He Thought His Social Entrepreneurship Idea Wouldn't Work —Then He Was Awarded a Grant

Sold for $31.2 million in 2019, Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime represents the power of charity auctions when it comes to philanthropic fundraising efforts.

Brandon Ong would know this — Working for an auction fundraising company since his graduation, he has travelled across Asia, Australia and the Middle East to organise fundraising events. And each experience deepened his belief in the power of creative giving to bring people together and drive meaningful impact.

But things changed when the pandemic hit.

Brandon recalled, “News reports highlighted how charity fundraising efforts were severely impacted, revealing the urgent need for innovation in how charities engage donors and adapt to new challenges.”

“Many struggled to transition from in-person events to digital platforms, leading to declining donor engagement and financial strain.”

Just a few years back, Brandon had enrolled in a course that introduced him to the powerful intersection of enterprise and social impact.

“It opened my eyes to how businesses can do good while achieving financial sustainability, sparking a deep curiosity about the potential of social enterprises to drive meaningful change within communities,” he noted.

That realisation led him to consider innovative approaches to fundraising to address the challenges faced by charities while empowering communities through creative giving.

And in 2021, HeartBid was born.


 

A HEARTFELT SOLUTION

As a digital fundraising platform, HeartBid aims to connect charities, donors, and local businesses to reimagine fundraising through curated experiences and bidding.

“I saw how small, meaningful experiences—like a painting session with a local artist—could inspire donors and create lasting impact,” Brandon pointed out.

“HeartBid scales this idea by curating unique experiences that foster deeper connections between donors and causes, offering a fresh way to sustain fundraising in a rapidly changing landscape.”

For example, social enterprises or businesses with a social cause can curate experiences, such as art classes, workshops, or exclusive tours for donors to bid on via the platform.

Not only can potential donors engage with the causes in a personal and memorable way, but the online auction method also makes fundraising accessible and adaptable for both in-person and virtual events.

HeartBid also aims to provide charities with insights and support to maximise their campaigns, ensuring their efforts resonate with donors and foster long-term relationships.

However, changing the medium in a market where traditional fundraising methods are deeply ingrained proved to be an uphill task. And as the world reverts to in-person events in a post-pandemic era, the demand for an online auction platform dropped.

These complications posed a critical question: Is HeartBid still relevant?

 

AGAINST THE ODDS

To evaluate its viability, the 39-year-old enrolled himself in RESSEC’s Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship in July 2024 (SDSE).

It was a chance to “test frameworks and methodologies” and explore new strategies to refine their business approach.

As it turns out, HeartBid benefited from the design thinking phase of the course. Citing the interviews and reviews with lecturers as instrumental, Brandon commended, “These sessions provided a clearer vision of how we could make a difference while staying sustainable.”

“The mentorship and peer discussions were equally valuable, offering practical advice and building my confidence to address challenges with a focus on impact and longevity,” he added.

Through the course, Brandon also got to know about the raiSE VentureForGood EnergiSE grant and applied for it.

The grant supports pre-seed to early-stage startups in piloting and validating new solutions with human-centered social impact in Singapore.

And shortly after graduating from SDSE, the grant was awarded to HeartBid.

Brandon believes that HeartBid’s innovative approach to addressing challenges like donor fatigue and the evolving needs of charities resonated with the grant evaluators.

“We demonstrated a clear understanding of the gaps in the fundraising ecosystem and presented research that identifies the potential for collaborations between social enterprises and charities,” Brandon explained. “By positioning HeartBid as an aggregator that brings these two parties together, we showcased our ability to drive meaningful partnerships.”

With the grant, Brandon hopes to onboard more Social Service Agency partners and complete more fundraising events on the platform as the team improve visibility and awareness of HeartBid’s work. He also aims to create impactful case studies that highlight the value HeartBid brings while strengthening HeartBid’s internal capabilities to maximise the organisation’s potential for long-term impact too.

But more importantly, the grant provided Brandon the validation he needed to continue HeartBid’s work.

“The grant from raiSE is more than just financial support—it’s a significant affirmation of the journey we’ve been on,” Brandon expressed.

“After spending the last six months refining our concept and proving our commitment, this recognition feels like a nod of confidence in what we’re doing all these years.”
 

THE WINNING FORMULA

To all budding social entrepreneurs, Brandon emphasised the importance of staying grounded and embracing challenges as growth opportunities.

“We were often asked who our target market is, why would they use us and who are the bidders,” he admitted.

“Each challenge and question, however, has helped sharpen our vision and solutions.”

Acknowledging that building a social enterprise is rarely easy, he also highlighted that collaboration is key. One way would be to join SDSE to network with like-minded social entrepreneurs.

Brandon recounted the camaraderie among his course mates: “We weren’t just sharing projects but also linking up with potential collaborators and exchanging ideas to strengthen our respective initiatives. Hearing diverse perspectives and working together to refine our strategies made the journey even more impactful.”

"The course provides practical insights, access to a supportive network, and frameworks to refine your strategies,” he affirmed.

"It’s an invaluable opportunity, whether you’re starting out or reassessing the direction of your social enterprise.”