Our conversation with four local donors paints a picture of how donors experience the practice of giving. We covered the rewards of giving as well as some of the challenges and lessons learnt.
James McGregor has a long history of giving and believes that donors need to be involved in the work of the organisations that they support. As a board member on many non-profit boards, his philosophy is that ‘you can’t ask people to give if you don’t give yourself’. He therefore provides financial and non-financial contributions to all of the organisations he supports.
Similarly, Kim Feinberg has dedicated much of her time to managing the organisations she supports. For her the success stories make it worthwhile. She recounts the story of a young orphan who was supported through her studies and who is now a successful CA. It’s not just about providing the opportunity believes Feinberg, ‘individuals are given a chance to realise their dreams, but they need to have the inner drive and passion to really succeed’. McGregor supports a number of education initiatives and concurs that ‘it is very rewarding to see young people graduating with decent degrees and to know they have a chance in life’.
The journey of a donor is not, however, without its challenges. Keneiloe Mohafa talks of her disappointment on once discovering that the managing director of an NPO was being dishonest. Pippa Smith recounts how a child whose education she was supporting at a good school was taken out of that school when relations with the parent broke down. And for Feinberg the challenges include trying to convince donors to fund projects and getting too emotionally involved in projects, especially when they do not work out.
Advice for aspiring donors
When the question turned to what advice the group would give aspiring donors, there was no shortage of discussion. McGregor felt strongly that you cannot give without believing in what you are doing. ‘There has to be some attachment to the cause you give your time and money to,’ advises McGregor. ‘It needs to be more than just chequebook charity. You have to really want to make a difference.’ Having to say no when approached for funding is a challenge that every philanthropist faces. However, as McGregor notes, by being committed to the charities he supports he does not feel guilty about saying no to others.
They were unanimous about the fact that donors need to work with people and not assume that they know what their needs are. By actively engaging with beneficiaries and the organisations that support them, you can find out what it is they really need so that your giving has the greatest impact.
Giving works both ways. ‘It’s not just about what the receiver gains in the transaction,’ explains Smith. ‘There are huge advantages for the giver too. The warm, fuzzy feelings that come with giving are just one of the benefits. Daily interactions, such as a smile or seeing hope expressed in someone’s face where there wasn’t hope before, make the giving worthwhile.’
Pippa Smith practised as a legal adviser for many years. Her philanthropic work includes regularly supporting various NPOs, assisting with school fees for a number of disadvantaged children, and supporting a literacy programme.
Kim Feinberg has been in the non-profit sector for 22 years and has worked with the Apartheid Museum, the Human Rights Commission for Education, and the Tolerance Foundation among others. Kim is the founder and current CEO of an NPO called the Tomorrow Trust.
James McGregor retired from BoE Private Clients after 24 years. Since then he has worked extensively with the non-profit sector, and he currently serves as chairperson of the boards of nine NPOs.
Keneiloe Mohafa previously headed up the Goldfields Foundation and served as Head of Department: Community Engagement and Development for Anglo American Platinum. She is now retired and spends much of her time on the boards of various trusts and NPOs.
Source details: Nedbank Private Wealth Giving Report II (subheadings added)
