Education is the main focus of the best-rated CSI programme.
The Anglo American Chairman’s Fund is rated the top corporate social investment (CSI) programme in all major categories in South Africa in the CSI Handbook 2001. Some of the categories include good corporate grantmaker on the basis of involvement, understanding community needs and fostering sustainability; the most widely recognised corporate grantmaker; biggest CSI budget of R56,1-million for 2001; CSI programme with a “hands-on approach”; the highest level of disclosure and most effective best return on expenditure.
Support for education and training is regarded as the fund’s CSI flagship programme, consisting of 325 educational initiatives to the tune of R40,3-million.
The highest ratings came from the non-profit organisation sector, which sees the fund’s approach to development as relevant, practical and aimed at addressing development needs realistically.
The handbook says: “This is manifested in the ways in which the fund reviews and engages with projects as well as in evaluation and monitoring projects that the fund supports. Of significance, is that the highest rating in all the categories came from hundreds of NGOs that the fund supports throughout the country.
“It was also encouraging to see that the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund is seen as a leader in addressing the educational needs in the country. This is especially so when one considers that each year at least 60% of the fund’s total budget is in support of a wide range of education initiatives. Overall, the performance of the fund rated by its peers as well as NGOs is an affirmation that the company’s policy and approach to social investment is a relevant one and one that has succeeded in achieving the highest social investment return.”
The fund was voted second in proactive CSI activities, best monitoring and evaluation of projects and the best programme that engages successfully in partnerships.
The Anglo American Chairman’s Fund in its present form was constituted in 1974 under the guidance of Harry Oppenheimer, who was then chairperson of both Anglo American Corporation and De Beers.
Large-scale proactive projects were introduced into the fund. Prior to that the fund had only responded to appeals from established organisations, in those days mostly welfare organisations.
Chairperson of the fund from 1974 to 1996 Michael O’Dowd says: “Perhaps the most important lesson which I have learnt in 20 years with the chairman’s fund is how little can be achieved by money alone, how much by the enterprise and initiative of all kinds of people, if only they can get access to the money needed to back them.”
Clem Sunter, the current chair-person, defines the essential modus operandi of the fund, both the longest standing (over three decades) and cumulatively biggest corporate social responsibility fund in South Africa, when he says that there is dedication “to making effective and sustainable use of limited resources to create an environment which enables ordinary people to assume greater control of their lives, particularly in the opening up of economic opportunity, education and other social services.”
Margie Keeton, trustee and chief executive of Tshikululu Social Investments responsible for administering the fund, says the fund is committed to supporting development initiatives that are directed towards the alleviation of poverty and the upliftment of the general community.
“In our dealings with people who apply to us for funding we try to distinguish between those who see themselves as victims and those who see themselves as potential victors,” says Keeton.
The fund provides assistance to programmes from helping schools ? often in remote rural areas ? to projects working with learners with special needs, pioneering new forms of learning for individuals of all ages for whom formal schooling has not traditionally catered, as well as structured programmes for improved school performance in the key disciplines of maths, science and English.
These contributions are matched by grants supporting innovative projects in higher education to increase access and produce graduates with the qualities needed to meet South Africa’s changing skills, service and leadership needs.
Other areas attracting the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund’s support include community health (with a special concern for inter- ventions helping society deal with the sharp realities of HIV/Aids); skills training and income generation; environmental stewardship and care for the elderly, the very young and others isolated from established support and relief networks. It also recognises the importance of cultural programmes showcasing new talent and enriching the lives of all.
Following these guiding principles, the fund has channelled more than R920-million in support to close on 11Â 000 grants over the past 10 years.