COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS IN ZIMBABWE Analysis of Eleven Case Studies Surveyed by SIVIO Institute October 2020 sivioinstitute.org Introduction Philanthropy or simply giving is a component and contributions to local organisations which, in turn, use way of life across society. Across sub-Saharan Africa the funds to support projects that improve the quality and indeed in Zimbabwe we have started to see of life. The emphasis of community philanthropy is on the growth of philanthropy. Studies by Moyo (2013), human reciprocity and solidarity. Murisa (2017) and Mohamed (2013) have identified various forms or types of philanthropy but the This form of philanthropy is important in that main focus and the easiest to often track has been community members are at the centre of mobilising, the philanthropy undertaken by High Net Worth sustain, and growing resources (internal and external). Individuals (HNWIs). HNWIs such as Strive Masiyiwa, In doing so communities get to decide for themselves Aliko Dangote, Mo Ibrahim and Patrice Motsepe have how to use the resources and therefore community been identified as among the growing number of philanthropy has the potential to influence and African elites who have also become philanthropists address the current limitations of conventional through their the setting up of various charitable developmental approaches. Community giving is not initiatives and foundations that channel mostly a modern concept or practice. money resources to the poor or needy. As a result, The emphasis of community most people associate philanthropy with wealthy philanthropy is on human individuals, organizations/foundations, and even reciprocity and solidarity. governments – giving from their abundance to those in need and the less fortunate (see Wilkinson-Maposa, As communities grow in their giving, a new layer of Fowler, Olivr-Evans and Mulenga, 2009)1. support structures to support and enhance this type of giving has emerged in the form of Community The money associated with this type of philanthropy Foundations. Community Foundations can be either is distributed through carefully constructed channels, operating/implementers or purely grant making or and the use of funds is often managed in a top-down both. The Global Fund for Community Foundations manner. It is this institutional philanthropy that we (GCFC) highlights that Community Foundations are read about in the news, hear about on television, and important because: follow on social media. Therefore, for many people, • “if people feel that they are co- the word philanthropy conjures up the idea of a investors in their own development, wealthy person, group of people or country giving to they care more about the outcomes those who are poor (Wilkinson-Maposa, 2009). Put • if residents bring their own assets to the table, another way, resources flow from the “haves” to the the power dynamics are more equal, which “have nots”, and to give or be a donor, one must be creates a partnership approach rather than the rich. However, studies and research on philanthropy more traditional donor beneficiary relationship in Africa have shown that this is not the case. • if local people govern and give to community philanthropy, local recipients have to be Resources do not only flow from the rich to the poor accountable in ways that build social capital but among and between the poor as well. Horizontal forms of giving are commonplace in Africa but are not • if community philanthropy institutions can act as repositories of different profiled or showcased as highly as the philanthropy kinds of trust and assets, they can drive undertaken by HNWIs. Community philanthropy developments in effective ways.” encompasses the act of individual citizens and local institutions contributing money or goods, along with While in North America and Europe there has been their time, assets/resources and skills, to promote a steady growth and rise of Community Foundations the well-being of others and the betterment of and they have made an impact in shifting the the community within which they live and work. discussion and focus of philanthropy beyond HNWIs, Community philanthropy can be expressed in in Africa and more so in Zimbabwe, the development informal and spontaneous ways, whereby citizens give of and research on Community Foundations has been limited. 1 http://www.thepoorphilanthropist.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/the_poor_philanthropist.pdf 2 Netswera, Fulufhelo. (2004). Community Foundations in South Africa: Establishment and Sustenance Challenges. 