POP-UP 2026
THE STATE OF FUNDRAISING IN SOUTH AFRICA
Farida Lavangee joined sector specialists at the IFC Cape Town Pop-Up, bringing an accounting and compliance perspective to the panel.
THE STATE OF FUNDRAISING IN SOUTH AFRICA
At the IFC Cape Town Pop-Up, TPCSA joined other sector specialists for a panel on the opportunities and challenges facing South African fundraising. The discussion brought different perspectives together, including the financial and compliance realities that sit behind sustainable funding.
WHY FINANCIAL READINESS MATTERS
An NPO may be doing valuable work and still face difficult questions from funders: Can it account for restricted grants separately? Are financial reports and supporting documents ready? Can it explain how spending compares with an approved budget? These questions become harder to answer when records are only brought together at reporting or application time.
In TPCSA’s work with NPOs, governance and compliance are part of funding readiness. Late financial reports, unexplained variances or spending outside grant conditions can delay disbursements, put current support at risk or weaken a future application. Requirements differ between funders, and sound records alone never guarantee funding.
START BEFORE THE DEADLINE
Practical preparation includes reviewing grant conditions, tracking restricted funds by project, keeping proof of expenditure, comparing actual spending with budgets and maintaining a calendar for statutory and donor reporting. These habits help teams answer funder questions with evidence and spot issues while there is still time to address them.