Fundraising

Introduction

Our fundraising team is responsible for raising funds from a variety of donors for the Community Chest. Our donors include people form all walks of life within the Western Cape, foundations, trusts and corporate individuals. Each and every donor is important to us and contributes to our raising of over R10 million per annum. Our aim is to raise awareness of the needs of our community and to encourage the community to give to their communities. We do this through the following four programmes.

Give-As-You-Earn

The “Give-As-You-Earn” programme has been in existence since 1935 and has raised millions of rands for community development. In 2005 alone, with contributions ranging from R5.00 to R50 per month we were successful in raising over R2 million for Welfare organisations. Nearly 100 000 employees in various workplaces throughout the Western Cape, Boland, West Coast and the Southern Cape are participating in this programme.

We arrange to visit workplaces to explain how the programme works and then we ask workers to make a monthly donation that they can afford. We arrange for the money to be collected directly from the payroll administrator and it is then deposited into the Community Chest’s bank account. We can also arrange Debit order deductions. We try to visit workplaces on an annual basis to sign up new members, to increase their contribution and to tell them how their money has been allocated, how they have contributed to caring for the community and how their help has made a huge difference to someone’s life.

Corporate Social Investment

The Community Chest of the Western Cape was established in 1928 to assist donors to invest their money in communities where the needs for social development services are greatest. By donating to 1 established organisation, you are effectively supporting the whole spectrum of services, without the wasteful administrative burden of establishing internal CSI departments. The Community Chest is a Section 18a organisation, so your donation qualifies for a tax deduction. We also have a Level 1 BEE score, so you can earn valuable points for your scorecard.

We exercise due diligence by scrutinizing the financial statements, organisational structure and social deliverables of each and every organisation who apply to us for funding – no matter how small the request. This guarantees our donors absolute peace of mind on accountability and good governance. In addition, highly qualified volunteers drive our grant making process, which is a huge cost saving for the Community Chest.

Because we support over 500 organisations across the Western, Northern and Southern Cape, we can pinpoint poverty pockets and effectively measure the impact of services delivered by grantholders and report these to you for social reporting purposes. Why should you invest in Communities?

If communities are too poor to buy your products, or too illiterate to read your messages, or too unskilled to become your employees, your business cannot be sustainable.

Corporate Social Investment addresses high levels of poverty and unemployment in South Africa. It addresses the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS. It addresses social and gender imbalances. It serves to uplift depressed communities. We always need new markets, and our future growth are dependent on these disadvantaged communities.

The Community Chest offers you an opportunity to invest in the following sectors.

Education and Training, Healthcare and HIV/AIDS, Training and Enterprise Development (Funding in this sector qualifies for points on your BEE scorecard), Social Development (Funding in this sector qualifies for points on your BEE scorecard), Environment, Safety and Security.

Contact the Community Chest of the Western Cape today. We’ll assist you to develop an investment strategy that supports your company mission, vision, business growth objectives and brand values. You can contribute to national empowerment and transformation, and enhance your company reputation by being a responsible corporate citizen.

How you can help

By post

Complete our donation form and send it with your cheque or credit card authorisation to the address below.

Community Chest
P O Box 3836
CAPE TOWN
8000

Deposit directly into our bank account:

Community Chest Section 18a
First National Bank
Adderly Street
Branch code: 201409
Acc no: 620 3329 6551

More information

For any more information or for a fundraiser to visit, please contact Liezl Leibbrandt on 021 424 3344.

Individual Giving

Much of the success of our work over the past 80 years can be attributed to donations from individual donors. Making a gift every month, quarter or annually is one of the best ways to help the Community Chest. Regular giving provides long-term support that we can rely on. The Community Chest is very grateful to these special people who give so generously to assist less privileged or challenged people in their communities.

How can you help?
By Post

Complete our donation form and send it with your cheque or credit card authorisation to the address below.

Community Chest
P O Box 3836
CAPE TOWN
8000

Deposit directly into our bank account:

Community Chest Section 18a
First National Bank
Adderly Street
Branch code: 201409
Acc no: 620 3329 6551

Regular Giving via debit order

Complete our debit order form online and return by email to thozama@comchest.org.za or print and fax to 021 487 1535

More information

For any more information or for a fundraiser to visit, please contact Liezl Leibbrandt on 021 424 3344.

What a proud supporter has to say
“There is so much competition for donor rands, and so much need. We need to raise more money but also make sure the money is used wisely, so that it stretches to impact more lives. The Community Chest has a great grasp of the priorities in our various communities. I believe that they are using my money wisely. That‘s why I continue to give and be involved.”
Bridget Sass, Financial Manager, PDC

Trusts and Estates

The Community Chest’s area wide commitment to the Western Cape region extends far beyond the needs of this year, this decade or generation.

Since 1928, the Community Chest has helped care for individuals, families and our beneficiary partners by supporting vital human and operational services that ensure a healthy future for us all. The Community Chest carries a history and integrity in its position at the heart of philanthropy, engaging in strategic efforts to raise funds and to grant funds to those in need.

Thanks to your generous contributions and volunteer efforts, the Community Chest is also able to invest in programmes and services that supports:

1. General Child and Welfare
2. Early Childhood Development
3. Healthcare and Support Services
4. Care of the Elderly and Homeless
5. Mentally and Physically Challenged
6. Rehabilitation
7. Child and Your Support Services

Planned Giving Programme

The Community Chest Trusts and Estates programme will help you achieve your financial goals while you support one of the most trusted and valued organisations in the community.

The very act of giving, however small or large, is in itself and intervention. Our unblemished reputation of trust, transparency and delivery on social investment will continue to ensure sustainability or our mandate to alleviate poverty.

Through your investment and our responsible stewardship of the donor rand, the Community Chest oversees the work of its beneficiary partners and grant holders, making sure it is delivered with efficiency and without discrimination.

We can ensure that your funds are used for specified purposes such as:

1. Increasing unrestricted community impact
2. Funding community initiatives
3. Providing financial stability and long-term planning ability
4. Underwriting specific operational costs to lower overheads and increase efficiency
5. Fund the flagship Capacity Training and Development programme

Invest in our Community’s Future

Just as it is risky for an individual to live from hand to mouth, it is important that the Community Chest also sustains its mission in perpetuity through planned giving strategies. Your gift to the Community Chest is an investment in the future of our community and in the well being of our citizens. Your donation will help preserve and enhance our quality of life in the Western Cape.

Why consider the Community Chest?

The Community Chest of the Western Cape is a non-profit, volunteer-driven fundraising organisation, tasked to identify and address the deepest social needs within the Western Cape.

Since its establishment in 1928, the Community Chest holds a proudly unblemished record of honesty, transparency and integrity and is regarded as a leading fundraising partner for Social Services and Development Programmes in its provision of essential services.

The Community Chest has a strong network with public, private and welfare sectors and all levels of Government, enabling us to identify the most pressing of the changing social needs.

The Community Chest’s early mission was, “to increase the organised capacity of people to care for themselves and one another:”, this still holds true today.

Foundations

We have approached and partnered with some local and international foundations that have provided us with grants, which we then distribute through our Grant Management Committee. For these foundations the advantage of partnering with the Community Chest is that we know our community well. We know the needs of our community and we know which sectors are high priorities in any given year. We value enormously the contributions that are made through these programmes

For more information contact Sophia Walters on Sophia@comchest.org.za