, public and social sectors across Asia.
The campaign resulted in a 40% increase in the number of entries received compared to the previous year. In terms of online engagement:
