"The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Foundation provides a professional fundraising service which supports the development of UKZN and addresses the needs and aspirations of our donors.

“A hallmark of the University of KwaZulu-Natal is the wonderful sense of community that is made up of individuals doing remarkable things to impact the lives of so many. At the Foundation, we’re leading the charge to build a lifelong culture of engagement and philanthropy that advances the mission of a truly South African University of Choice that is academically excellent, innovative in research, entrepreneurial, while critically engaging with society, and building relationships and connections within and beyond the UKZN community in meaningful ways to maximise the donor impact for the University.

For years, your philanthropic support has provided critical financial resources that have assisted with funds to support students, our colleges and various programmes across the University, creating unique enrichment opportunities for our students to learn and develop critical skills that will strengthen them as they move on to new endeavours. For this, we say “Thank You!”

My colleagues and I consider it an honour and a privilege to work with and alongside you as we continue advancing UKZN. We welcome the opportunity to talk with you about how you can help us ensure a brighter future for our students, our University and the greater global community” – Mr Steve Camp (acting Executive Director: UKZN Foundation).

Our Approach
The Foundation establishes and cultivates relationships with prospective donors on behalf of the University and as such serves as a principle conduit for philanthropic donations aimed at supporting the strategic development needs of the University.

In its drive to secure donations for the University’s development, the Foundation forges relationships with individuals and alumni as well as establishes alliances and partnerships with corporates, trusts, foundations and other grant-making bodies across the world.

In selecting projects to support, the Foundation prioritises University initiatives that are responsive to societal, environmental, economic and technological needs of local, provincial, national and international communities, which the University serves.

The Foundation runs regular public fundraising campaigns to give individuals, including staff, students, alumni and the general public to support our projects.

As the conduit for all philanthropic donations to UKZN, the Foundation receives, receipts, records and reports on all such income.

Utilisation of Donor Gifts
As a public university, the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) relies on fee income and state subsidy to fund its operations. However, the development of infrastructure and the pursuit of its strategic vision requires philanthropic contributions, which expand the boundaries of knowledge and knowledge production.

UKZN Foundation accepts gifts that do not result in any economic benefit (with the exception of tax relief) nor confer full or part title/control to any product/deliverable/intellectual property in return for funding. In honoring the philanthropic intent of its donors, the UKZN Foundation ensure that donations are allocated to the cause for which they are intended. The Foundation raises funds for the following:

Bursaries
There are large numbers of academically deserving students who cannot afford to attend University and are unable to secure other forms of funding. Donor funds are used to provide full or partial bursaries to such students. Donors can stipulate specific criteria for the selection of students and they stipulate what conditions need to be met by the students to continue receiving support from the donor.

Community Engaged Projects
UKZN prides itself on its ability to generate knowledge and to convert it into a meaningful and measurable community-based projects. To this end, UKZN promotes projects in all its Colleges, which make a difference in the lives of communities ranging from farming to land use management, to HIV museums, to civil society to art and culture and others.

Disability
The University provides access to students with disabilities. Additional funding is required to ensure that the environment is accessible and safe for students with different disabilities. Donor funding is also used to procure specialised equipment to allow disabled students to succeed at University.