What The Fanaka Foundation does

The Fanaka Foundation is a South African Non-Profit Company (NPC 2015/245688/08), founded in 2015 and headquartered at 25 Commerce Crescent, Kramerville, Sandton, Johannesburg. It operates as the corporate social investment arm of DNI Group, with the mandate of breaking systemic poverty by equipping disadvantaged South African youth with end-to-end ICT education and career pathways. The foundation runs three core programmes: (i) the DNI Bursary Scheme, which funds Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (NQF 7) studies at accredited institutions in exchange for monthly NGO volunteering; (ii) a 12-month Graduate Programme placing alumni into DNI Group subsidiaries with mentorship, General Management Level 5 Learnership, and internationally certified ICT courses focused on Data Analytics and DevOps; and (iii) an Enablement Programme that delivers laptops, smartphones, routers, SIM starter packs and data to bursary and graduate recipients. Complementary activities include ICT Lab installations at partner schools (e.g., St David's Marist Inanda Alexandra) and Aligned CSI partnerships with organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa, Angels Care, MathU, Reach For A Dream Foundation, Ubuntu Legacy and Maharishi Institute. The foundation is governed by a five-member board (David Smaldon, Ingrid Hindley, Mandy-lee Davenall, Ross Venter, Stacey Manie) with a small operational team of approximately six staff.

Technically, the foundation is not a software builder; its ICT stack centers on distribution and orchestration of third-party technology — the MathU AI-enabled mathematics and science platform serving Grade 7 to Matric learners, alongside conventional laptops, smartphones, routers, and connectivity delivered via partners including Switch Mobile, TSPC, 3G Mobile, Cellfind and Airvantage. Its primary proprietary assets are operational know-how and the integrated education-to-employment pipeline, not platform code.

The revenue model is donation-driven. As an S18A-registered entity, The Fanaka Foundation receives tax-deductible contributions from corporate partners and individuals, supplemented by direct funding from DNI Group, which acts as both primary funder and ultimate employer of graduate programme alumni. Bursary payments flow directly to accredited institutions; hardware is distributed in-kind to recipients; all programmes are free of charge to beneficiaries. Annual revenue is not publicly disclosed, and unit economics are anchored to donor inflows plus DNI-subsidized cost absorption rather than commercial pricing. Geography is concentrated in South Africa (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape), with no international footprint.

Name

The Fanaka Foundation

Legal name

The Fanaka Foundation

Website

https://fanaka.org.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Fanaka Foundation is a South African non-profit NPC (founded 2015) that funds disadvantaged youth through a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science bursary scheme, a 12-month DNI Group graduate programme, and a hardware enablement initiative, anchored to AI-enabled STEM partnerships and aligned CSI organizations across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Education Foundation

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Academic Support & Learning Assistance (Tutoring Centers) (EDALABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Web Development (HTML/CSS/JavaScript, Front-End/Back-End) (EDAMACAC), Academic Tutoring Services (Subject-Specific & General) (EDAJALAA)

Keywords

• ICT education bursaries
• Youth empowerment programs
• Graduate work placement
• Digital enablement services
• Nonprofit education foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Johannesburg (Sandton)

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and S18A Tax Deductible Contributions: As a registered S18A organization, The Fanaka Foundation receives tax-deductible donations from corporate partners and individuals. These contributions fund bursaries, hardware provision, graduate placements, and community programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Fanaka Foundation funds South African youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (NQF 7) at accredited universities through the DNI Bursary Scheme, then places recipients in a 12-month Graduate Programme of work-integrated learning at DNI Group companies with mentorship, a General Management Level 5 Learnership, and access to internationally certified ICT courses. The Enablement Programme equips these recipients with laptops, smartphones, routers, tablets, SIM starter packs, data, and airtime needed for their learning journey.

