NPOs benefit from Information and Communication Technology skills training
Project manager of the Ungana-Afrika initiative, Toni Eliasz, reports an overwhelming response from local NGOs, especially the demand for computer skills training and capacity building.
During the six month pilot phase of the project, Ungana-Afrika's consultants (or eRiders, as they are known internationally) worked in six southern African countries, training 117 participants, implementing 15 major projects (including network setup, formal technology plan development and website strategy development) and tens of minor projects (such as software/hardware optimization and maintenance, system and network optimization and infrastructure and staff skills assessment).
The pilot programme was funded by OSISA (Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa). Now Ungana-Afrika is to become an independent non-profit organisation.
'We have defined our strategy for the future and we're looking for partners and additional donors to support our mission, so that we can keep building the most exciting non-profit ICT organisation in southern Africa,' says Toni.
For more information, visit Ungana-Afrika website at www.ungana-afrika.org.
[News posted 25/9/03]
'Do not call' legislation could spell the death of telemarketing
In America, a new national 'do not call' list currently being compiled by the Federal Trade Commission allows individuals to register their telephone number if they do not want to receive telemarketing calls.
Within the first two weeks, over 12.5 million phone numbers had been registered via an online facility, at the phenomenal rate of 158 per second during the first evening. The FTC estimates as many as 60 million numbers will be added in the first 12 months.
Telemarketers fear that the scheme will ruin their business. Both the Direct Marketing Association and the American Teleservices Association are pursuing lawsuits against the FTC. From October 1st, telemarketers must being removing numbers on the register from their call lists or face fines of up to $11 000.
[News posted 12/8/03]
Mountains of caring for Acres of Love
National Brands Limited (NBL) is showing its support for Johannesburg-based NPO, Acres of Love, through the donation of a house. The NBL home, in Olivedale, Johannesburg, will be used primarily as an orphanage for abandoned and HIV-positive babies, and the garden cottage on the premises will be used as an office base for permanent employees of the non-profit organisation.
With the global AIDS pandemic, NBL felt that Acres of Love was a worthy cause to support. According to Madeleine Human, communication consultant for NBL, the corporate is the first organisation in South Africa to donate a full home.
‘We are exceptionally proud of this social investment. We know through our involvement, many babies will receive the very best to ensure that they have a real chance for good health and productive futures,’ added Human.
[News posted 7/8/03]
Disenchanted donor sues university over US$l.6 million gift
In a dispute over the spending of a $1.6 million donation, earmarked for specific research into ageing, a Los Angeles investor has sued the University of Southern California for the return of his gift.
Paul F Glenn agreed to endow a professorship at the Andrus Gerontology Centre at the University, on condition that the chair be held by promising young untenured researchers in the field of gerontology. But university officials never used any of the endowment money for research on ageing. When he raised questions about how the money was spent, Mr Glenn alleges he was treated with ‘minor hostility’.
The University intends to dispute the charges in court, on the basis that the donation was a gift to USC rather than an enforceable contract.
[Source: The Chronicle of Philanthropy, November 2002]
SHAWCO gets 1.2 million from the Lottery
SHAWCO, the Students' Health and welfare Centres Organisation, a youth
development and primary health NGO affiliated to UCT, has received a a
total of R1,250,000.00 from the National Lottery in three grants: R900 000
for the expansion and upgrading of the Khayelitsha community centre
(including the purchase of a new bus), R100 000 for the running costs of
the computer training facility at the Khayelitsha centre and
R250 000
for the creation of indigenous gardens at four SHAWCO community centres.
[news posted 11/06/03 by Anna du Bois
SHAWCO Fundraiser]
Lotteries Act restricts promotional competitions
Section 54 of the Lotteries Act, enacted in 1997 and amended in 2001, has been put into operation with effect from 2 May 2003. This section aims to regulate promotional competitions and the restrictions imposed are aimed at, inter alia, protection of the National Lottery.
Although no evidence has ever been published to indicate that the incidence and extent of promotional competitions in any way affects the popularity or clientele of the National Lottery, the new rules could make it illegal to use promotional competitions to award cash prizes, as section 54 also prohibits any promotional competition that is substantially the same as any competition, game or sports pool conducted by or on behalf of the National Lottery.
In addition, the opportunity to take part in the competition must not
be the only or substantial inducement to buy the goods or services, and
the purchase of the goods or services must not be the only means through
which a person can enter the competition.
[news posted
20/05/03]
MPs reject provincial welfare budget
Following protests by social workers and officials of local private welfare organisations, MPs yesterday rejected the R8 billion KZN provincial welfare department budget, which makes no provision to increase private welfare subsidies. Welfare organisations caring for children, the disabled and the aged have not received increases in their subsidies for ten years. The current department budget makes provision to help just 500 Aids orphans and 30 child-headed households.
70 local child welfare societies currently rely on a dwindling number of social workers to care for 10 000 orphans, and investigate the steadily increasing incidences of child abuse. During the past year, these organisations have lost over half their experienced social workers, because they are unable to pay competitive salaries. In the meantime, the provincial budget makes allowance for R17,8 million for 'land and buildings'. The ANC's Belinda Scott queried the logic of building new welfare offices when the ones that already exist are facing closure due to lack of funds.
The provincial welfare and finance committee agreed to re look the budget and give the societies at least R34 million. They also instructed that a subsidy increase be incorporated into the next three budgets.
[news posted 8/5/03]
RDP millions unspent
R153 million worth of Lotto money – earmarked for the now defunct RDP – cannot be distributed because of outdated legislation. This, coupled with the fact that only R3 million of the R51 million collected for 'miscellaneous' needs has been distributed, has catapulted the Lotto administration into the spotlight once again. Currently, only 23 cents out of every rand in ticket sales goes to good causes, although Uthingo, the company licensed to operate the National Lottery, is obliged to give an average of 30cents of every rand by the end its seven-year contract.
Only 33% of funds allocated to the arts have been distributed so far this financial year, charities have received 85% of funds allocated and sport has received 93% of the R224.6 million allocated to this sector.
[news posted 23/2/2003]
Email communication boosts direct mail response
According to Rick Christ of NP Advisors, research
undertaken in America by his group showed that response rates to direct
mail fundraising appeals may increase 18-20% when mailed to donors who
have also signed up to receive e-newsletters from the
organisation.
In split run tests to regular donors, the group that
signed up for e-mail newsletters had response rates of up to 20% higher
than those who had no online contact with the organisation. A further test
group, which received an additional e-mail alert announcing the imminent
delivery of the direct mail piece achieved response rates that were
another two to three percent higher than that.
It would be
interesting to do a longer-term test to see if frequent or regular e-mail
contact with the direct mail file continues to boost results over time or
whether the lift is simply a result of the "novelty" and drops off once
supporters become accustomed to the additional e-mails.
[news posted 22/1/2003]
