DBS Foundation grants $659,000 to 5 Indonesian social enterprises to boost inclusion

DBS Foundation has granted IDR 11.2 billion ($659,133) to five Indonesian social enterprises, supporting inclusive business models that expand opportunities for vulnerable communities amid growing regional social and economic challenges.

To address the issue, DBS Foundation has once again provided SGD 4.9 million ($3.8 million), or around IDR 65 billion ($3.8 million), in grants for 22 social enterprises and businesses for impact (BFIs) in Asia through DBS Foundation Grant Programme 2025. In Indonesia, DBS Foundation provided SGD 850,000 ($662,455) or approximately IDR 11.2 billion ($659,172) 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 Programme, 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,” said Mona Monika, head of group marketing and communications at PT Bank DBS Indonesia.

Benefits of DBS Foundation Grant Programme 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 DBS Foundation Grant Programme 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 12 years of the DBS Foundation Grant Programme, we have witnessed how critical support can unlock opportunities and inspire hope. For us, this is not merely a grant programme, 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 ($3.1 million) in grants awarded to 28 social enterprises and BFIs, as well as an additional allocation of SGD 2 million ($1.5 million) through blended finance to further support social enterprises and BFIs in Indonesia.

Apart from the DBS Foundation Grant Programme, DBS Foundation is also broadening its contributions through strategic collaborations with various partners. These include financial literacy and inclusion programmes, reaching more than 220,000 women and youths in partnership with The Asia Foundation, Mercy Corps, and Plan Indonesia; a free IT training scholarship programme 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 programmes 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 ($779.3 million ) and 1.5 million hours of employee volunteer work for the next 10 years.

Re-disseminated by Wealth and Society