Philanthropy site answers your questions about giving this festive season

With so many worthy causes in South Africa, it can be daunting to decide where and how to allocate your money. How do you find a charity doing great work in a field you’re passionate about? Or, if you’re heading up a successful company, how do you address more complex issues like setting up a foundation, tax exemption and good governance?

Luckily, help is at hand. A new, free online resource offers advice on everything that you could want to know about philanthropy. It includes an overview of South African non-profit organisations, articles and research, recommended reading, notices about upcoming philanthropy events, and a great deal more.

All this information appears on one site known as the Trialogue Knowledge Hub. (www.trialogue.co.za/knowledgehub). Trialogue has been a leader in corporate social investment since 1999 and is the Southern African local authority of the CECP Global Exchange, which empowers corporations to be a force for good in society.

Trialogue MD Nick Rockey says: “South African companies donate about R8.6 billion annually in corporate social investment. Over the years they’ve built up an enormous depth of knowledge and experience. Now they want to go one step further by sharing these learnings for wider impact and to ensure best practice.

“We’ve accordingly set up this portal, with corporate partners, to ensure their material and insights are readily accessible. We provide the editorial oversight. Think tanks and research institutions will also contribute academic input and thought leadership on specific topics, as well as helping to source and vet content.”

The philanthropy topic on the hub is sponsored by Nedbank Private Wealth, with input from specialist knowledge partner Anna Vayanos. With a background in charity and trust law, Vayanos is now an independent advisor to donors and NPOs.

Noxolo Hlongwane, the head of philanthropy at Nedbank Private Wealth, says: “We are delighted to be part of this project. We have extensive experience in this space, with over R7 billion under management and administration for donors and NPOs. Over the years we have gathered a bank of knowledge about donors as well as the organisations they support.

“Despite a challenging economic environment, we’ve seen that many South African individuals, families and businesses are committed to helping those who are less fortunate than themselves. We hope that they will find the Knowledge Hub a valuable resource.”

The Trialogue Knowledge Hub also has information on school leadership and management (Old Mutual); financial literacy (MMI Holdings); and maths and science education (Investec). Rockey says the consultancy plans to partner with more companies so that information is available across 12 development sectors.

To find out more: trialogueknowledgehub.co.za/index.php/topics/philanthropy.

To sponsor a topic or contributing learnings, contact Ruendree Govinder at az.oc.eugolairt@rednivogr.