Forward Foundation

What Forward Foundation does

Forward Foundation is a South African non-profit organisation headquartered in Stellenbosch, Western Cape, that delivers socio-economic development programmes to under-resourced children, youth, schools, and unemployed individuals. Its portfolio spans five integrated programme lines: ECD Kinetix (early childhood neuromotor development applying Kinderkinetics science), Physical Education for schools, the Play4Life leadership and sport development programme, accredited Learnerships and Skills Programmes (business management, sales supervision, stock controlling), and Project Raithby, an integrated sport, education, and life-skills pathway for the Raithby community. The foundation also operates competitive sport platforms including Touch Rugby (active since 2010) and Sevens Rugby (since 2015), whose Legends touch rugby side has won the Hot Summer of Touch series six times.

The organisation is funded through corporate sponsorships (Unitrans, Chill Beverages, Sportsman's Warehouse, Cell C, Media24, Caylix Group, Protein2Go, TSU Group, Access Management), government collaboration with DCAS (Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport), and individual donations processed via the GiveGain platform. Distribution occurs through direct programme delivery, school partnerships, workplace learnerships, and community events and tournaments across multiple South African regions including Stellenbosch, Paarl, Still Bay, Riversdale, Sedgefield, Strand, Piketberg, and Rustenburg. Services are provided at no cost to beneficiaries, and an ambassador programme featuring Bottomless Coffee Band/RAAF and professional rugby figures supports fundraising and brand awareness.

Forward Foundation was officially launched on 15 June 2021 by brothers Le Roux and FC Conradie, consolidating 15 years of predecessor activity under the Living Legends NPO and Caylix Sport brands. Leadership comprises Managing Director Le Roux Conradie, Executive Head of Kinetix Mario Penwarden, Head of Rugby Zhaun Booysen, Head of Physical Education Janovan Apollis, Head of Rugby Recruitment Armien Bailey, and General Manager Curtis Gordon (appointed early 2024). The entity is privately held with no disclosed parent company, institutional investors, or equity funding structure.

Name

Forward Foundation

Legal name

Forward Foundation

Website

https://forwardfoundation.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Forward Foundation is a South African non-profit in Stellenbosch delivering physical education, ECD Kinetix, accredited learnerships, and sport development programmes to under-resourced children, youth, and schools across the Western Cape and beyond, funded by corporate partners, government, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Socio-Economic Development Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

After-School, Tutoring & Academic Enrichment Nonprofits (BPAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Community sports development
• Physical education services
• Skills learnerships training
• Non-profit foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Stellenbosch

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and philanthropy: Forward Foundation operates as a non-profit receiving donations from individuals and organisations to fund its youth development programmes. The website includes a donation link via GiveGain platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Forward Foundation is a South African non-profit that delivers a portfolio of socio-economic development programmes to under-resourced children, youth, schools, and communities. Its offerings span physical education (including the ECD Kinetix Kinderkinetics programme), sport development (touch rugby and sevens rugby), leadership development (Play4Life), accredited learnerships and skills programmes, and the integrated Project Raithby pathway combining sport, education, life skills, and leadership. Programmes are provided at no cost to beneficiaries and funded through donations, corporate sponsorships, and government partnerships.

Product overview

Forward Foundation is a South African non-profit organization offering a portfolio of integrated socio-economic development programmes centred on sports, physical education, and youth empowerment. The core offerings include the ECD Kinetix Programme for early childhood development, Physical Education programmes for schools, the Play4Life Leadership Development programme, Learnerships and Skills Programmes for career development, and the Sport Development programme encompassing Touch Rugby and Sevens Rugby. Project Raithby serves as an integrated development pathway combining sport, education, outdoor learning, and life skills. Events and tournaments provide competitive platforms and community engagement opportunities. These programmes work synergistically to provide holistic development from early childhood through young adulthood, grounded in the philosophies of 'Education Through Movement' and 'Moving Forward, Faster.'

