ABOUT US

Although there are many people raising funds for charities, schools and other institutions, fundraising is not perceived to be a “real” occupation in South Africa. Thus, there are very few professionally trained fundraisers in the market and the demand for such employees greatly outstrips the supply.

 

Across the country, there are more than 100,000 non-profits – non-profit companies, trusts, cooperatives and voluntary associations – in addition to thousands of schools and clubs, each of which needs funds raised every year. Without fundraisers, these organizations may be forced to close due to bankruptcy or may simply find they are unable to realize their goals because they do not have the necessary resources. There are huge untapped resources beyond those raised by non-profits each year and the impact that such additional resources could have is untold.

 

The Fundraising Academy Trust Founder Charles Maisel's company, The Innovation Shack, is often asked to raise funds for organizations that do not have the budget to hire a full-time fundraiser. From this need came the idea of establishing The Fundraising Academy (TFA) Trust. TFA aims to train those interested in a career in fundraising over a four-month period. Through the course, TFA strives towards two goals: the creation of a career path for those who are un/underemployed and the creation of a cadre of professionals with the necessary skills to assist the non-profit sector in resource development.

 

TFA is in the process of being registered as a Trust with Tax Exemption. This allows TFA to raise donor funds to provide bursaries for students who otherwise cannot afford the course fees.  As the goal is to train a group that is representative of the diverse backgrounds of South Africans, we want to truly make the course accessible to all qualified applicants who are interested.