The Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF) has announced the first cohort of grantees supported through the Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund (KNIF), a venture philanthropy initiative that provides flexible funding to South African education nonprofits implementing innovative approaches that advance teacher development and youth opportunity pathways. Collectively, they represent a diverse range of solutions, communities, and lived experiences, united by a shared commitment to impact at scale.
Announced at the Skoll World Forum in 2025, KNIF responds to a growing need for flexible funding that enables early-to-growth-stage innovation, experimentation, and locally rooted problem-solving. The first tranche of funding has been disbursed, with projects already underway.
“Khulani Nathi is about backing the ideas and leadership that already exist within community-based organisations at varying stages of institutional maturity that are advancing locally rooted innovations beyond proof of concept and positioned for growth, scale, and systems impact,” said Sibongile Maepa, Grants Lead at the Trevor Noah Foundation. “These organisations are closest to the challenges — and often the most effective at designing solutions. Our role is to enable, connect, and help unlock their potential.”
KNIF grantees span a range of strategic focus areas, from promoting South African Sign Language through teacher training and learning resources, to creating aquaponics-based learning-to-earning pathways, to empowering youth to transform education injustice into leadership and advocacy. Together, they reflect the diversity of community-rooted innovation driving education change in South Africa.
Beyond funding, KNIF positions TNF as a catalytic partner and ecosystem enabler. Grantees will participate as a learning cohort, creating space for peer exchange, shared problem-solving, and adaptation. Through this platform, TNF provides visibility, learning support, and access to networks to help organisations strengthen and scale what works.
“Innovation doesn’t always begin at scale. Transformative ideas start locally and grow through learning and iteration. The Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund prioritises learning, adaptation, and experimentation so organisations can strengthen what works and change what doesn’t,” said Shalane Yuen, Trevor Noah Foundation Founding Managing Director.
TNF is committed to backing proximate leaders, capable organisations and new approaches that respond to local realities, not only those already proven at scale. Trevor Noah Foundation invites philanthropists, impact investors, and corporate partners to join this collective action by co-funding or creating complementary initiatives that recognize the transformative potential of unrestricted funding in education. For more information on how to get involved, visit www.trevornoahfoundation.org/KhulaniNathi.
Congratulations to our inaugural cohort of KNIF grantee partners:
- Citizen Leader Lab
- Digify Foundation NPC
- Ilitha Labantu
- INMED South Africa
- Ntataise Youth Power
- Phola NPO
- SLED – Sign Language Education & Development
- The Equal Education Law Centre Trust (EELC)
- The Valley Trust
Meet KNIF’s grantee partners and learn more about the organisations they lead by visiting the KNIF webpage: https://trevornoahfoundation.org/khulaninathi/
For media-related enquiries, please contact Ms Olona Tywabi, Communications Manager, at olona@trevornoahfoundation.org
About Trevor Noah Foundation
Trevor Noah Foundation is an ode to the most incredible gift Trevor Noah has ever received: learning. We believe education is the seed from which everything grows and is fuelled by Trevor’s love for education, giving kids an opportunity, and the teachers who got him to where he is today. Trevor Noah Foundation is a Public Benefit Organization registered in South Africa since 2018 and is fiscally sponsored in the United States by the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a public 501(c)(3) organization. EIF is a Charity Navigator 4-Star Charity that meets all 20 Better Business Bureau charity standards, carries the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, and is recognized by Forbes amongst America’s top charities.
