Everything You Need to Know
About Our Community Care

Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore), formally known as Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore), was officially registered on 20 September 1993. In 1994, it was conferred the status of an Institution of a Public Character (IPC) by the Singapore government. Over the past 30 years, the foundation has expanded from its original mission of charity to encompass four core missions: Charity, Medicine, Education, and Humanistic Culture. It also actively engages in community volunteerism and environmental education. Upholding the spirit of great love, Tzu Chi extends its care to the underprivileged regardless of race or religion, walking alongside those in suffering towards self-reliance and dignity.

The Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Organization (Singapore) Ltd and the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) are both registered charities in Singapore. They share the same origin and spiritual lineage, rooted in Dharma Master Cheng Yen’s founding vision—purify hearts, bring harmony to society, and a world free of disasters.

Since its establishment in 1993, the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) has actively carried out missions in charity, medicine, education, humanistic culture, and environmental protection, in response to local needs.

In line with evolving local regulations and to further embody and promote the spiritual essence of Buddhism, the Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Organization (Singapore) Ltd was officially registered in 2016.

For more information, please visit Tzu Chi Merit (Singapore) official website.

Tzu Chi's founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, believes that religion is "the purpose of life and the education of living." All righteous religions teach us how to live disciplined, meaningful lives. Although they may have different names, their fundamental spirit is centred on humanity and contributing to life. People of goodwill who join Tzu Chi because they identify with its spirit of universal love, regardless of religion or ethnicity, are not required to change their original religious beliefs.

You are welcome to sign up through the registration form, and we will contact you within one week. Further information can be found on the "Tzu Chi Volunteer" page.

Master Cheng Yen believes that the strength of a group comes from the refinement of each individual. When asked about Tzu Chi's management, she consistently says, “Tzu Chi volunteers are self-educating and self-disciplining.”

A three-stage volunteer development process—attachment, trainee, and certification—cultivates a shared understanding of Tzu Chi's missions, protocols, and philosophy, enabling collaborative action.

During the attachment and trainee stages, volunteers learn the Tzu Chi spirit and participate in the Four Missions. Those who embody the Tzu Chi spirit, adhere to its protocols, engage in membership recruitment, serve the community regularly, and take on leadership roles may be certified as Commissioners or Faith Corps Members, upon recommendation.

The purpose of volunteer training is to help volunteers develop the right views and strengthen their faith and commitment. Participating in Tzu Chi activities teaches us how to do good by sowing blessings, while structured training guides us in how to be a truly good person by learning and living out life’s principles.

Through helping others, we witness suffering firsthand and begin to understand its root causes, as expounded in the Dharma. Training and reflection, combined with connecting personal insights to the teachings of the sutras, awaken our inner wisdom. This process allows us to see how our volunteer experiences validate the truths of the Dharma, fostering growth in both understanding and compassion.

With continuous practice, we learn to act with wisdom and come to embody what it truly means to be a wise and compassionate person. Volunteer training is akin to nurturing a sapling: just as a young tree needs consistent watering and fertilization to grow strong and healthy, a volunteer requires ongoing cultivation to fully embody the Tzu Chi spirit and serve effectively in its Missions.

Every day, we are faced with a myriad of life choices. Small decisions may shape our daily experiences, while major ones can transform the course of our lives. A single misstep can lead us astray, which is why we must exercise wisdom in the choices we make each day.

The Tzu Chi path is one of spiritual cultivation through serving others in the community. When we practise giving, we learn to overcome greed. And only by helping others do we come to truly appreciate our own capacity for kindness and goodness.

The greatest benefit of joining Tzu Chi lies in this: when we are meaningfully engaged in service, our lives gain clarity and direction. As we begin to find joy in the work we do, our afflictions naturally lessen, and wisdom begins to grow from within.

Tzu Chi is a globally recognised NGO as well as a community for spiritual cultivation. During disaster relief efforts and charitable activities, volunteers are often seen wearing their distinctive blue and white uniforms—symbolising “blue sky, white clouds”—as they serve those in need. Over time, this uniform has become a visible hallmark of Tzu Chi volunteers around the world, representing great love that transcends borders to bring comfort to those who are suffering.

Wearing the same uniform also reflects the beauty of unity and team harmony. It demonstrates each volunteer’s willingness to minimise the ego, avoiding the desire to stand out through personal appearance. For Tzu Chi volunteers, the uniform is a constant reminder to practise humility, correct negative habits and traits, expand their minds, and serve others with joy and compassion.

After joining Tzu Chi, volunteers embark on a journey of personal and spiritual growth as they progress through a structured three-stage volunteer training programme: attachment, trainee, and certification. Each stage is associated with a different coloured uniform, reflecting the volunteer’s level of commitment and cultivation.

For certified female volunteers, there are three official uniforms: a navy blue polo shirt with white pants (Blue Sky, White Clouds), a navy blue dress (Eightfold Path), and a qipao. Certified male volunteers wear either the navy blue polo shirt with white pants or a formal suit.

These uniforms are designated for different types of services and ceremonial occasions. They are not intended to signify hierarchy or status, but rather to express unity, discipline, and the spirit of humble service within the Tzu Chi community.

Yes, absolutely. While Tzu Chi’s foundations are rooted in Buddhist principles, its spirit of Great Love and the implementation of its missions transcend geographical, religious, and ethnic boundaries.

