Social Justice Archive
Reimagining Philanthropy: Social Transformation and the Future of Giving
By Hlengiwe Ndlovu – Associate Professor & Deputy Director: Special Initiatives and Partnerships, Centre of African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand. Philanthropy is operating in a
Philanthropy at a Crossroads: Rethinking Giving in an Unequal World
By Hlengiwe Ndlovu – Associate Professor & Deputy Director: Special Initiatives and Partnerships, Centre of African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI), Wits Business School, University of the Witwatersrand. Philanthropy is operating in a complex and
Beyond Business as Usual: Adapting Philanthropy for Long-Term Resilience and Systems Change
By Louise Driver, Executive Director, IPASA If 2025 signalled that the ground beneath us was shifting, the opening months of 2026 have confirmed it. Just
Centering Communities in the Just Energy Transition: A Question of Power, Not Participation
By Aliness P. Mumba, Country Manager – Zambia | Climate Justice and Natural Resource Governance Lead, Southern Africa Trust The energy transition is happening, but
When Impact isn’t Enough: South African Philanthropy Needs a Digital Reset
By Katie Andrews, MD of the Nahana Foundation Visible impact for building trust South Africa’s development and philanthropy sectors are navigating a moment of profound
If Philanthropy is Serious About Collaboration, We must Rethink How we Lead
By Sarah Cairns, Head of Optima, and Tracey Henry, CEO of the Standard Bank Tutuwa Community Foundation Commitment alone is not enough Across philanthropy there
Fund the Ecosystem: The Missing Piece in Digital Inclusion
By Shirley Gilbey, Director of Immersive Learning, Caribou Unequal, but digitally connected South Africa sits at a peculiar crossroads. It is arguably the most unequal
Philanthropy: Strengthening Democracy and Social Cohesion Amidst Election Noise
By Jenna-Lee Strugnell, Stefan Snel and Geoffrey Mamputa – Directors, Tales of Turning Philanthropy role in safeguarding elections Election periods often expose deeper social tensions
Why Systems Change Matters for Philanthropy in Southern Africa
By Margie Brand, Executive Director, Vikāra Institute The dilemma of immediate challenges and underlying dynamics Across Southern Africa, philanthropic organisations invest significant resources each year to address
Reckoning with the Past, Reimagining the Future: Reflections on Justice-Oriented Philanthropy in South Africa
By Zuziwe Khuzwayo, Social Justice Project Manager at IPASA Understanding where we stand More than 30 years into democracy, South Africa’s present remains deeply connected
Co-creating a New Vision for Education in South Africa
By Dzunisani Mathonsi, Project Management Officer at MISTRA and Sarah Cairns, Head of Trust, Optima Forward-looking and ambitious A one-of-a-kind, forward-looking collaboration between philanthropy, government
From Turbulence to Possibility: Reimagining Philanthropy for a World in Transition
By Louise Driver, Executive Director, IPASA Looking back over the past tumultuous, unpredictable year, I have a sense that we are standing at a threshold
South African Philanthropy is Funding the Biggest Early Childhood Outcomes Fund in the World
By Adriana Balducci, Chief Delivery Officer, EOF Philanthropy aligned with government priorities South African philanthropy has spent decades supporting early childhood development. As the country
How can philanthropy leverage uncertainty to create opportunity in these complex times?
By Louise Driver, Executive Director, IPASA Last quarter’s newsletter I closed with a question: what would it mean for philanthropy to treat uncertainty as the
Strengthening Democracy: Philanthropy’s Role in Building Agency and Participation
By Janet Love, Vice-Chairperson, Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) Perceptions about democracy and voting South Africa’s democracy was won at great cost, and the right to
From Funding Projects to Funding Possibilities: Rethinking Philanthropy for Systemic Change
By Sibongile Maepa, Grantmaking Lead, Trevor Noah Foundation Innovation for lasting change South Africa faces deep-rooted, persistent educational and social challenges. Simultaneously, traditional sources of
Jobs Boost Fund: Re-thinking Funding for Outcomes, Innovation and Lasting Impact
By Riyaadh Ebrahim, Programme Director: Jobs Boost Stimulating sustained employment South Africa spends billions of rand every year trying to get young people into jobs
From Energy Transition to Whole-Place Transformation: A Role for Philanthropy
By Matebe Chisiza-Asukile, Social Investment Specialist and Team Lead, and Cebisa Zondo, Social Investment Analyst, Tshikululu Social Investments Building economically resilient communities At times, South