What Is the TSS Grant?
The Transformation Sustainability Scheme (TSS) is a National Council of Social Service (NCSS) grant that funds social service agencies (SSAs) in Singapore to strengthen how they operate — including funding for digital projects and AI-powered automation. TSS replaced the earlier Tech-and-GO! scheme and now covers a broader range of organisational development needs, from leadership consultancy to bespoke chatbot builds.
For SSAs considering AI automation — intake chatbots, case management workflows, donor and volunteer coordination, appointment scheduling, or back-office finance and HR automation — TSS is the primary funding route, and at up to 80% co-funding it is one of the most generous grants available to any organisation type in Singapore, government or private sector.
This guide covers eligibility, what TSS actually pays for, how it compares to the grants SMEs typically use (EDG, PSG, EIS), and the exact steps to apply.
“At up to 80% co-funding, TSS is one of the most generous grants available to any organisation type in Singapore — government or private sector.”
Who Is Eligible
- Your organisation is an NCSS member agency, or is funded by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
- You hold a valid Organisational Health Framework for Social Services (OHFSS) assessment — or are willing to complete one before applying.
- For non pre-scoped funding (Parts A and B, covered below), your agency has completed the Organisational Health Diagnostics (OHDS) process.
If your organisation is not an NCSS member or MSF-funded SSA — for example, a private clinic, tuition centre, or F&B business — TSS does not apply to you. Those organisations should instead look at EDG, PSG, or EIS; see the comparison table below.
What TSS Actually Funds
TSS is structured into three parts, each with a different funding cap and use case. Up to 80% co-funding applies across all three, over a project term of up to 3 years.
| Component | What it covers | Funding cap |
|---|---|---|
| Part A — Consultancy & project implementation support | Engaging consultants (e.g. compensation & benefits review, volunteer management framework) or funding project headcount to lead a transformation project. | Up to $250,000 (headcount support capped at $200,000) |
| Part B — Bespoke digitalisation projects | Custom-built digital systems: web portals for service delivery, AI chatbots for automated responses, therapeutic robotics, and other purpose-built AI automation. | Up to $150,000 |
| Part C — Pre-scoped & green-laned solutions | Off-the-shelf systems from NCSS’s approved vendor list: HR systems, accounting systems, event booking platforms, CRM systems, API integrations. | Up to $150,000 total, capped at $40,000 per solution |
Part B is the most relevant component for custom AI automation work — NCSS explicitly names “AI chatbots for automated responses” as a funded example, alongside therapeutic robotics and custom portals. Part C is the faster route if a pre-scoped or Green Lane solution already covers your need; check NCSS’s published solutions list before scoping a custom build.
TSS vs. the Grants SMEs Normally Use
Stack AI works across both SME and social-service clients, and the two groups draw on different grants. If you are unsure which applies to you, use this table:
| Grant | Who it’s for | Typical co-funding | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSS | NCSS-member or MSF-funded social service agencies | Up to 80% | AI chatbots, case management automation, custom digital systems, org-wide transformation projects |
| EDG | Singapore-registered SMEs (30% local shareholding) | Up to 50% | Business/process transformation projects, including AI workflow automation |
| PSG | Singapore-registered SMEs | Up to 50% | Pre-approved, off-the-shelf digital solutions (faster, lighter-touch than EDG) |
| EIS | Any Singapore-registered business investing in innovation/automation | 400% tax deduction (not co-funding) | Businesses that prefer a tax deduction over a cash grant, or that exceed EDG/PSG cofunding caps |
A note on eligibility overlap: some social enterprises and charity-run social businesses may qualify for both TSS and SME-track grants depending on their registration status and funding source — worth confirming with NCSS and Enterprise Singapore directly rather than assuming one or the other applies.
What This Looks Like in Practice
Examples of AI automation projects social service agencies have funded (fully or partly) through schemes like TSS Part B and Part C:
- An intake chatbot that screens and triages new client referrals before a caseworker is assigned, cutting initial response time from days to minutes.
- Automated case-note summarisation that drafts structured notes from caseworker voice memos or free-text input, reducing admin time per case.
- Volunteer and donor CRM automation that syncs sign-ups, sends reminders, and flags lapsed donors for follow-up without manual list management.
- Appointment and programme-booking automation for community centres and eldercare/childcare services, replacing phone-based scheduling.
- Finance and grant-reporting automation that pulls data from multiple systems into the reports NCSS and MSF require, reducing month-end close time.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Confirm eligibility — verify NCSS membership or MSF funding status, and check whether your OHFSS assessment is current.
- Complete Organisational Health Diagnostics (OHDS) if you haven’t already — required before applying for Part A or Part B funding.
- Scope the project and decide which part applies — Part A (consultancy/headcount), Part B (bespoke digital/AI build), or Part C (pre-scoped/Green Lane solution).
- Get a vendor quotation — for a bespoke AI automation build, this means a scoped proposal from an AI automation vendor (this is where Stack AI comes in for Part B projects).
- Submit your application through the OurSG Grants (OSG) portal, with your OHFSS report and vendor quotation attached.
- On approval, sign the vendor agreement (and submit proof of employment if claiming headcount support under Part A).
- Implement the project, then submit your completion report, updated OHFSS report, and (for Part A) Employee Engagement Survey and Board Assessment reports to close out the grant.
Processing timelines and exact documentation requirements are set by NCSS and can change — always confirm current requirements at ncss.gov.sg or by emailing sector_capability@ncss.gov.sg before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TSS only for large, established charities?
No. Eligibility is based on NCSS membership or MSF funding status, not organisation size. Smaller SSAs are still eligible, and Part C’s pre-scoped solutions in particular are designed to be accessible without a large internal project team.
Can TSS fund an AI automation project run by an external vendor like Stack AI?
Yes — Part B (bespoke digitalisation) and Part C (pre-scoped/Green Lane solutions) are both designed to fund vendor-built or vendor-supplied systems, provided you submit a vendor quotation as part of your application and the vendor agreement is signed after approval.
What’s the difference between Part B and Part C for an AI chatbot project?
Part C is for solutions already on NCSS’s pre-scoped or Green Lane list — faster to apply for, capped at $40,000 per solution. Part B is for a bespoke build tailored to your workflows — higher cap ($150,000) but requires the OHDS diagnostic step first. Check the pre-scoped solutions list before assuming you need a custom build.
Does TSS cover ongoing costs, or only the initial build?
TSS funding is project-based and tied to implementation — it is not designed as a recurring operating subsidy. Ongoing software subscription or maintenance costs should be discussed with NCSS or your assigned grant officer as part of project scoping, since treatment can vary by project.
How does TSS relate to the EDGE grant merging EDG, PSG, and MRA for SMEs?
They are separate tracks. EDGE (still not launched as of this guide’s writing) consolidates SME-facing grants under Enterprise Singapore. TSS is an NCSS/MSF scheme specifically for the social service sector and is not part of that consolidation.
Why Work With Stack AI
Stack AI builds custom AI automation systems — chatbots, case workflow automation, CRM and reporting integrations — for Singapore organisations, and structures projects to align with grant requirements from the scoping stage rather than after the fact. For social service agencies, that means a Part B or Part C-ready proposal, a vendor quotation formatted the way NCSS expects, and implementation support through to your completion report.
If your agency is evaluating an AI automation project under TSS, get in touch to scope what’s fundable before you apply.
