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Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund

Welcome to the Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund, a strategic initiative advancing systemic change in South Africa’s education sector through flexible, unrestricted funding to nonprofit organisations driving equitable, innovative, and community-led outcomes.

Khulani Nathi — meaning “we grow together” in isiXhosa — embodies our belief that true education transformation requires collective action and shared growth. Just as a forest thrives when trees support each other, we believe South Africa’s education ecosystem will flourish when we invest in organizations that can take root and flourish across the landscape, creating spaces where educators and young people can reach their full potential together.

Read our full press release

What We're Supporting

Education nonprofit organizations in South Africa with sustainable education solutions in two critical areas:

Teacher Development

  • School leadership development solutions.
  • Teacher development and training solutions.

Youth Opportunity Pathways

Creating meaningful transitions for young people ages 15-35.

Our Approach

At TNF, we believe in the power of trust-based giving. That’s why we’re offering:

Flexible, multi-year funding (up to R3M over 3 years).

Minimal, simple reporting requirements.

A collaborative community of innovators.

Real support that goes beyond just money.

We want to free you to focus on what matters most – creating lasting change in South Africa’s education landscape.

Call for Concept Notes:

The Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF) is pleased to announce a call for the Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund and is calling for the submission of funding applications from registered Non-profit, Public Benefit Organisations operating in the education sector in South Africa.

The Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund is a strategic initiative aimed at expanding impact in the South African education sector through flexible and unrestricted funding, with primary focus on two critical areas: teacher development and youth pathways.

The fund aims to catalyse innovation, strengthen organisational capacity, and contribute to lasting systemic change in teacher development and youth pathways through a trust-based approach that emphasizes innovation, continuous learning, and sustainable impact.

Closing Date: Applications are closed.

For further information regarding the call for applications, please send an email to info@trevornoahfoundation.org with subject line: “Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund_Your Query”

Who is eligible to apply?

The Fund targets established non-profit organisations with tested or beyond proof-of-concept innovations or unique strategies they aim to scale to create impact in the education sector through teacher development or youth opportunity pathways in South Africa.

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to participate in the Call for Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund:

  • South African registered Non-profit, Public Benefit Organisations with Section 18a Status.
  • Maintain good standing with SARS.
  • Have a bank account in the organisation's name and financial statements.
  • Preference will be given to organisations that have been legally registered and operational for at least 2 years, demonstrating organisational capacity, sound governance and financial stability.
  • Organisations that focus significantly on teacher development or youth pathways (ages 15-35).
  • An established organization, currently in early or a growth stage, with proof of concept and is seeking funding to scale or replicate the model.
  • Organizations applying for the youth pathways stream must demonstrate that their proposed innovation directly engages with youth.
  • Demonstrable track record in one or all of the following: continuous learning, innovation, and sustainable impact.
  • To be eligible, the applicant organization must demonstrate an annual turnover of between R1.5 million and R45 million, as evidenced by their most recent audited financial statements.
  • Applications must demonstrate proximate leadership, i.e., must have close and meaningful connections with the communities they serve.
  • Share TNF's values and commitment to learning.
  • Demonstrate a proven track record in grant implementation.
  • Only proposals that meet the eligibility criteria above will be considered.
  • Non-registered organisations, individuals and for-profit organisations.
  • Organisations that have been in existence for less than two years.
  • Organisations that are at an ideation stage or pre-product/ service stage.
  • Faith-based organisations whose proposed innovations are exclusively religious and promote a specific belief or practice, and support is exclusively limited to the religious community.
  • Early-stage organisations with limited traction, applying to launch a new program or initiative that has not been tested.
  • Solutions that do not have a primary or predominant focus on teacher development and youth pathways.
  • Student bursaries/scholarships, research projects and events.
  • Apply by starting with the Pre-screening questionnaire on this page.
  • All prospective applicants are required to complete a Pre-Screening Questionnaire before completing Concept Notes. This brief questionnaire is designed to help applicants determine if they meet the basic eligibility criteria and are ready to proceed to the next stage - submitting a concept note.
  • Applicants may submit only ONE application.
  • Only organizations that meet the minimum eligibility criteria will be expected to submit Concept Notes. All Concept Notes must be completed on the linked form provided at the end of the assessment.
  • All Concept Notes will be reviewed for eligibility, and following evaluation by TNF, only those shortlisted will be invited to submit full applications.
  • In order for an application to be considered for funding, applicants must ensure that they submit their applications on or before the application's closing date.
  • Individual awards up to a maximum of R3m to scale existing innovations or replicate successful innovations in teacher development or youth pathways.
  • The period of performance for individual awards is up to three years.
  • The innovation must contribute to generating lasting impact and systemic change in teacher development and youth pathways.

Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund Eligibility Self Assessment

Dear Prospective Applicants

Thank you for your interest in applying for the Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund. Please complete this short pre-screening form to help us determine eligibility. Only organisations that meet the minimum criteria will be expected to submit Concept Notes.

Meet OUr Amazing Grantee Partners

The Trevor Noah Foundation is proud to work alongside an exceptional group of partners who enable learning, innovation, and lasting impact through the Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund.

Citizen Leader Lab

Citizen Leader Lab strengthens school leadership in underserved communities by equipping principals and school management teams with practical leadership skills through cross-sector partnerships, coaching, and peer learning.
Visit Citizen Leader Lab

Ilitha Labantu

Ilitha Labantu strengthens school safety and learner wellbeing in Cape Town’s Cape Flats by leading community-driven initiatives that prevent and respond to gender-based violence in and around schools.
Visit Ilitha Labantu

INMED South Africa

INMED South Africa links climate-smart food production to education and youth livelihoods through a practical aquaponics model that equips educators and young people with hands-on skills in under-resourced communities.
Visit INMED South Africa

The Equal Education Law Centre Trust (EELC)

The Equal Education Law Centre Trust (EELC) develops youth leaders from under-resourced communities through its Education Justice Ambassadors Fellowship, equipping young people with legal knowledge, practical advocacy skills, and mentorship to address education injustice in their schools and communities.
Visit The Equal Education Law Centre Trust (EELC)

Ntataise Youth Power

Ntataise Youth Power is a youth-led innovation that strengthens early learning by equipping young ECD practitioners with relational intelligence, enterprise skills, and child-first practices, embedded within under-resourced ECD centres and supported through a scalable, digitally enabled model.
Visit Ntataise Youth Power

Phola NPO

Phola NPO is a trauma-informed, educator-centred program that integrates the Tree of Life (ToL) methodology with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) to improve teacher wellbeing and learner mental health. The program aims to enhance mental health and psychosocial well-being, reduce burnout, and strengthen resilience among educators while improving mental health outcomes for learners.
Visit Phola NPO

SLED-Sign Language Education & Development

SLED-Sign Language Education & Development is dedicated to transforming the educational landscape for Deaf learners in South Africa, where many leave school functionally illiterate due to a lack of accessibility in the education system. Recognizing that teachers of the Deaf are not required to know South African Sign Language (SASL), SLED has taken action by promoting quality education through comprehensive teacher training and resource development for over 25 years.
Visit SLED-Sign Language Education & Development

The Valley Trust

The Valley Trust is committed to creating integrated youth pathways in the Valley of a Thousand Hills, encompassing the tribal areas of Qadi, KwaNyuswa, Embo, KwaNgcolosi, and Molweni. It guides youth through critical transitions from primary schooling to adulthood, connecting them to real learning, work, and enterprise opportunities to ensure that no one is left behind.
Visit The Valley Trust

Digify Foundation NPC

Digify Foundation NPC is pioneering the Didi Mobile Academy, a mobile-first learning-to-earning initiative designed to empower young people with practical digital skills and connect them to real earning opportunities across South Africa, with a focus on KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Western Cape, and Northern Cape.
Visit Digify Foundation NPC

Community and Individual Development Association for Entrepreneurship Education and Employment (CIDA-E3)

By strengthening teacher wellbeing, confidence, and professional agency, TeacherConnect helps improve classroom practice and ultimately learner outcomes — enabling young people to develop the skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities needed for future pathways in education, employment, or entrepreneurship.
Visit CIDA-e3

Gender Rights in Tech (GRIT)

Its flagship platform, Zuzi AI, is a multilingual, trauma-informed tool that helps prevent and respond to gender-based violence while strengthening support systems in schools. By placing young people at the centre of design and governance, GRIT builds safer digital ecosystems and pathways into technology and social impact careers.
Visit GRIT

iSchoolAfrica Education Trust

Its Hospital School Programme equips teachers with iPads, training, and educational apps to support paediatric patients academically and emotionally while they receive care. By reducing learning loss and supporting wellbeing, the programme helps young patients maintain continuity in their education and a sense of normalcy during recovery.
Visit iSchoolAfrica

ORT SA Cape Trust

Its flagship innovation, The Dory Code, is an unplugged coding programme for Grades R–3 that builds early cognitive skills like problem-solving, sequencing, and logical thinking without requiring devices or internet access. By equipping teachers with practical tools and ongoing support, the programme ensures young learners gain future-ready skills from the earliest stages of education.
Visit ORT SA Cape Trust

Umuzi

Its Social Ambassadorship model connects youth to real-world gig work that builds skills, portfolios, and income while supporting small businesses and community organisations with practical technical support. By bridging the gap between talent and experience, the programme creates a learner-centred ecosystem that enables youth growth, agency, and long-term opportunity.
Visit Umuzi