November 2010 saw the launch of a new initiative to stimulate community grantmaking in southern Africa. The Southern African Community Grantmakers Leadership Forum (SACGLF) grew out of the Southern African Community Grantmakers Leadership Cooperative, a five-year initiative of the Synergos Institute to bring together leaders of community grantmaking organizations to strengthen social justice philanthropy in southern Africa.

SACGLF has three main aims: to promote capacity building, learning and development among grantmaking organizations focused on community development; to exchange knowledge, information, strategies and tools aimed at building organizational sustainability in support of community development; and to advocate for appropriate legislation, practices, policies and other interventions to enhance grantmaking that benefits community development. It brings together 30 leaders from community foundations in South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Membership is open to all community grantmakers in southern Africa. (The photograph shows participants at the launch of SACGLF in November 2010.)

‘As a collaborative, SACGLF will reinforce the tradition of African philanthropy and amplify the voices of southern African community grantmakers,’ says Inviolatta Moyo, a member of the Forum’s Executive Committee.

According to Beulah Fredericks, who was elected chairperson of the forum at its Cape Town launch, the new forum expects to work closely with the African Grantmakers Network and with the Global Fund for Community Foundations.

For more information
Contact Beulah Fredericks at beulah@cdfwcape.org.za