Yale-NUS alumni making a difference in the philanthropy sphere

Equipped with a liberal arts education, Yale-NUS graduates enter a diverse range of industries after completing their college journeys. We speak to Jana Choo (Class of 2020) and Siddharth Chatterjee (Class of 2021) who have charted their careers in the philanthropy sphere.

Jana joined the Community Foundation of Singapore (CFS), the nation’s oldest and leading community foundation. As a member of the organisation’s Partnerships and Engagements team, she works with individuals, families, and companies to structure their philanthropy needs in Singapore.

“My day-to-day involves speaking with people to understand their philanthropic goals, hearing about their charitable interests, and discussing how they can structure their giving in a meaningful way,” Jana shared. Her role also allows her to research charities and innovative programmes in Singapore to find the right fit that will excite new donors.

Jana’s inspiration to work in philanthropy can be traced back to her capstone project, which studied the idea of dignity at work for migrant domestic workers in Singapore. “Hearing and pondering over their stories through the year of research made me think a lot of about the kinds of social support available in Singapore,” she said. “I wanted to do my small part in taking care of my community,” she added.

As an Anthropology major, she has always been energised by hearing people’s life stories and understanding their perspectives. She credited her time at Yale-NUS for teaching her how to listen with an open mind and make meaningful connections. “It has helped me guide donors to be more strategic in their giving,” she said.

She has gained valuable experience from working in the philanthropy sphere for three years. “Philanthropy is not as simple as just giving money. A lot of thoughtful planning goes into each donor’s strategy,” she explained. “It excites me to work directly with people who are actively looking to do good,” she added.

Siddharth is a senior associate at the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), a leading network of social investors in Asia with over 600 members including philanthropists, family offices, and corporate organisations. Working in AVPN’s learning and research arm, he helps curate and facilitate learning experiences such as fellowships and workshops. He also hosts AVPN’s podcast series featuring leaders in the philanthropy, business, and impact investing called “Money Meets Mission”.

“My interest in philanthropy stems from my aspiration to make a positive impact in my work. The average career spans over 80,000 hours and for me it seemed crucial that I should dedicate this time to work that seeks to contribute to human flourishing,” he shared.

As a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) major at Yale-NUS, his education empowered him to navigate the complexities of modern philanthropy, finance, and government. “Much of the work in philanthropy today is about examining complex systems of government and finance, and finding ways to empower communities with our giving practices,” he said. By pursuing a Philosophy concentration within the PPE major, he has also been able to apply a philosophical lens to questions in philanthropy, which helped him create a unique space for himself as a researcher, educator, and podcaster.

Siddharth’s time in the philanthropy space has taught him valuable insights about the nature of social impact work. “My definition of ‘impactful work’ was perhaps too narrow when I started my career,” he shared. “Firstly, working in the social impact sector doesn’t guarantee that one is making a positive impact—we must continue to evaluate our role in social systems and push boundaries where appropriate. Secondly, one need not work in the ‘social impact sector’ to be impactful. We can be impactful in the way we navigate in any profession and in the way we show up for people in our daily lives,” he explained.