About the Organisation
The Initiative for Community Advancement (ICA) is one of only two Community Foundations in South Africa and a recognised practitioner of community philanthropy on the African continent. Established in 2018, ICA evolved from the South African Youth Leaders Network (SAYLN), a national youth development organisation founded in 2010. This legacy has shaped ICA’s strong grounding in community-led development and civic mobilisation. Based in the Bergrivier Municipal area of the Western Cape, ICA operates as a permanent, place-based philanthropic institution that mobilises resources, builds a long-term endowment, and directs funding toward community priorities.
Rather than delivering services directly, ICA acts as a community-centred philanthropic intermediary, guided by its 4C Framework: Convene, Capacitate, Channel, and Contribute. Through this model, it supports locally driven development by mobilising donors and distributing grants to community initiatives. ICA currently manages five Community Affiliated Funds, has distributed more than R260 000 in grants, and collaborates with partners such as the Ford Foundation, Bread for the World, Umoya Energy, PPC Cement, and the Southern Africa Trust. It also serves as the fiscal host of a new Africa Community Foundation Initiative through to March 2027 and engages with networks including APN, IPASA, and the Southern Africa Community Foundation Network.
About the Job
The Executive Director (ED) is the operational leader of ICA and its chief executive, accountable to the Management Board. This is an institution-building role: the ED will strengthen ICA’s operational foundations, cultivate donor relationships, grow the endowment, steward grantmaking, and position ICA as a trusted, credible philanthropic institution within the Bergrivier Municipal area and as a model for community philanthropy across South Africa and the African continent.
As one of only two CFs in South Africa, ICA occupies a unique position. The ED must be able to articulate and champion the Community Foundation model — a model that is distinct from and should not be conflated with service-delivery NGOs. The successful candidate will be a strategic, entrepreneurial, and relationship-oriented leader who understands both the discipline of philanthropy and the dynamics of community development in a South African and African context.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership & Institutional Development
Lead the implementation of ICA’s strategy in collaboration with the Management Board, translating vision into operational plans, priorities and measurable outcomes.
Strengthen ICA’s operating systems, policies, procedures and governance frameworks consistent with best practice for community foundations.
Position ICA as the philanthropic institution of choice for community-minded donors, professional advisors, and institutional funders within the Bergrivier Municipal area and beyond.
Track and contribute to developments in the South African and African philanthropic landscape, leveraging ICA’s membership of national and global CF networks.
Lead ICA’s continental role, including oversight of the Africa Community Foundation Initiative currently hosted by ICA through to March 2027.
2. Endowment Building & Donor Stewardship
Develop and execute a comprehensive asset development strategy to grow ICA’s endowment — the permanent capital base that enables long-term grantmaking.
Identify, cultivate and steward individual, corporate, family and institutional donors, including through planned giving, bequests and named funds.
Build strong relationships with legal, financial and professional advisors who are in a position to recommend CF vehicles to their clients.
Ensure all donors receive appropriate recognition, timely reporting on their funds, and a high standard of philanthropic service.
Explore partnership opportunities with other foundations, corporates (in the context of BBBEE and CSI giving), and government to build ICA’s asset base.
3. Grantmaking & Community Philanthropy
Strengthen and administer ICA’s transparent, equitable and effective grantmaking programme through the Community Affiliated Fund (CAF) model and other grantmaking instruments.
Facilitate community engagement processes that inform grantmaking priorities and reflect the interests and voice of the communities ICA serves.
Build and maintain relationships with civil society organisations, community groups and public institutions to understand the community landscape and ensure grants achieve meaningful impact.
Implement systems to evaluate grant impact and report findings to the Management Board and donors.
4. Board Governance & Support
Support the Management Board in fulfilling its governance responsibilities, including preparation of board packs, meeting facilitation and timely reporting.
Work with the Board Chair to develop agendas and ensure the Management Board has the information it needs to make sound decisions.
Assist the Management Board in its own development, including recruitment of new members, orientation, and succession planning.
Ensure that ICA operates in full compliance with applicable legislation, including the NPO Act, the Income Tax Act (Section 18A), and relevant regulatory requirements.
5. Financial Management & Compliance
Develop and manage ICA’s annual operating budget in consultation with the Management Board.
Oversee sound financial management, including fund accounting, investment oversight, endowment management, and cash flow planning.
Ensure the timely preparation and submission of financial statements, audit, and statutory returns.
Monitor and report regularly on the financial health of the organisation and its investment portfolio.
6. Communications, Advocacy & Profile-Building
Serve as ICA’s primary spokesperson and ambassador — articulating the CF model to diverse audiences including donors, community members, civil society, media and government.
Develop and implement a communications strategy that builds ICA’s visibility, credibility and community trust locally, nationally and continentally.
Actively participate in national and international CF networks and associations — including the APN, IPASA and the SCF Network — contributing to the growth of the community philanthropy field.
Represent ICA at community events, public forums, conferences and stakeholder engagements across Southern Africa.
7. Operations & People Management
Manage ICA’s office and administrative systems for efficiency and accountability.
Recruit, lead and develop staff and manage relevant contractors and service providers as the organisation grows.
Model and embed an organisational culture consistent with ICA’s values: community trust, transparency, long-termism and philanthropic integrity.
Requirements
Essential
A relevant degree (e.g. in development studies, public administration, business, law, social sciences or related field).
At least 8 years of progressive leadership experience in the non-profit, philanthropic or development sector.
Demonstrable experience in fundraising, resource mobilisation or development finance.
Strong financial management competence, including budgeting, fund accounting and audit oversight.
Experience working with or reporting to a governance board.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage credibly across diverse audiences in both English and Afrikaans (an advantage given the Bergrivier context).
Advantageous
Direct experience with community foundations, philanthropic intermediaries, endowment management or planned giving.
Experience working in or with community-based organisations, local government and/or rural development contexts.
Knowledge of relevant South African legal and regulatory frameworks (NPO Act, Section 18A, BBBEE, CSI legislation).
Existing networks within the South African philanthropic, civil society or professional advisory sectors, and/or within African philanthropy networks.
Experience in a continental or multi-country philanthropic or development role.
Personal Competencies
Deep commitment to community empowerment and the principle of local, community-led philanthropy.
Entrepreneurial and institution-building orientation — comfortable in an early-stage or developing environment.
High integrity, with the gravitas to serve as a trusted custodian of donor capital and community interests.
Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with practical execution.
Relational leader — able to build trust with a wide range of stakeholders including high-net-worth donors, community representatives, civil society and government.
Self-motivated, highly organised and comfortable operating with a small team.
Genuine intellectual curiosity about the CF model and community philanthropy as a field, and a desire to contribute to its growth in South Africa and Africa.
To apply
In order to apply, email your application by Friday 27th March 2026 to tracy@actionappointments.co.za - send your completed AA bio form, letter of motivation and updated CV (all in MS Word format).
