Announcement: giving.sg is undergoing scheduled maintenance downtime until 28 Feb 2026. For enquiries, please contact [email protected].
Announcement: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur. At leo non in lobortis faucibus aenean aliquam morbi. In neque orci aliquam consequat massa. Vitae aliquam scelerisque erat faucibus. Volutpat sem mattis velit sagittis vel
If you’ve ever found yourself rallying people around a cause you care about, juggling everything from planning events to guiding your team through uncertainty, you’re already leading a groundup.
Many groundup leaders like you start off doing the meaningful work of leading volunteers, growing sustainably, and staying grounded in purpose themselves – and find that it brings a whole new set of challenges. That’s where spaces to reflect, learn, and grow with others on the same journey can really help.
In this piece, we explore what groundup leadership in Singapore really involves, why it can feel so tough, and how you can learn from fellow leaders’ journeys through BAGUS Together‘s flagship Groundbreakers Leadership Programme.
Contents
A groundup leader is someone who takes the initiative to rally people around a cause they care deeply about. Often starting off as volunteers, passionate individuals, or people with lived experiences who feel a strong need to contribute, groundup leaders step up without formal authority or many resources to meet community needs.
Many groundup leaders choose to stay informal to stay nimble, even as their initiatives grow in scale and complexity. They spot gaps, rally volunteers, secure resources, and shape the direction of their cause. Some guide volunteers through tough conversations about programme direction, others mentor youths and adults seeking educational and career advancement, and still others work behind the scenes to build trust with partners and funders. They wear many hats – from strategist to storyteller to organiser – to enable their teams and communities to thrive.
Running a volunteer-powered groundup often starts with doing everything yourself. But as you grow, deeper challenges come up, such as recruiting the right people, planning for the long term, managing group dynamics, and staying visible.
That’s why it helps to be surrounded by others who’ve been there.
BAGUS Together, an initiative by NVPC, Temasek Foundation, and the Tote Board, is a go-to platform to support changemakers to start or sustain their groundup initiatives. As BAGUS Together offers resources such as peer learning opportunities and sector connections, you won’t have to figure it all out on your own as you build your initiative to last.
Running a groundup comes with its own set of challenges. Leaders often wear many hats – balancing team dynamics, navigating strong passions, and pushing forward with limited resources. It takes wisdom to know when to shift gears, adjust plans, or refocus the team while protecting the shared vision that brought everyone together.
Funding is often tricky for groundups, whether you’re addressing emerging needs or more established ones. Many founders have to fund projects out of their own pockets while figuring out how to navigate Singapore’s groundup grant landscape. Learning to align your mission with available support takes time as you stay true to your values and be realistic about your capacity, especially if you’re balancing your groundup with a day job.
It may feel like you’re facing this alone – but what if you had the support of a community of people like you?
If you’re leading a groundup in Singapore, you’ve probably wondered how to grow not just your project, but also your ability to guide it forward. That’s where the Groundbreakers Leadership Programme by BAGUS Together comes in.
Designed specially for mature groundup leaders who have been running their initiatives for at least a year, it offers a structured learning journey to help groundup leaders in Singapore lead with more confidence, clarity, and care. Through expert-led masterclasses and real talk with fellow changemakers, you’ll strengthen your leadership skills, reflect on your growth, and learn new ways to work with others. The goal: to grow together as leaders to uplift Singapore’s groundup community.
More than a course, the Groundbreakers Leadership Programme is a journey of growth, clarity, and connection. Over 16 weeks from November 2024 to March 2025, the first batch of 15 passionate leaders from different groundups came together to sharpen their leadership skills and map out strategies for sustainable impact.
With masterclasses centered around the pillars of Purpose and Leadership, Systems Thinking, and Strategy, plus reflection sessions a.k.a. BTeas and mentorship, the cohort built a tightly knit community.
An “Ask Me Anything” panel with MCCY, MOE, and IMDA reinforced key insights such as the importance of aligning with government goals, building credibility through action, and trusting the long game when forming partnerships. This panel also provided valuable insights into how groundups could better engage with government agencies for partnership opportunities and served as an important platform for direct interaction with policymakers.
More than soft skills, such know-how can open up possibilities for Singapore groundups to scale.
Beyond individual growth, the programme succeeded in fostering a sense of community among the leaders. Several participants have since collaborated with one another and are actively sharing resources and updates on their initiatives, demonstrating a sustainable ripple effect beyond the immediate programme outcomes.
As Mattias Kon from Migrant Health Matters shares, “I think the most valuable part of the Groundbreakers Leadership Programme has been the opportunity to network and interact with equally motivated peers. Putting many very driven people together to brainstorm is a great recipe for partnerships and success.
Through Groundbreakers, I realised that running a groundup is less challenging when you are well-connected and aware of the various support structures available. It is the lack of awareness about organisations like BAGUS Together that makes many groundup leaders feel alone. This is why I believe programmes like Groundbreakers are exactly what many leaders out there need — but it’s also important that knowledge of the programme reaches more people, so the catchment is inclusive.”
For Togather for Good founder Navaneetha S Nath and her team, the Groundbreakers Leadership Programme also provided dedicated time to focus on strengthening key pillars of their organisation. From building and integrating processes through a systems lens to designing and prioritising initiatives aligned with both short- and long-term strategies, the sessions reaffirmed Togather for Good’s direction and strategic approach.
Nava notes, “The sessions on purpose and systems were great foundational modules. They helped me better prepare for the strategy sessions, where I was able to clearly articulate and translate my thoughts and vision into concrete steps and actionable plans for the organisation. I hope that being part of this community and ecosystem means ongoing support from NVPC, as well as the opportunity to lean on fellow changemakers throughout this journey.”
Want in on the next run? Indicate your interest by emailing [email protected], or applying on the BAGUS Together website by Wednesday, 30 July 2025. Do give BAGUS Together’s Facebook and Instagram a follow too!