Leap Philanthropy.
About Us

Welcome to Leap201

Leap201 is a Singapore-registered charity creating lasting, high-impact change for lower-income communities across Singapore and Southeast Asia. Leap201 was founded by Mr Michael Lien to help victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Over the past two decades, Leap201 has benefited nearly two million lives.

In Southeast Asia, we do venture philanthropy – social loans to early-stage social enterprises. Repaid loans are recycled back to other social enterprises, multiplying the impact of each donor dollar. We have lent over US$6 million to enterprises promoting poverty reduction, gender equality, sustainability and climate adaptation. Each dollar lent has mobilised US$3 to US$10 in follow-on institutional capital.

In Singapore, Leap201 conducts research, pilots programmes, and advocates for policies that improve the lives of lower-income families. Our Care4MigrantWorkers pilot became a permanent healthcare insurance scheme covering nearly 200,000 migrant workers. Advocacy on CareShield Life and the Workfare Income Supplement scheme resulted in policy enhancements that benefited about a million Singaporeans.

By 2030, Leap201 aims to reach 4 million lives.

Impact at a Glance

1,970,199

Lives Impacted to Date

$9.5M

Total Capital Deployed

6 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • UN SDG 1: No Poverty — supported by Leap201 Leap Philanthropy Singapore
  • UN SDG 4: Quality Education — supported by Leap201 Leap Philanthropy Singapore
  • UN SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation — supported by Leap201 Leap Philanthropy Singapore
  • UN SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy — supported by Leap201 Leap Philanthropy Singapore
  • UN SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth — supported by Leap201 Leap Philanthropy Singapore
  • UN SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities — supported by Leap201 Philanthropy Singapore

Our foot prints

Aerial view of Gardens by the Bay Singapore — representing Leap201's Singapore social impact programmes

Singapore

cumulative Lives impacted:

1,394,404
Southeast Asia map representing Leap201's social loan programme footprint across Cambodia, Myanmar and Indonesia

South East Asia

cumulative Lives impacted:

575,795
Testimonials

Stories of Impact

“Workfare Advocacy”

The “Rethinking Workfare” proposals by LEAP201 will address key gaps to better protect low-income families, and should be considered carefully by policymakers.

“Rethinking Workfare”

A welcome piece to weigh in on some of our policies and programmes, aimed at uplifting the lives of our lower-wage workers.

“Singapore Rebalanced”

LEAP201’s combination of in-depth research, thoughtful advocacy and well-designed pilots is making a difference to the lives and well-being of lower-income families in Singapore, and will have an even larger impact as these efforts are scaled up.

“Rethinking Workfare”

We have worked with LEAP201 to develop these recommendations which aim to strengthen resilience of lower-income households against high inflation and economic uncertainty.

Leap201 Care4Students ASPIRE graduation — students and mentors celebrating PSLE readiness programme completion in Singapore
Our Partners

Partnering For a Better Future