Cape Care Fund-launch; photo from the Western Cape Government, Department of Social Development
A new initiative, the Cape Care Fund, was launched on Friday, 6 June 2025, to help safeguard South Africa’s struggling social services sector, starting in the Western Cape.
The fund aims to strengthen the resilience of non-profit organisations (NPOs) and NGOs delivering essential services amid tightening budgets and reduced donor funding.
Created through a partnership between the Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) and The Health Foundation of South Africa, the Cape Care Fund will mobilize resources to support compliant, well-functioning non-profits with a proven record in community care.
According to the news release by the Western Cape Government, Department of Social Development, the Cape Care Fund is also described as a “Special Purpose Vehicle” to raise funds to further support the work of DSD through vetted NPOs and NGOs.
Various officials and international delegates attended the launch in Cape Town.
“Through the Cape Care Fund, we are hopeful to take NPOs and NGOs from surviving to thriving, for the benefit of our most vulnerable residents. I encourage businesses and residents who want to help create positive change by uplifting communities and individuals to support this initiative,” commented Western Cape Minister of Social Development Jaco Londt.
The launch comes at a time when organisations across South Africa are reeling from the cumulative impact of static government transfers and the broader post-COVID-19 economic downturn.
In the Western Cape alone, 12 NPO-run child protection branches, 3 homes for older persons, 18 community centres, and 4 child and youth care centres have closed in the past three years due to funding shortfalls.
“The Cape Care Fund exemplifies how innovative financing and strategic collaboration can contribute to improved economic resilience and sustainable development. We invite all stakeholders to join us in this transformative journey—working together towards a sustainable, inclusive, and healthier society,” said Health Foundation CEO Harry Grainger.
The provincial government will promote the Cape Care Fund through its infrastructure projects, encouraging contractors and developers to contribute as part of their corporate social responsibility commitments.
Cape Town Mayor Hill Lewis said, “Cape Town’s incredible NGOs, operating across all areas of social assistance, play a critical role in protecting our city’s most vulnerable residents from hardship, poverty, and suffering. It is of the utmost importance that they can continue with their work despite tightening budgets and shrinking funding.”
About The Health Foundation of South Africa
The Health Foundation of South Africa is an independent non-profit company and public benefit organisation established in 2011.
It serves as a strategic platform for public-private partnerships aimed at strengthening the public health system in South Africa.
The Foundation collaborates with government departments, private sector entities, foundations, and communities to mobilise resources and enhance healthcare services, particularly in underserved areas.
Its mission is to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare by supporting initiatives that address critical health needs.
