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A new whistle-blowing channel for employees and stakeholders of charities was launched yesterday by the Shared Services for Charities (SSC).
Called the Ethics Hotline for Charities, it offers a confidential means for employees to report any possible misconduct in their organisations, from misuse of company assets to sexual harassment.
The tip-offs can be submitted via five channels: hotline, fax, mail, website and e-mail.
Submissions will be handled by dedicated staff from the independent, not-for-profit SSC, compiled, and then sent to an audit committee or designated person within the charity.
Charities can tap on the Ethics Hotline service through a one-time start-up fee of $500, coupled with a monthly fee ranging from $150 to $200. The price varies based on the size of the charity, for a two-year standard package. Reports can be submitted to the charity on an ad-hoc basis, or within a quarterly or monthly time frame.
The Ethics Hotline was unveiled yesterday during a Memorandum of Understanding signing between SSC and its sponsors, Singapore Exchange and Binjai Tree charity, as well as its partners - five leading accounting firms and The Institute of Internal Auditors.
Founded in 2008, SSC has more than 50 charities on its roll and provides affordable services to help raise governance standards through independent reviews and documentation of policies.
SSC executive director Lilian Tay told my paper that the plan to start the feedback service was deliberated on a few months ago. It was not in response to recent scandals involving major charities, she clarified.
In June, five leaders from City Harvest Church, including founding pastor Kong Hee, were charged with criminal breach of trust in a case involving $50.6 million.
A sixth person, Ms Serina Wee, the church's former finance director, was charged last month.
Ms Tay said the Ethics Hotline is the third and latest initiative by SSC to help charities adhere to the governance framework set out by the Charity Council.
SSC had earlier started offering independent reviews of charities' compliance with the code of governance, as well as documentation of their policies and procedures.
National Kidney Foun- dation chairman Gerard Ee said the SSC's new initiative is a "good move".
"Every organisation should set up a whistle-blowing service using an external party, so that people will be comfortable (in giving feedback)," he added.
"The (Ethics Hotline) can help guide charities through the process and offer the service with a low fee," Mr Ee added.
He said many charities shy away from such services, either due to a lack of knowledge or due to the high cost of doing so themselves or through a professional firm.
SSC said that, based on its research, the cost of outsourcing whistle-blowing channels can commercially range from $5,000 to $10,000 for an initial set-up, on top of a monthly charge of between $1,000 and $3,000.
Called the Ethics Hotline for Charities, it offers a confidential means for employees to report any possible misconduct in their organisations, from misuse of company assets to sexual harassment.
The tip-offs can be submitted via five channels: hotline, fax, mail, website and e-mail.
Submissions will be handled by dedicated staff from the independent, not-for-profit SSC, compiled, and then sent to an audit committee or designated person within the charity.
Charities can tap on the Ethics Hotline service through a one-time start-up fee of $500, coupled with a monthly fee ranging from $150 to $200. The price varies based on the size of the charity, for a two-year standard package. Reports can be submitted to the charity on an ad-hoc basis, or within a quarterly or monthly time frame.
The Ethics Hotline was unveiled yesterday during a Memorandum of Understanding signing between SSC and its sponsors, Singapore Exchange and Binjai Tree charity, as well as its partners - five leading accounting firms and The Institute of Internal Auditors.
Founded in 2008, SSC has more than 50 charities on its roll and provides affordable services to help raise governance standards through independent reviews and documentation of policies.
SSC executive director Lilian Tay told my paper that the plan to start the feedback service was deliberated on a few months ago. It was not in response to recent scandals involving major charities, she clarified.
In June, five leaders from City Harvest Church, including founding pastor Kong Hee, were charged with criminal breach of trust in a case involving $50.6 million.
A sixth person, Ms Serina Wee, the church's former finance director, was charged last month.
Ms Tay said the Ethics Hotline is the third and latest initiative by SSC to help charities adhere to the governance framework set out by the Charity Council.
SSC had earlier started offering independent reviews of charities' compliance with the code of governance, as well as documentation of their policies and procedures.
National Kidney Foun- dation chairman Gerard Ee said the SSC's new initiative is a "good move".
"Every organisation should set up a whistle-blowing service using an external party, so that people will be comfortable (in giving feedback)," he added.
"The (Ethics Hotline) can help guide charities through the process and offer the service with a low fee," Mr Ee added.
He said many charities shy away from such services, either due to a lack of knowledge or due to the high cost of doing so themselves or through a professional firm.
SSC said that, based on its research, the cost of outsourcing whistle-blowing channels can commercially range from $5,000 to $10,000 for an initial set-up, on top of a monthly charge of between $1,000 and $3,000.