Product overview

The Fanaka Foundation operates as a non-profit powerhouse within the DNI Group, offering a multi-faceted education and career development ecosystem. The core portfolio consists of three interconnected programs: the DNI Bursary Scheme that funds university education in Computer Science, the 12-month Graduate Programme providing work-integrated learning with mentorship at DNI Group companies, and the Enablement Programme that equips recipients with hardware (laptops, smartphones, routers) and connectivity (SIM cards, data). Additionally, ICT Lab Projects extend infrastructure support to partner schools. These programs work together to remove barriers between talented South African youth and careers in ICT, from initial funding through university completion to employment placement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 51 bursaries awarded to date with documented graduate success stories
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St David's Marist Inanda AlexandracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2025Sponsored ICT Lab opening with state-of-the-art computers and robotics technology supporting CAT and IT subjects. School grew from 5 boys to over 100 students receiving same quality education as Sandton peers.
• Digital Ecosystems (DigiCo)coreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partner in the digital ecosystem supporting The Fanaka Foundation's technology education initiatives. Listed as a key partner in the foundation's network.
• WMACAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Fanaka Foundation's collaborative network.
• Boys & Girls Clubs of South Africa (BGCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship CSI partner running after-school programmes for over 1,800 children across Johannesburg areas including Maraisburg, Protea Glen, Alexandra, Bertrams, Mofolo, Pimville and Vrededorp. Activities run from 14h00 until 18h00 with tutoring support.
• Angels CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKwaZulu-Natal based foundation facilitating childhood growth meeting education, healthcare, aftercare, nutrition and community needs. The White Door and Crisis Centre provides support to victims of gender-based violence, abuse and rape.
• MathU Teaching EmporiumcoreTechnology or IntegrationAI-enabled STEM education platform partner providing mathematics and science learning tools. Partnerships established with Portia Primary School (Western Cape - 90 learners) and Forte High School (Soweto - 140+ learners). Provides licences, mobile phones and learning materials.
• Ubuntu LegacyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner collaborating on social impact initiatives including eco-friendly sanitary product manufacturing to address period poverty.
• SikunyeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in the Fanaka Foundation's aligned CSI network.
• Afribiz FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Mission Impossible-themed team building initiative to design and sew reusable sanitary towels addressing period poverty affecting school attendance for young girls.
• Reach For A Dream FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner bringing hope to children with critical illnesses by making their dreams come true, providing temporary escape and inspiration during medical treatments.
• Sebenza Wi-FicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNI subsidiary providing free internet access to commuters. Employs DNI bursary graduates including Nhlakanipho Mntambo.
• The Starter Pack CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDNI subsidiary where bursary recipient Sibusiso Mahotso completed internship before being hired as developer.
• Maharishi InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner in the aligned CSI network working to unlock potential of youth and future leaders.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kagiso Trust: Long-established South African trust focused on education, skills development, and youth empowerment. Comparable to Fanaka in mission (breaking poverty cycles through education) and target beneficiary (disadvantaged South African youth), with significantly larger scale and longer track record.
• Sasol Foundation: Corporate foundation of Sasol, one of South Africa's largest corporate CSI programs with significant STEM education focus. Comparable to Fanaka in funding tertiary education but operates at much larger scale and serves as a national benchmark for corporate bursary programs.
• StudyTrust: Established South African bursary management organization that administers higher education bursaries for disadvantaged students. Directly comparable to Fanaka's DNI Bursary Scheme in its core function of university funding administration, though operating at a much larger scale.
• Capitec Foundation: Corporate foundation focused on education and skills development for South African youth. Comparable to Fanaka in targeting underserved youth through education funding and capacity building, with broader funding capacity and national footprint.
• Discovery Foundation: Corporate foundation of Discovery Limited with education and youth development programs. Comparable to Fanaka as a corporate-funded education-focused foundation serving South African youth, though with broader health and social program mix.
• Standard Bank Foundation: Corporate foundation providing education bursaries and skills development programs across South Africa. Comparable to Fanaka's bursary and graduate placement model, with similar target beneficiaries in disadvantaged communities seeking tertiary education access.
• Vodacom Foundation: Corporate foundation of Vodacom with significant programs in ICT education, youth empowerment, and digital skills. Comparable to Fanaka in the ICT education focus and digital enablement (hardware/connectivity similar to Fanaka's Enablement Programme), but operates at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Maharishi Institute: South African non-profit focused on youth education, technology training, and employment pathways for disadvantaged youth. Operates a similar model of combining education funding with workplace experience and is explicitly listed as an aligned CSI partner of Fanaka, making it a directly comparable direct peer in mission and beneficiary profile.
• WeThinkCode: South African tech training non-profit that provides coding education and career pathways to disadvantaged youth. Closely comparable to Fanaka's ICT education and graduate employment mission, with similar target beneficiary (underserved South African youth seeking tech careers).
• CapaCiTi: South African ICT training non-profit focused on unemployed youth, providing skills development and work-readiness programs. Comparable to Fanaka's Graduate Programme in terms of ICT skills training and bridging disadvantaged youth into employment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-fanaka-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/fanakafoundationsa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Fanaka Foundation