TNF aims to support organisations that support young people and teachers living in marginalised communities (rural and townships).
About Trevor Noah Foundation Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund
Opportunity Details
- Date Published: July 05, 2025
- Application Deadline: July 18, 2025
- Category: Grants
- Oppotunity Locations: South Africa
- Eligible Locations: South Africa
Welcome to the Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund, their R30 million initiative to nurture South Africa’s brightest education innovations with the flexible funding they deserve.
Khulani Nathi — meaning “we grow together” in isiXhosa — embodies their belief that true education transformation requires collective action and shared growth. Just as a forest thrives when trees support each other, they believe South Africa’s education ecosystem will flourish when they invest in organizations that can take root and flourish across the landscape, creating spaces where educators and young people can reach their full potential together.
TNF aims to support approximately ten organisations across all nine Provinces of South Africa. Preference will be given to organisations that support young people and teachers living in marginalised communities (rural and townships).
Benefits of Trevor Noah Foundation Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund
- Flexible, multi-year funding (up to R3M over 3 years).
- Minimal, simple reporting requirements.
- A collaborative community of innovators.
- Real support that goes beyond just money.
Trevor Noah Foundation Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund Requirements
- South African registered Non-profit, Public Benefit Organisations with Section 18a Status.
- Maintain good standing with SARS.
- Have a bank account in the organisation's name and financial statements.
- Preference will be given to organisations that have been legally registered and operational for at least 2 years, demonstrating organisational capacity, sound governance and financial stability.
- Organisations that focus significantly on teacher development or youth pathways (ages 15-35).
- An established organization, currently in early or a growth stage, with proof of concept and is seeking funding to scale or replicate the model.
- Organizations applying for the youth pathways stream must demonstrate that their proposed innovation directly engages with youth.
- Demonstrable track record in one or all of the following: continuous learning, innovation, and sustainable impact.
- To be eligible, the applicant organization must demonstrate an annual turnover of between R1.5 million and R45 million, as evidenced by their most recent audited financial statements.
- Applications must demonstrate proximate leadership, i.e., must have close and meaningful connections with the communities they serve.
- Share TNF's values and commitment to learning.
- Demonstrate a proven track record in grant implementation.
- Only proposals that meet the eligibility criteria above will be considered.
Ineligible Applicants:
- Non-registered organisations, individuals and for-profit organisations.
- Organisations that have been in existence for less than two years.
- Organisations that are at an ideation stage or pre-product/ service stage.
- Faith-based organisations whose proposed innovations are exclusively religious and promote a specific belief or practice, and support is exclusively limited to the religious community.
- Early-stage organisations with limited traction, applying to launch a new program or initiative that has not been tested.
- Solutions that do not have a primary or predominant focus on teacher development and youth pathways.
- Student bursaries/scholarships, research projects and events.
Application Date and Process
Step 1
Eligibility Self Assessment: Take the Self-Assessment at the bottom of their page to determine your eligibility.
Step 2
Concept Note Submission: Once you pass the assessment, you'll get a link to submit your Concept Note.
Step 3
Full Application Submission: If your Concept Note is shortlisted, you'll be contacted to submit a full application.
Step 4
Notified of Outcome: Once all applications have been reviewed. all applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application.
Check on the organziation's website for further instructions
For further information regarding the call for applications, please send an email to [email protected] with subject line: “Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund_Your Query”
Application Deadline
18 July, 2025
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