Twikatane Community Foundation

Funding from the Elevate Prize will enable us to conduct two essential pieces of research to help launch our efforts to inspire and encourage local giving and to cover our operational costs. One report will assess the countries philanthropy infrastructure, the size of the local charitable purse and identify who the main funders of community based organisations (CBOs) are in Zambia (individuals, corporate, foundations and government), what they give to and how. The idea is to shine a light on the projects that are being implemented and funded and celebrate those providing funding to encourage giving . The second report will look hidden social problems within local communities. With a focus on pockets of deprivation and poverty the report aims to highlight the key issues of people whose needs are not being met and thereby highlight the need for the work of CBOs and at the same time encourage local philanthropy.  

We will harness the full support provided as part of the prize including the mentorship, networking opportunities, support and community to learn from and share our knowledge, experiences and ideas.

A feasibility study I undertook in Zambia indicated an appetite and clear need for a community foundation to enable and encourage philanthropy, strengthen the not-for-profit sector, and seek long-term solutions to locally defined problems that will facilitate local ownership and eventually lead to sustainability.  An on-going challenge in Zambia is the extent to which the support of CBOs, Non-Governmental Organisations, the private sector and donors can be successfully mobilised to complement the government’s efforts to fight poverty.

Challenges faced by the sector include difficulties in securing sustainable funding, the high level of demand for their services due to poverty levels; a weak culture of strategic philanthropy and the inadequate accountability and transparency that characterise the sector resulting in the absence of public trust in charities, eroded by corruption; gaps in funding, heavy reliance on a limited number of funders and limited resources to identify funding opportunities; inadequate skills for running their organisations; lack of capacity development and networking opportunities and the invisibility of groups.

It is widely recognised that key factors that need to be in place to ensure not-for-profit organisations function effectively and cohesively include addressing the challenges listed above – the services and projects TCF seeks to provide.

It is widely recognised that key factors that need to be in place to ensure not-for-profit organisations function effectively and cohesively include access to funding, voluntary sector management skills and access to capacity development training, networking opportunities and a meeting space or base with resources to help run their organisations. Therefore a community foundation in Zambia that generates an endowment, gives grants, builds capacity, and offers networking opportunities is an invaluable resource by:

-             giving individuals and the corporate sector a much-needed vehicle for effectively addressing their social interests and objectives and for providing an intermediary between the community, individuals and business sector

-             channelling funding from government agencies, corporates, individuals to community-based organisations

-             allowing funders to have the confidence and assurance that a highly professional infrastructure exists to make best use of their generosity

-             enabling groups to maintain their independence and ability to pursue their own development agendas

-             providing support to groups to strengthen their organisations and expand their activities

-             playing a key part in local strategies to build and provide sustainable support for the non-profit sector

-             providing a platform for learning and exchanging ideas

-             identifying and responding to new and emerging needs

The model of community foundation that the TCF seeks to model itself on is not new by any means and has been delivered successfully in the global north. What is innovative is that it is the 1st in Zambia to operate as it does, aiming to deliver the suite of services on offer and focusing on generating the majority of income locally, ultimately. Innovations in our service include highlighting issues by carrying out research which is also available though film, avoiding the need for all to be literate to understand helping educate and raise consciousness, and thereby help inculcate a culture of strategic philanthropy and mobilise resources. Our research aims to provide informed, independent insight into local needs that can help to guide the giving of local and international donors, identify what is happening locally and give an insight into what needs are not being met.

I have always believed that anyone can make a positive impact on the world – rich or poor, young or old. In Zambia we are extremely philanthropic but our philanthropy is centred on our families and not strategic (the broader community). We have also had a very blinkered view of what philanthropy is looking at financial resources alone and not wider resources i.e. in-kind support and volunteering. Volunteering in Zambia for example, tends to be available for those that belong to a church and not an option for those who simply want to donate their time. TCF’s solution is based on numbers, believing in the power of collective action even if those actions are small. Our aim is to help inculcate a culture of strategic philanthropy from everyone which creates a ripple effect going beyond those we help.  By helping those less fortunate we encourage others to be kinder, more forgiving and more willing to extend a helping hand – creating an impact on people’s lives.