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 R990 million in Education, Financial Literacy, Health, Water Security, Enterprise and Supplier Development initiatives and Employee 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
Enabling Sustainable Pathways of Opportunity
The Sanlam Foundation is reshaping how social investment creates lasting change across Africa. Our refreshed strategy moves beyond fragmented programmes to build integrated, people-powered pathways — connecting education, financial capability, enterprise development, and community resilience into a single continuum of opportunity.
Our vision is to be one of Africa’s most influential and trusted Foundations – delivering impact where it matters most, strengthening confidence in the Sanlam brand, and driving long-term community and economic sustainability.
A Bolder Vision for Social Impact
Africa's challenges are complex and interconnected — and so our response must be too. The Sanlam Foundation's Strategy 2030 represents a fundamental shift in how we approach social investment. We aim to move from supporting standalone projects to building integrated systems that address root causes and create lasting, measurable change.
From fragmented to integrated
Isolated programmes limited our long-term impact. Strategy 2030 weaves education, financial resilience, enterprise development, and community stability into connected pathways that reinforce one another.
From funding to enabling
We are evolving from a traditional funder into a system enabler — leveraging the Sanlam ecosystem, strategic partnerships, and data-driven execution to amplify our reach and deepen our impact.
From activity to outcomes
Every initiative under Strategy 2030 is measured against real-world outcomes. We aim to track what changes in people's lives – not just what we deliver – ensuring accountability and continuous improvement.
From local to pan-African
Through Sanlam’s continental footprint and SAZ alignment, we intend to scale proven models to reach more communities while ensuring every intervention is locally relevant and culturally responsive.
Five Integrated Levers of Impact
Building human capability through cradle-to-career support. We invest in early childhood development, quality education, and skills training that equip young people to participate meaningfully in the economy.
Strengthening financial resilience at individual and household level. Through financial literacy, access to financial tools, and behavioural support, we help people protect what they earn and plan for the future.
Enabling economic participation through entrepreneurship and enterprise support. We nurture small businesses and social enterprises that create jobs, build local economies, and foster self-sufficiency.
Building stable foundations at community level. Through disaster preparedness, social cohesion initiatives, and employee volunteering, we strengthen the ecosystems where families and businesses thrive.
Creating opportunities for employees to contribute their skills, time and expertise to meaningful community initiatives that drive sustainable impact and strengthen community relationships.
Cradle-to-Career: Pathways, Not Programmes
Our cradle-to-career model supports people across the full lifecycle of development – from early childhood through schooling, skills training, and into meaningful employment or entrepreneurship.
Rather than isolated interventions, we focus on the vulnerable transitions where people are most at risk of falling through the cracks. Each phase of support connects to the next, building momentum and improving progression rates.
This is about sustained commitment, not once-off support. We walk alongside communities and individuals as they progress toward self-sufficiency and economic participation.
Our Delivery Principles
We deliver through trusted partners, employees, and the broader Sanlam ecosystem
Data-driven decisions
Outcome-based measurement and transparent reporting guide every investment
Governance and accountability
Trustee oversight and operational discipline ensure responsible stewardship
Employee volunteering
Sanlam’s people are a strategic enabler, contributing skills and time on the ground
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.
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.
Finance and Governance
Personal profile
Natasha Francis is the Senior Manager for Finance and Governance for the Sanlam Foundation.
Operations
Personal profile
Auriel Bayard is the Operations Manager for the Sanlam Foundation.
Programme Manager: Education
Personal profile
Meshaye Sylvester is the Programme Manager for the Education Portfolio for the Sanlam Foundation.
Programme Coordinator
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Lizelle le Roux is the Programme Coordinator for the Sanlam Foundation.
Financial Controller
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Sizakele Ngwenya is the Financial Controller for the Sanlam Foundation.
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.
Programme Manager: Auxiliary Projects
Personal profile
Frank Louw is the Programme Manager for Auxiliary Projects for the Sanlam Foundation.
Programme Manager: Staff Volunteerism Programme
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Mbali Majola is the Programme Manager for the Staff Volunteerism Programme: United for Impact for the Sanlam Foundation.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 was admitted to the Johannesburg Society of Advocates in December 2015.
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 animmediate 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 applications are only open when an EOI is published. There are currently no open EOIs.
Should you wish to apply for funding through the Small Grants Fund, please click on the 'Apply Now' button below.
Apply nowBuilding Africa's Future, Together
Strategy 2030 is an open invitation to partner in the systems that will shape Africa's next generation. Whether you are a government agency, an NGO, a development funder, or a corporate partner, there is a role for you in this work.
Our vision is to be one of Africa's most influential and trusted Foundations – delivering impact where it matters most, strengthening confidence in the Sanlam brand, and driving long-term community and economic sustainability.
Together, we can move from standalone projects to scalable, outcome-driven impact – grounded in the belief that every person deserves a sustainable pathway of opportunity.
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