Our Principles

Our Funding Policy

Our actions are informed by a deep understanding of the circumstances at hand.

Wits Donald Gordon
Medical Centre

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he objects of the Donald Gordon Foundation are to provide welfare, humanitarian, health care and education benefits primarily within South Africa, and the Donald Gordon Second Foundation, which was created many years later, aims to further the advancement, promotion and development of scientific medical and technological research and education and the practice of medicine; the relief of poverty; the promotion and support of the Arts and any other purpose or purposes which are charitable according to the law. The Donald Gordon Third Foundation, created at the same time as the Second, has the same objectives, but within the Republic of South Africa.

The careful interpretation of these broad guidelines reflects our commitment to thoughtful and responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. We understand that every situation is imbued with its own nuances and intricacies, necessitating a flexible and context-sensitive approach. In our pursuit of positive impact, we remain attuned to the pulse of the communities we serve, recognizing that their needs, challenges, and aspirations are dynamic and evolving. We continuously strive to honour the intent of our Trust Deeds by ensuring that our actions are informed by a deep understanding of the circumstances at hand.

Our Principles on

What We Do Fund

Our funding programme reflects the wishes of our Founder as interpreted by our Trustees and reflective of contemporary reality and priorities.

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fter five decades of operation, marked by innumerable trustee meetings and invaluable guidance from Sir Donald, our organizational objectives have undergone a continuous process of refinement and sharpening. Throughout this journey, we have demonstrated a capacity to perpetually evolve in response to the shifting tides of time, societal currents, and emerging needs.

In our earlier years, we extended support to disadvantaged young people who were unjustly denied a quality education under the shadow of oppressive apartheid legislation. At that time, our focus was on providing basic education to bridge the chasm caused by systemic inequalities. However, as society progressed and institutions evolved, we believe that the responsibility for providing basic education has now shifted to the state. Therefore, our approach has evolved, and we no longer fund foundational education initiatives despite our serious misgivings about the quality education the South African government provides.

Nonetheless, amid the sweeping transformations that have taken place, certain enduring challenges persist. During the dark era of apartheid, we stood steadfast championing initiatives that safeguarded the freedom of expression and nurtured an independent media. Today, with a profound sense of regret, we continue to see the vital importance of these efforts in preserving a thriving democratic society.

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imilarly, in the past, we championed organizations dedicated to upholding Human Rights in the face of injustice. The present reality has forced the evolution of this commitment to address the persistent undermining of the Rule of Law in South Africa and the protection of our Constitution.

Our current focus areas reflect the culmination of our evolution and experience. Health stands as a paramount concern, with a specific emphasis on nurturing the highest levels of specialization and excellence among doctors and medical researchers. In addition, we have expanded our focus to specifically address neuroscience and the allied field of research into dementias. Welfare assumes a distinct dimension, tailored to address the unique and expanding needs of the Jewish community. And we remain resolute in protecting the very essence of democracy itself.

It is with a clear understanding of our objectives that we approach the decision-making process for selecting projects and organizations to fund. We recognize that subjectivity is an intrinsic element in this intricate process. We accept and understand that there are countless wonderful organisations that we shall never be able to support and that there are great issues that we have to ignore. We simply can’t do everything. Our resources are limited and we select our beneficiaries and causes carefully whilst acknowledging that there are vitally important ones we have to reject or ignore.

The Royal Opera House and The Wales Mellinium Centre

In 2003 Sir Donald made one of the largest single arts donations in the history of the UK, when he gave £20 million to be shared equally between the Royal Opera House and the Wales Millennium Centre. The Royal Opera House used Sir Donald’s generous gift to help fund new productions and named the Grand Tier of the Grade 1 listed historic auditorium, the Donald Gordon Grand Tier, in recognition of his extraordinary generosity.

The donation also strengthened the Royal Opera’s relationship with South Africa; since Sir Donald made his donation various distinguished South African singers have participated in Royal Opera productions and in the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme.

The main theatre of the Wales Millennium Centre, the Donald Gordon Theatre, has 2,497 seats, and is the second largest stage in Europe.

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ost of the Foundations’ grantmaking has a South African focus. Whilst the Donald Gordon Foundation and the Donald Gordon Third Foundation do not fund organisations outside South Africa, we do co-operate with international organisations that have an interest in the region. The Donald Gordon Second Foundation can, and occasionally does, fund elsewhere. We recognise the importance of internationalisation but, sadly, South Africa’s needs are such that even if we had infinitely more resources than we do, local needs could never be met.

The Foundations are absolutely clear about our funding priorities. This, we hope, will save grantseekers from wasting their valuable time and scarce resources in preparing proposals for rejection.

