The South African Institute for Advancement – Making a Stepping Stone into a Milestone

Issued by: Quo Vadis Communications
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MEDIA STATEMENT BY INYATHELO – THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCEMENT – MAKING A STEPPING STONE INTO A MILESTONE

A conference that will be held in Cape Town next month will bring together foreign and local players in the South African donor environment to consider critical issues that are impeding matters as diverse as service delivery and health and education.

Among these is the fact that while government is battling to cope with demands for service delivery in South Africa, civil society and grassroots organisations have had to step in to avoid the collapse of social services and social cohesion in many communities.

Another major issue in the philanthropic sector, particularly as pressures grow, is related to the funding of civil society and South Africa’s institutions such as universities, especially in the areas of health and education.

Local non-profit organisations are affected by the recession and a shrinkage in support from local business, and this will also be up for discussion at the conference.

“This conference couldn’t come at a better time,” says Amanda Bloch, Conference co-ordinator for Inyathelo -The South African Institute for Advancement. “With the global changes experienced economically and the reduction in funding to South Africa, the need to build partnerships and share knowledge between international and local donors is essential”.

Delegates will evaluate and discuss global and local best-practice philanthropy and the environments in which they co-exist. These analyses will highlight the realities the donor community faces, and what effect any potential withdrawal of international funding will have on local NGOs and similar entities.

Bloch says the conference provides the ideal opportunity for local private foundations and philanthropists in South Africa to attend: “It is an ideal opportunity to debate the dynamic nature and sensitivity surrounding local social investment”.

Places are still available at the conference and Bloch has called on representatives of South African private foundations and South African philanthropists to attend. The conference will provide an important forum to help foster co-operation between donors and explore how best to engage government in partnerships.

Discussion topics include:

• Current state of global and international philanthropy;
• The South African Grantmaking Experience – the state of giving and non-profits in South Africa;
• Maximising giving – issues surrounding philanthropy;
• Maximising giving using tax advantages and seeking other state funding mechanisms in order to be sustainable and identifying the key issues influencing the relationships between grantmakers and grantees.

Key speakers include renowned academic and business woman, Dr Mamphela Ramphele and Jay Naidoo, a prominent businessman and previous government minister who is now involved in philanthropy at both international and local levels.

The conference is organised by Inyathelo-The South African Institute for Advancement and convened by The Atlantic Philanthropies in association with the DG Murray Trust, the Harry Crossley Foundation, the Claude Leon Foundation, BoE Private Clients Philanthropy Office, The Elma Philanthropies, The Ford Foundation and the CS Mott Foundation.

The conference is limited to donor organisations or individual philanthropists.

For more information on the conference or to register online, go to www.inyathelo.org.za or contact Inyathelo on 021 465 6981.

Issued by Quo Vadis Communications on behalf of Inyathelo-The South African Institute for Advancement

Inyathelo – The South African Institute for Advancement is a world-recognised organisation dedicated to building a sustainable South African civil society. Its core work is to advance social change by working with key institutions and non-profit organisations to ensure their long-term sustainability. This is done by developing the capacity of civil society to use private investment from such companies to better serve the community, whilst working with organisations to develop their resource mobilisation skills. The Institute promotes social responsibility, personal philanthropy, voluntarism and self-reliance.

Media Contact
Inyathelo Contact
Chantal Meugens, Quo Vadis Communications
Cell phone: 083 676 2294
Landline: 011 487 0026
Email: chantal@quo-vadis.co.za
Amanda Bloch
Conference Co-ordinator, Inyathelo
Landline: 021 465 6981
Email: amanda@inyathelo.org.za

Inyathelo-The South African Institute for Advancement is an Atlantic grantee.