The Sanlam Foundation

We invest in the communities in which we operate
to help future generations live with confidence.

View our 2024 Annual Report

Background and Purpose

Founded in 2011, The Sanlam Foundation Trust is a South African registered non-profit welfare organisation, incorporated for public benefit.

Its primary objectives are to:

Since 2011, the Sanlam Foundation has invested more than R858 million in Education, Financial Literacy, Health (HIV/AIDS), Water Security, Enterprise and Supplier Development initiatives and Staff Volunteerism.

“The Sanlam Foundation is the embodiment of Sanlam’s deep concern for the socio-economic and environmental challenges that threaten the sustainability within which we have operated since 1918.” – Sanlam CEO on SF launch

Our Impact

482 773
beneficiaries reached across all our initiatives
(2023: 330 023)
441
beneficiaries impacted through our ESD programmes
(2023: 207)
413 256
beneficiaries supported through our Education initiatives
(2023: 29 230)
411 943
beneficiaries supported through our Auxiliary Projects
(2023: 281 767)
66 394
beneficiaries reached through our CFE initiatives
(2023: 38 934)
219
jobs created through the Foundation’s activities
(2023: 54)

Our focus areas

The Sanlam Foundation has a national footprint with a focus on the following as key strategic areas:

Education
Consumer Financial Education
(CFE)
Enterprise and Supplier Development
(ESD)
Staff Volunteerism Programme
Auxiliary Projects

The team

The Foundation team reports to the Board of Trustees of the Sanlam Foundation Trust, made up by Mr Paul Hanratty (Chairperson), Dr Siphokazi Koyana, Adv Ndumiso Luthuli, Ms Mathukana Mokoka, Dr Johan van Zyl and Dr Shirley Zinn.

Together with various NGOs and partners, the Foundation team works hard to help improve the lives of people in all communities.

The Team

Ray-Ann Sedres

Head of Foundation

Personal profile

The Foundation team is led by
Ray-Ann Sedres, Head of the Sanlam Foundation. Before,
Ray-Ann held positions in the Sanlam Group, focussed on-Socio-Economic Transformation, Sustainability and Socio-Economic Development.

Natasha Francis

Finance and Governance

Personal profile

Natasha Francis is the Senior Manager for Finance and Governance for the Sanlam Foundation.

Auriel Bayard

Operations

Personal profile

Auriel Bayard is the Operations Manager for the Sanlam Foundation.

Meshaye Sylvester

Programme Manager: Education

Personal profile

Meshaye Sylvester is the Programme Manager for the Education Portfolio for the Sanlam Foundation.

Lizelle le Roux

Programme Coordinator

Personal profile

Lizelle le Roux is the Programme Coordinator for the Sanlam Foundation.

Sizakele Ngwenya

Financial Controller

Personal profile

Sizakele Ngwenya is the Financial Controller for the Sanlam Foundation.

Andiswa Gumede

Programme Manager: CFE and ESD

Personal profile

Andiswa Gumede is the Programme Manager for the Consumer Financial Education (CFE) & Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) Portfolios for the Sanlam Foundation.

Frank Louw

Programme Manager: Auxiliary Projects

Personal profile

Frank Louw is the Programme Manager for Auxiliary Projects for the Sanlam Foundation.

Mbali Majola

Programme Manager: Staff Volunteerism Programme

Personal profile

Mbali Majola is the Programme Manager for the Staff Volunteerism Programme: United for Impact for the Sanlam Foundation.


Trustees

Paul Hanratty

Group Chief Executive Officer

Group Chief Executive Officer
Nationality: Irish
Year of birth: 1961
Director since 2017.

Mr Paul Hanratty has been appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer on 1 July 2020 and qualifies as an executive director.

Mathukana Mokoka

Independent Non-executive Director

Independent Non-executive Director
Nationality: South African
Year of birth: 1974
Director since 2018.

Ms Mokoka has been a member of the Board of Directors since March 2018.

Johan van Zyl

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director
Nationality: South African
Year of birth: 1956
Director since 2016.

Dr Van Zyl has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2016.

Shirley Zinn

Independent Non-executive Director

Independent Non-executive Director
Nationality: South African
Year of birth: 1961
Director since 2018.

Prof. Zinn has been a member of the Board of Directors since December 2018.


Dr. Siphokazi Koyana

Chartered Director of Companies—CD(SA)

Dr. Siphokazi Koyana holds degrees from Smith College, Yale University, and Temple University in the USA.

Adv. Ndumiso Luthuli

Adv. Ndumiso Luthuli was admitted to the Johannesburg Society of Advocates in December 2015.


What we fund

The Sanlam Foundation supports communities through two types of grants:

Small Grants Fund

The Small Grants Fund (SGF) enables the Sanlam Foundation to support local community development projects that are not within the scope of our strategic focus areas. Through the SGF, the Sanlam Foundation provides once-off funding, aimed at providing an

immediate response to critical social issues facing the community.

Core Funding

In line with its strategic focus areas, the Sanlam Foundation publishes a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from time to time. The EOIs are advertised widely across Sanlam’s social media platforms and on the Sanlam Foundation website.

Core funding

Core funding applications are only open when an EOI is published. There are currently no open EOIs.

Small grant funds

Should you wish to apply for funding through the Small Grants Fund, please click on the 'Apply Now' button below.

Apply now