We neither encourage, nor generally consider, unsolicited proposals. Should you feel compelled to ignore this reality, a short letter setting forth the need, the nature, and the amount of the request and the justification for it would, as a matter of courtesy, be considered. Please appreciate that our staff is small and we may not respond to you. Applicants must recognise that the Foundation is proactive and we have our own programmes and projects. We are not reactive and it is very rare that we make a grant in response to an unsolicited proposal, even if it falls within our defined areas of interest.

While we recognize the importance
of a wide range of initiatives, we have identified
specific areas where our funding will not extend.

What We Do Not Fund

01

Individuals and Scholarships

While we appreciate the importance of individual aspirations and academic endeavours we are unable,
for a host of reasons, to provide direct assistance to individuals seeking medical care, educational opportunities, scholarships, or fellowships.

02

Conferences, Seminars, and Travel

We acknowledge the significance of knowledge sharing and networking through conferences, seminars, and symposiums. However, we do not provide funding for the organization of such events, nor for attendance fees.

03

Fundraising Events

We recognize the significant role that fundraising events play in galvanizing public support and generating resources for various causes. While we understand the importance of events such as banquets, Golf Days, Dinners, Premieres, and similar gatherings in fostering community engagement, we do not fund the organization of such events nor participation in them.

04

Centralized Fundraising Organizations

While we respect these entities and their contributions to philanthropy and charitable giving, our practise is to allocate our resources directly to our chosen beneficiaries.

05

Sports and Sporting Events

We do not allocate resources to support sports events, facilities, or clubs.

06

Adult Literacy

We do not allocate financial resources to support adult literacy or numeracy training programs.

07

Land and Housing

We do not extend financial support to entities that exclusively address land or housing issues.

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Endowment Funds

We do not contribute to endowment funds, nor do we provide loans. In the case of endowment funds, we firmly adhere to our principle of strategic and impactful resource allocation. While endowment funds may serve an important purposes in creating a capital base for NGOs, we have consciously chosen not to direct our resources towards this avenue. Similarly, with regard to loans, we do not extend financial support in the form of loans.

We, simply put, are not a bank.

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Microlending

We emphatically do not endorse or provide any form of support to micro-lending initiatives. Our principles and values dictate that we abstain entirely from involvement with such endeavours. This stance extends to any association, funding, or facilitation of micro-lending initiatives in all their manifestations.

Our position is rooted in a conscientious assessment of the potential risks and challenges associated with micro-lending, which can often lead to negative outcomes for vulnerable individuals and communities.

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Religious organisations

We do not allocate funding towards religious activities or endeavours that promote or advance any specific religious beliefs.

However, we adopt a nuanced approach where we distinguish between religious activities and secular initiatives undertaken by faith-based organizations. While we abstain from supporting the promotion or practice of religious ideology, we do acknowledge the societal benefits that can arise from secular initiatives undertaken by such organizations.

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Government Duties and Accountability

We see the value in collaboration with governmental bodies in the developmental arena, and acknowledge the paramount importance of concerted efforts to address the complex challenges that confront our society. However, we are guided by a fundamental principle: our contributions should not serve as an additional form of voluntary taxation. We firmly believe that governments bear the primary responsibility for delivering essential services, and it is not our intention merely to mask any deficiencies that may exist in their provision.

Within the South African context, it is with a deep sense of regret that we observe challenges emanating from corruption, inefficiency and incompetence within the public sector. These systemic issues serve as a stark reminder of the imperative for a judicious and strategic allocation of resources, aimed at attaining the maximum possible impact. In light of these circumstances, our approach is centred on augmenting and enhancing government initiatives where appropriate, rather than engaging in activities that replicate their functions.

While we wholeheartedly recognize the pivotal roles played by the construction of schools and the funding of primary healthcare services in the fabric of our society, we also acknowledge that these responsibilities squarely fall within the purview of government mandate.

Our dedication to innovation and advancement extends to our willingness to entertain pioneering projects that might entail heightened levels of risk. We embrace the opportunity to delve into initiatives that could potentially defy convention or harbour uncertainties that render them less amenable to government funding. Our intention in pursuing such ventures is to propel the boundaries of possibility and catalyse a resoundingly positive outcome.

Central to our ethos is the unwavering commitment to upholding the tenets of equality and justice. This commitment is further underscored by our steadfast devotion to genuine human rights principles. We withhold support from organizations that engage in discrimination. This stance finds its grounding in our understanding of the meticulous stipulations outlined in section 9(3) of the South African Constitution, as well as the underpinnings of the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Equality Act 2010 within the United Kingdom.

We recognize the imperative of fostering an environment where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, irrespective of their background or identity. This foundational premise drives our resolute stance against any manifestation of discriminatory practices.

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Antisemitism

We will not fund any organisation which, or whose senior leadership, takes any stance or actions or makes any statements which could reasonably be construed as antisemitic. We have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism.