As the Investing in the Future awards programme nears two decades of recognising excellence in sustainability and corporate social investment, the panel of judges noted with interest the number of not-for-profit organisations entering the awards that have been operating for more than 20 years.
South Africa has been through a period of radical social and political change in the past two decades. For organisations providing support to marginalised and socially excluded groups, this has demanded agility and responsiveness, moving towards greater social entrepreneurship and organisational sustainability within both their core operations and those of their beneficiaries.
These long-standing organisations reflect some common traits that include increasing financial sustainability, developing business acumen and management skills and becoming holistic in approach.
Increasing financial sustainability
The Social Change Assistance Trust (Scat), established in 1984 to strengthen civil society in rural areas, incentivises organisations to raise their own funds with a fundraising incentive scheme through which R5 is paid to the organisation for every R1 raised. In turn Scat participated in the formation of the Ditikeni Investment Company, through which it receives dividends arising from Ditikeni’s participation in BEE opportunities.
Developing business acumen and management skills
Amelia Jones, chief executive of the 80-year-old Western Cape Community Chest, notes: “There was a lot of willingness to help, but many well-meaning people simply had no idea of how to go about it. A lot of really worthwhile projects weren’t getting off the ground or would wither and die because the people involved had no idea how to run and sustain them.”
Ntataise, an organisation based in the Northern Free State, seeks to improve the quality of early childhood development (ECD) provided to rural children. A key component of its programme involves providing training and business skills development to the women who run ECD programmes, as well as to parents and caregivers.
Becoming holistic in approach
Metro Evangelical Services, based in the Johannesburg inner city, has established the Madulamoho Housing Association to provide low-cost housing to people on its training programmes or to those newly employed in entry-level jobs to enable them to have a secure place to live while becoming stable.
The joint programmes address the social, spiritual and physical needs of their beneficiaries, greatly increasing their chances of succeeding.
Twilight Children recognises the need for the boys it supports to develop self-confidence and a sense of accountability and hence welcomes them to participate in decision-making processes within the organisationÂ.
These examples speak to a complex duality — corporatising the mode of operation while seeking more effective delivery models to support ruptured and traumatised communities. The hard reality is that although the organisations may have evolved the ways in which they work over two decades and longer, the socio-economic needs they address have changed little and have, in many cases, intensified. Their role remains relevant and necessary.
Glenda White is a director of Verge and an Investing in the Future judge