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ECD Kinetix Programme An integrated approach that trains and enables Early Childhood Development (ECD) practitioners to confidently apply Kinderkinetics methods in their own learning environments, promoting the neuromotor development of young children through physical activity. Designed for ECD practitioners and centres in the Western Cape.
• Physical Education Programme Provides structured physical education services to schools, focusing on motor skills development, fitness, and holistic well-being for children from early childhood through adolescence. Delivered to under-resourced South African schools.
• Play4Life Programme A comprehensive sports leadership initiative that empowers underserved schools to build robust sports programmes and competitive teams, encompassing sports equipment supply, coach and teacher training, and life guidance. Targeted at schools lacking the skills and resources to create positive sporting environments.
• Learnerships Accredited training and career path development programmes offering theoretical and practical on-the-job training for employed individuals and unemployed persons to become employment-ready. Targeted at unemployed South Africans and employees seeking career advancement.
• Skills Programmes Occupation-based learning programmes aimed at building skills with economic value, including business management, sales supervision, and stock controlling courses delivered through accredited training providers. Targeted at employed and unemployed individuals seeking marketable skills.
• Touch Rugby Programme Rugby programme offering players aged 16-24 from disadvantaged backgrounds opportunities for year-round training, development, and participation in the Hot Summer of Touch (HSOT) tournament series. The team has finished top three for 10 consecutive years and won the HSOT Pro Division six times (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018).
• Sevens Rugby Programme Rugby programme providing sevens rugby development opportunities for talented players aged 16-24, including participation in invitational events and friendlies against professional teams such as the Springbok Sevens / Blitzboks. Builds on the touch rugby pathway.
• Project Raithby An integrated sport, education, life skill and leadership development pathway for under-resourced children in Raithby and surrounding areas, combining outdoor learning environments, sport development, and community advancement services. Designed as a residential-style pathway for talented young athletes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Touch Rugby team finished top 3 for 10 consecutive years with 6 series wins (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bottomless Coffee Band / RAAFcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 June 2021Husband and wife duo Lourens and Esté Rabé created the song 'Moving Forward Faster' to spread hope for youth and inspire them to overcome social struggles. Forward Foundation administers funds raised through this music to fuel youth-focused projects in under-resourced Western Cape communities. The partnership was formalised at the Forward Foundation launch on 15 June 2021.
• UnitranscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnitrans, a diversified supply chain solutions company with 5,000+ employees across 86 depots in South Africa, has partnered with Forward Foundation to provide early childhood development skills and resources as well as socio-economic development expertise. Unitrans views partnership as a constitutional and economic imperative to secure a sustainable future.
• Chill BeveragescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChill Beverages (Score Energy Drinks, Fitch & Leedes, Bashews brands) supports Forward Foundation's youth development initiatives, recognising sport's role in youth physical health, social interaction, and discipline development.
• Sportsman's WarehousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Africa's leading sporting equipment retailer with 44 stores nationally provides sporting goods support to Forward Foundation programmes, helping equip young athletes with necessary gear.
• DCAS (Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport - Western Cape Government)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDCAS provides funding and collaboration for Forward Foundation's sports development programmes. The department encourages excellence and inclusivity through sport, creating opportunities for mass participation, talent identification, and skills development.
• Media24minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Africa's leading media company with interests in digital media, newspapers, and magazines provides media support and exposure for Forward Foundation's youth development initiatives.
• Cell CminorOthersLeading mobile provider in South Africa serving over 20 million customers supports Forward Foundation as a corporate sponsor.
• Protein2GominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Africa's first water-based protein recovery drink brand provides beverage support for Forward Foundation's sports programmes and athletes.
• Access ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth Africa's #1 agency for large-scale sporting events and impactful marketing strategies is committed to making Forward Foundation's mission a reality. CEO Lourens Oberholzer recognises sport's potential to improve livelihoods.
• TSU GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTSU Group Holdings provides security solutions, specialised training, and protection services, supporting Forward Foundation's operations.
• Caylix GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaylix Group operates in the fuel and retail industry and facilitated the enrolment of 80 employees in Forward Foundation's skills programmes across multiple locations including Still Bay, Riversdale, Sedgefield, Strand, Piketberg, Rustenburg, and Paarl.
• Smart SocietycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining institution delivering structured learning components for Forward Foundation's skills programmes. Together with Caylix's hands-on practical learning experience, forms an integrated course to assist employees in gaining necessary skills and knowledge.
• Living Legends NPOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerForward Foundation co-founder Le Roux Conradie is also a founding director of Living Legends NPO. Living Legends supported the touch rugby team from 2011-2016, providing sponsorship for kits, tournament registration, food, and transport through brands like Four Cousins.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Right to Play: Global organisation using sport and play to educate and empower children and youth in disadvantaged communities. Comparable sport-based youth development methodology and presence in African markets.
• SOS Children's Villages South Africa: Major international non-profit supporting vulnerable children and youth in South Africa with education and life-skills programmes. Comparable in youth-focused services, though with residential care as a primary model rather than sport-based delivery.
• Laureus Sport for Good Foundation: Global foundation using sport for social development, with active programmes in South Africa. Highly comparable mission of sport-based youth empowerment, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic remit.

Direct peers

• Grassroot Soccer: International non-profit using sport (soccer) to educate and engage youth on health and life skills. Directly comparable sport-for-development model with school- and community-based delivery in South Africa.
• Lalela Project: South African non-profit providing arts, education, and life-skills programmes to children from under-resourced communities. Comparable in mission, target beneficiary group, and delivery through partnerships with schools.
• Afrika Tikkun: South African non-profit delivering holistic youth development programmes including education, skills training, and sport to under-resourced communities. Comparable in target population, multi-programme model, and geographic focus in South Africa.
• AMANDLA EduFootball: South African non-profit combining football and education for youth development in under-resourced communities. Highly comparable South African sport-plus-education model.

Regional players

• Click Foundation: South African non-profit focused on literacy and education programmes for under-resourced learners through school partnerships. Comparable in operating model (school-based programme delivery) and donor-funded South African youth education focus.
• Vumelana Advisory Fund: South African non-profit supporting community development and youth empowerment. Comparable in South African socio-economic development focus and donor-funded programme delivery model.
• The Sports Trust: South African non-profit focused on sports development funding and programme delivery. Comparable sports-development focus and South African geographic base, with a more grantmaking-oriented model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/forwardfoundationsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forward-foundationsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forward Foundation