Some companies provide services and products to consumers and constantly cement their importance to the economy. Other companies provide services which are essential to providing charitable and social benefits to the greater community. People call these companies non-profit organisations (NPOs), and like other companies, they need funding.
NPO funding is the money donated to an NPO to help it fulfil its social duties. NPOs can apply for funding from government and private institutions.
If you have an NPO, you can apply for funding from a wide range of institutions and most likely you will get it. However, you must comply with the relevant laws and regulations to be eligible for any type of funding.
In this article, we look at where you can get funding for your NPO and how to apply.
Where To Find NPO Funding
As we mentioned before, you can get funding for your NPO from various organisations and from the government. You just have to know where to look and we can help you with that. The following list contains the organisations which offer funding for NPOs.
National Lotteries Commission
The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) is a public entity which was created under the Lotteries Act to regulate the National Lottery, sports pools, society lotteries, and to raise funds for worthy causes.
The NLC provides funding to the following organisations:
- NPOs
- Non-governmental organisations
- Section 21 companies
- Public benefit trusts
- Sporting bodies and sports clubs
- Educational institutions
- Recreational clubs
- Cultural bodies
The NLC provides funding to NPOs that want to run society lottery schemes. Society lottery schemes are competitions organised to raise funds from the public for various NPOs. To apply for NLC funding, you need to follow the application requirements from the NLC.
You can find all required documentation and apply on the NICSA Website.
The RAITH Foundation
RAITH is a South African organisation that provides grants to NPOs and universities. The grants from RAITH vary in size and can be completed in a short period or over 3 years (maximum). The organisation provides the following types of grants:
- Regular core grants (applications open from January to April).
- Discretionary core grants (applications open from January to June).
- Emergency project grants (applications submitted any time of the year).
- Institutional development project grants.
To qualify for a RAITH you must meet the following application requirements:
- Your NPO must be working towards systematic change.
- Your NPO must hold those in power accountable for the fair exercise of that power where it affects marginalised and vulnerable people.
- Your NPO must enhance the ability of the marginalised to hold those with power accountable.
- Your NPO must inform and engage society in realising social justice.
- Note: Each type of grant from RAITH has its own application process.
Hollywood Foundation
The Hollywood Foundation is the corporate social investment (CSI) initiative of Hollywoodbets. The organisation provides funding under the following conditions:
Funding for sustainable resources (equipment, furniture, renovations etc) for:
- Registered NPOs.
- Schools.
- Communities.
Projects aligned with the Hollywood Foundation’s key areas:
- Sports and recreation.
- Education and training.
- Healthcare.
- Arts and culture.
- Early childhood development and orphaned children.
- Team volunteering.
To qualify for funding from the Hollywood Foundation, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Your NPO must be South African and must be 75% black (Indian, coloured or black) owned.
- Your NPO must be registered with the Companies and Intellectual Property (CIPC).
- Your NPO must be registered with SARS (S18A receipt if issued).
- You must have a comprehensive profile for your NPO.
You can find the application form for NPO funding from the Hollywood Foundation website.
NGOConnectSA
NGOConnectSA is an organisation which connects NGOs and NPOs with funding opportunities. The organisation works with government institutions and corporations to provide training to the
NPOs to better their chances of getting funding.
NGOConnectSA has the following funding sources:
- Government funding.
- International aid and donor funding.
- Foundations and trusts.
- Public donations and fundraising.
- Social enterprise and earned income.
- Funding from NGOConnectSA is dependent on factors such as:
- Size of the NPO.
- Scope of your project.
- Impact of your project.
- Your NPO track record.
- Alignment with funding priorities.
To apply for funding assistance from NGOConnectSA, contact the organisation on 011 312 6829 or send an e-mail to info@ngoconnectsa.org.
If you have an NPO, this is your chance to apply for funding and do some good. You can help your community with social acts of good but first, you need funding to really do good.
