‘NPOs are partners, not charity cases’

NPOs require equal partnership with private sector stakeholders, rather than charity handouts.  

This was the standout message at last week's inaugural Cape Chamber NPO portfolio engagement at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in Cape Town.

The NPO portfolio committee was formally launched earlier this year, adding a significant new dimension of expertise to the Cape Chamber’s network.  To coincide with the launch, the Cape Chamber commissioned a groundbreaking research report into NPO impact on the regional economy.  

Key economic metrics and sector characteristics identified in the report include:

-- Employment Generation: The 361 NPOs surveyed for the report collectively employ 21,398 people in various full-time, part-time, and consulting capacities.

-- Total Economic Value: The surveyed organisations represent a combined annual income of R1.49 billion, highlighting the substantial flow of funding they direct into the regional economy through salaries and the procurement of local services.

-- Human Capital Development: NPOs play a critical role in stabilising communities and supporting human capital through specialised education, healthcare, and skills development.

-- Market Participation: By providing crisis support and filling service delivery gaps, NPOs create the conditions necessary for more effective and sustainable market participation.

Speaking at the Red Cross event, NPO stakeholders emphasised the need to change the current perception of NPOs as ‘charity cases’ rather than equal partners in social and economic development.  “One of the challenges we have as non-profits is the perception of how we operate – that we are not professional and don’t have governance,”  commented Chantel Cooper, Children's Hospital Trust chief executive. ”There is a perception that we are just on the receiving end of resources.”  

She said the new Cape Chamber NPO portfolio would address this perception and give NPOs a meaningful voice. “This model will build the NPO sector to be seen as equal partners,”  Cooper said.  

Dee Moskoff, inaugural NPO portfolio committee chairperson, said NPOs had a vital role to play in addressing societal and economic challenges: “We look forward to continuing this journey of collaboration—strengthening the bridge between the non-profit and private sectors to co-create impactful solutions for our city,” Moskoff said.