People from all walks of life and faith traditions are welcome to volunteer with Tzu Chi, working together to carry out meaningful philanthropic initiatives that serve humanity. For example, many physicians in the Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) around the world are Catholic, Christian, Muslim, or Hindu—united by a common mission to relieve suffering and spread compassion.

Yes, it is. The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) is a registered charity with Institution of Public Character (IPC) status approved by the Singapore government. This means all donations made to the Foundation are eligible for a 250% tax deduction from the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS).

To enjoy the tax deduction, please provide your full name in English, identification number (NRIC/FIN/UEN), and full address at the time of donation.

You are not required to do so. Once you have provided your full name in English and identification number (NRIC/FIN/UEN), Tzu Chi will submit your donation details directly to the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS). The tax deduction will be automatically included in your annual income tax assessment.

After receiving your completed GIRO form, the Finance Department of the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu-Chi Foundation (Singapore) will submit it to the bank for processing. This typically takes around one month.

Once the first successful deduction is made, both the donor and the fundraiser will be notified via SMS or WhatsApp by the Finance Department.

If the bank is unable to process the GIRO arrangement, the donor will be informed of the reason by mail, along with a new GIRO form for re-submission.

To cancel your monthly GIRO donation, you may do so via your online banking platform, by written request, or by downloading the ‘Termination of GIRO’ form from your bank’s website and submitting it directly to the bank for processing.

Please also notify Tzu Chi’s Finance Department by emailing finance@tzuchi.org.sg, and include your full name in English, identification number (NRIC/FIN), and contact number so we can update our records accordingly.

We sincerely appreciate your kind intention to cherish resources and help those in need. While Tzu Chi welcomes such thoughtful gestures, we currently do not provide storage or transportation services for donated furniture or electrical appliances.

To ensure that your donation truly benefits someone in need, we are only able to facilitate the transfer after confirming a match with a beneficiary family. In line with Master Cheng Yen’s guidance to provide the best and most appropriate support to beneficiaries, we kindly ask that all donated items be in good working condition and free from damage.

If you wish to donate, please fill out this inquiry form. Upon receiving your submission, Tzu Chi will assess needs through our internal network and help coordinate the distribution of your gift of love to a suitable beneficiary family.

Yes, Tzu Chi accepts in-kind donations from corporations. Items such as electronic products will be evaluated for suitability, and those deemed appropriate are generally used in Jing Si Halls or other Tzu Chi establishments.

You are welcome to fill out this form to get in touch with us. We will review your submission and follow up with you directly.

Tzu Chi refers to its aid and care recipients as “Households of Gratitude.” This is not to suggest that recipients should feel grateful to Tzu Chi for its help. Rather, it is the volunteers who are grateful to the families they serve—for allowing them to witness the realities of poverty, illness, and suffering. These encounters serve as a powerful reminder of life’s impermanence, inspiring volunteers to remain vigilant, content, and appreciative of their own blessings. As we give of ourselves, we must also cultivate gratitude toward those we serve; only then can we offer care with sincerity and compassion.

Tzu Chi’s Mission of Charity is guided by the principles of providing shelter, peace of mind, and a means of livelihood. We not only meet material needs but also offer emotional support, empowering those we help to eventually become self-reliant. For this reason, all home visits and follow-ups are conducted by Tzu Chi visiting volunteers, ensuring that care and assistance are delivered directly to those in need—without involving third-party organisations.

Caring for the Earth is a shared responsibility—and everyone has a role to play.

Absolutely, your participation is warmly welcomed! The third Sunday of each month is Tzu Chi’s island-wide Environmental Sustainability Day. You are invited to join us at the community eco point nearest to your home, where you can take part in hands-on recycling and resource-sorting activities alongside our volunteers. Let’s work together as guardians of Mother Earth, making meaningful contributions to protect our shared home.

We’re grateful for your intention to protect the environment. However, Tzu Chi does not offer a household collection or pick-up service for recyclables.

If you would like to donate your recyclables to Tzu Chi, please ensure the items are cleaned and properly sorted before bringing them to a Tzu Chi eco point on Environmental Sustainability Day, held on the third Sunday of every month.

For large or heavy loads, you are welcome to borrow a trolley or pushcart from the eco point to assist with transport.

Alternatively, you may also place your recyclables in the government-provided blue recycling bins in your neighbourhood. Learn more about Bloobin here.

Thank you for doing your part to safeguard our planet and leave behind a cleaner, more beautiful Earth for future generations.

All recyclables and used items, including second-hand clothing, collected at Tzu Chi’s island-wide eco points, are sold to recycling merchants. These merchants then sort and clean the items before either shipping usable clothing to countries where there is demand, or sending them to factories for recycling and reprocessing into other products.

We greatly appreciate your interest in promoting community recycling. Tzu Chi’s eco points operate on the third Sunday of each month.

If your area can provide a suitable venue for a long-term collection programme, please share your contact details with us via our enquiry form. We’ll be in touch to explore the next steps with you.

While we do not offer on-site environmental programmes, we welcome you and your colleagues to visit the Tzu Chi Glow On Gallery in Yishun for a Sustainability Learning Journey, available on Saturdays. We will provide a guided tour focusing on the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability, presented in a practical and relatable manner.