Development Funding

Request for funding/development support is currently open - please find the call for information here.

Call for Proposals Application

1. Trust Obligations

The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the projects it funds meet community and legal obligations. The following obligations guide the Trust's operations:

Approval Process: All projects must be reviewed and approved by Trustees. Projects are selected based on their alignment with the Trust’s Community Development Programme (CDP) and public benefit activities.
Management and Governance: The Trust oversees funded projects to ensure compliance with governance principles and the proper management of allocated funds. This includes reviewing financial management, monitoring reports, and ensuring that funds are used according to the project’s objectives.
Progress Monitoring: For long-term projects, beneficiaries must provide progress reports at least annually. Short-term projects must submit completion letters.
Payment Process: Allocations are paid in tranches, and payments are made directly to suppliers or service providers. Milestones must be achieved before further payments are made.
Trust Administration: Trust administrators are involved in overseeing project execution and reporting requirements. They ensure that the conditions for the allocation of funds are met before any disbursements are made.

2. Funding Criteria Guidelines

The Trust supports projects through two primary funding categories: Enterprise Development (ED) and Socio-Economic Development (SED). Each category has its own requirements:

Enterprise Development (ED) Funding Criteria:

Type of Business: Micro or small businesses (1-49 employees)
Geographic Location: Must be based within 50 km of the project site.
Ownership: 100% black ownership is required.
Community Impact: The project must fill a gap in the market, provide direct benefit to the community, and be affordable
Job Creation: Priority is given to projects that can create jobs, particularly for women, youth, or disabled people.
Operational Duration: The business must have been in operation for at least six months.
Governance: Good governance structures must be in place.

Socio-Economic Development (SED) Funding Criteria:

Types of Organisations: NPOs, NGOs, schools, childcare services, healthcare centres, etc.
Public Benefit: The project must meet public benefit activity criteria as outlined in the Trust Deed.
Location: Must be based within 50 km of the project site.
Governance: Organisations must demonstrate good governance and reporting structures.
Sustainability: The project must target low-income households or people, and the applicant should have a sustainability strategy.
Budget: A lean budget must be submitted, showing both operational and capital expenses.

3. Beneficiary Obligations

Beneficiaries of Trust funding must adhere to strict financial and governance principles. The Trust requires beneficiaries to comply with the following:

Financial Management: Maintain detailed accounting records, including income, expenditure, and assets. Financial transactions must be conducted through a bank account in the name of the beneficiary.
Annual Reports: Beneficiaries are required to submit an annual performance report, covering project milestones, how the funds have been used, and the success or challenges of the project.
Project Milestones: For longer-term projects, significant milestones (e.g., 50% of the project budget spent) must be identified and reported.
Local Procurement: Where possible, materials for projects must be procured locally, within the designated area.

4. Project Funding Checklist

Project Funding Checklist

The Trust requires specific documentation and information from applicants to ensure compliance and transparency. The checklist includes:

Supporting Documents:
- Company or organisation registration documents
- ID copies of directors
- Proof of address (not older than 3 months)
- Tax clearance pin (if applicable)
- Latest financial statements or management account (if applicable)
- Business or organisation bank statements (last 3 months)
Project Plan:
- Diagnostic analysis
- Detailed plan and design of the project
- Gantt chart or timeline of milestones
- Detailed budget breakdown
Banking Details:
- Provide banking details with a bank stamp in the name of the organisation
Budget and Billing Schedule:
- Submit the agreed budget and billing schedule
Governance and Reporting:
- Draft a Service Level Agreement (SLA) and Deed of Adherence (DoA), including governance principles, project guidelines, and reporting templates

Other Relevant Information

Ad-Hoc Requests for Funding:
- Applicants can submit ad-hoc funding requests outside of formal proposal calls. These requests are reviewed by trustees, with two to three quotes required, and a budget must be provided. Local suppliers are given preference
Call for Proposals:
- The Trust advertises funding opportunities through calls for proposals.
Invoice Policy:
- All invoices submitted must be accurate, reflect the agreed-upon services, and contain necessary details such as VAT number (if registered), banking details, and contact information.
Consent Form in Terms of POPI Act:
- All beneficiaries are required to consent to the use of their personal information as per the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPI).
Information to adhere to thorough due diligence process.