There has been an increase in the number of NGOs applying for funding from the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF). The National lottery released a statement today outlining last year’s provincial allocation of funds as well as the challenges NGOs face in accessing funding.
The National Lotteries Board (NLB) received 2 783 requests for funding from arts, culture, heritage and environmental organizations in 2013. The organization encouraged NGOs to try and access funding from as many other sources as possible.
A challenge that the NLDTF is aware of is that newer NGOs have difficulty in accessing NLDTF funding. To address this challenge, the NLB has made provision for smaller and newer NGOs to apply in partnership with more established NGOs. This is so that established NGOs can mentor the less established NGOs until they are in a position to apply on their own.
Fraud is still a concern and investigations have prevented more than R300m earmarked for NGOs being used for fraudulent activities or to benefit those who are out to defraud the NLDTF.
People are encouraged to report fraudulent activity by NGOs and can report such cases to 0800 012 013.
