Objectives:
- To provide financial resources for heritage initiatives that contribute to the protection, preservation, and promotion of South African heritage.
- To encourage communities to take ownership and responsibility for their heritage.
- To support projects that can sustain themselves or attract alternative funding in the future.
- To equip project leaders and participants with formal project management, administration, reporting, and accountability skills.
Target Beneficiaries:
- Heritage practitioners attached to organizations or working independently.
- Community initiatives that typically lack access to loans from financial institutions.
- Eligible applicants include educational institutions, Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), Non-Profit Companies (NPCs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Associations, Foundations, Community Trusts (excluding family trusts), Traditional Councils, and Academic Institutions.
Key Features:
- Annual call for funding applications, with the 2025 closing date extended to 31 July 2025.
- Funding ranges from approximately R50,000 to R1,000,000 per project.
- Projects have the capacity to create about 45 jobs depending on scale.
- Funding excludes cultural/artistic performances, film/video/theatre productions, projects outside South Africa, formal qualifications, capital expenditure, and operational costs.
- Excludes funding for closed corporations, family trusts, individuals without partnerships, profit-making organizations, cooperatives, and incorporated companies.
- Funded projects receive not only financial support but also capacity building in project management and accountability.
- Applications are submitted online via the NHC Funding Application Portal.
- Required documents include organization registration certificates, tax clearance, financial statements, project proposals, budgets, and letters of support.
Application Process:
- Applications must be submitted online through the NHC portal by the specified closing date.
- All compliance documents must accompany the initial application.
- Applicants receive notification within 90 days after the closing date; no response implies an unsuccessful application.
- Enquiries can be directed to funding@nhc.org.za.
The NHC funding program plays a vital role in preserving South Africa’s rich heritage by supporting diverse projects across the country, empowering communities, and fostering sustainable heritage initiatives.