10.13140/ RG.2.2.33787.72487. SIVIO Insititute 2 Rationale for the Study Based on the above context and the growing reflected in recent programmes developed by the emergence various forms of philanthropy and of Aga Khan Foundation, in partnership with USAID, Community Foundations, SIVIO felt that it was which conceives of community philanthropy as important to undertake a study to map the landscape essentially fund development for the strengthening of Community Foundations in Zimbabwe. Most of civil society – an approach that goes much further literature on community foundations in Zimbabwe than investing in local foundations as grantmakers. has mostly focused on two organisations – the As interpretations multiply, so too does the need to Community Foundation for the Western Region of take account of the fact that the roots of community Zimbabwe (https://comfoundzim.org/) and Uluntu philanthropy are multifaceted and multi-cultural in Community Foundation (http://uluntu.org/) – both nature, tapping into communal reciprocity that can be based in the Matabeleland Province. As SIVIO both formal and informal. Institute we however, felt that it was important to delve deeper into the landscape of community Given the significant role that they play and that they philanthropy and community foundations. can play, SIVIO Institute has undertaken a study of organisations that can be classified as community Very little has been written or documented about foundations in Zimbabwe. In the limited literature that peer-to-peer levels of giving and the giving of many- is available on community foundations in Zimbabwe, to-many. Often this type of giving is underappreciated the most commonly recognised entities that have and undervalued, yet it plays a significant role in been looked at and profiled are the Community supporting grassroots communities. They are often Foundation of the Western Region of Zimbabwe and closer to communities, have a better understanding Uluntu Community Foundation. of the local context and can also quickly respond to immediate needs or crisis. Organised philanthropy Through this magazine, SIVIO Institute seeks to and social investment have been practised with little raise the profile of other organisations we consider acknowledgment or recognition of indigenous or as Community Foundations. We feel that it is organic forms of community philanthropy (Wilkinson- important to begin to profile and highlight this form Maphosa, Fowler, Oliver-Evans and Mulenga, 2009)3. of philanthropy to show case the varied nature of philanthropy and how any one can engage in In another study undertaken by SIVIO Institute that philanthropy/giving, and that philanthropy extends looked at the perception of giving by Zimbabweans beyond just the giving of money. (2020), we noted that data from our research present compelling and encouraging evidence on how Through this process, we want to develop a directory ordinary Zimbabwe of modest means are actively of individuals or organisations involved in community engaged in giving. The giving under discussion is philanthropy to identify who is doing what and mostly of small financial gifts to family, extended where, to start creating a community of practice and family, strangers, institutions and also in response to engagement amongst different practitioners. natural disasters. In many instances these gifts are not reported in any official records. There are no official systems to acknowledge and incentivise giving. Halima Mahomed, has referred to community philanthropy organizations when she commented on the newer wave that she saw as being ‘organic, rooted in context, not wedded to a particular concept – and they don’t tick the boxes of someone else’s notion of community philanthropy’. Broader still is the interpretation of community philanthropy 3 http://www.thepoorphilanthropist.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/the_poor_philanthropist.pdf 3 Community Foundations in Zimbabwe Su unit untins in ie Le Ares e eistratin Oeatin Ares us nnu uet Sues unin Cunit ine Tust snn st -Cunit eeent Seune ee susitins ntins un Setteents in snn est ni ustieenne enents ie snn ental Si ustie nin e n un its -Harare etitn Cunit untin Tust -Mateen t Si n ni eeent S Seune nent te esten ein -Mateen Sut utite eeent tnes ie ins ite intentin int nisatins -iens se itin te unt i i eent Tust sin i i eent S ee ntiutins ie ite intentin int nisatins n unit Tust -Mateen Sut -Cunit eeent S Mining Companies operating in the area; specifically: Se Onesi ust n istit net ine -Preti tn eent -Fari ine -essie ine Inus ust ite Vunt -Mateen Sut Ons n Vunee ien ee susitins Onisatin VO n istit ees un Tust -Natinie -Cunit eeent S ee ntiutins Vuinn ene n ens eeent -Funisin n nts eeent tnes n 4 -Pet eutin ieis inti us u eeent n si ustie Te e ss ies su te nisatins tt esne t u sue n ie e etis un tei un etis e u sue n ie t esne tt su te nisatins e ss ies Te Stuies se untin Su unit Te SIVIO Insititute 5 Le Ares e eistratin Oeatin Ares us nnu uet