IKAMVA LABANTU IMPACT STORY
Global perspective and a sense of belonging.
How the International Fundraising Congress supported fundraisers in South Africa.
The Ikamva Labantu Charitable Trust, which offers social programmes for children, young people and older people in South Africa, credits the IFC and other Resource Alliance events with helping it to significantly grow it’s seniors programme and build monthly giving.
After a disappointing fundraising campaign, the team knew something had to change for their organisation to thrive.
Team members Jovana and Ronell began attending Resource Alliance events and taking advantage of training opportunities, finding support and inspiration that was immediately and tangibly reflected in their work.
Through attending events including the International Fundraising Congress and local IFC Pop-Ups, Ikamva Labantu’s seniors programme income grew to R12 million – up from R2.5 million a few years before.
That growth enabled the trust to sustain its seniors programme, which in 2026 serves almost 2,000 elderly adults in townships around Cape Town. Increased funding enabled each of the organisation’s seniors clubs to have its own club assistant – someone who is equal parts friend and caregiver and who keeps seniors active and connected. Seniors in clubs which did not have this support tended to be less active and social. Club assistants also reached out door-to-door to identify isolated and abused or neglected seniors.
“IFC really gave us the power and confidence to maintain and grow it,” Ronell said. “Even though we have lost the initial major donors that kick-started the programme, we have developed and grown it as a result of what we learnt.”
“The growth in our individual giving programme has also been helped by what we have learnt,” she added.
The result? A stronger monthly giving programme and a positive response from donors.
Ikamva has formalised its monthly giving programme and set up regular communication with donors, including a new group of monthly givers.
“The response by donors to this shift has been amazing”, Jovana told us. “One major donor who donated to the Nomsa pre-school appeal shared a screen shot of Ikamva’s thank you on her Facebook page with the remark, ‘You made my day’.”
In its emails, newsletters, blog posts, and other correspondence, Ikamva increased the connection between their donor and the community they serve – and it has paid off.
Through attending the International Fundraising Congress, Jovana also secured an invitation to apply for funding through a donor she connected with in Amsterdam ahead of the event. It helped her to see potential for income growth in Europe, giving her an international perspective on issues facing the ageing, as well as how social programmes can help.
Like Jovana, Ronell also left IFC with a stronger sense of purpose and belonging.
“The most important development to come out of my attendance of Resource Alliance events is that I see myself as part of a group of dynamic professional individuals working in this sector,” she said. “The Resource Alliance helped me see my career in different way. It’s not just a hobby or for volunteers.”
“It’s very affirming and I feel like a changemaker, not just someone begging for money,” she added. “It also helped to reference learnings internationally, which has been enormously validating.”