Invest In Systemic Change

The first five years of a child’s life are crucial in shaping their future. Yet, millions of children in South Africa are deprived of the early learning opportunities they need—not because they lack potential, but because they lack access.

By funding SmartStart’s network approach, you are investing in a transformative model that drives social and economic change. Our approach leverages community-based resources to create scalable, affordable, and high-impact early learning programs. We empower women to become agents of change, fostering social capital and economic growth within their communities.



Become a funder

The Impact Lasts a Lifetime

Your support enables us to close the early learning access gap, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in school, build a career, and break the cycle of poverty. Together, we can create a sustainable future where quality early learning is accessible to all, driving systemic change and transforming lives.



Your Support Makes This Possible

Be the reason a child gets the start they deserve. Become a funder today.



Hear From Our Funders



Smart Programme Overview

Based on evidence and global best practice, and aligned with South African curriculum frameworks and standards, the SmartStart programme and daily routine is designed to equip children aged three to five years with the skills they need to lay the foundation for their development and wellbeing.



Our Current Funders

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Mulago Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports high-impact, scalable, and innovative solutions to poverty. Mulago finds and funds high-performance organizations that tackle the basic needs of the very poor.



Cartier Philanthropy is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable communities across the world, with a particular focus on women and children. With the right support and access to new opportunities and choices, Catier Philanthropy believe that those living in poverty can actively shape their own destinies and begin to thrive.



Rippleworks envision a world where all people have equitable access to the resources and opportunities to live their lives to the fullest potential.



DGMT is committed to developing South Africa’s potential by helping to create an ethical and enabling environment where human needs and aspirations are met; and where every person is given the opportunity to fulfil their potential, for both personal benefit and for that of the wider community. DGMT commission projects that can seize the opportunities for success; communicate those opportunities in ways that inspire leadership and action; and connect people of like and unlike mind, who are committed to the same goal.



ELMA aims to improve the lives of children and their families, with a primary focus in Africa.



Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) is a global venture philanthropy firm that finds, funds, and supports early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems. At DRK, we believe - even in the most challenging times - that hope springs eternal.



Co-Impact is a global philanthropic collaborative focused on improving the lives of millions through just and inclusive systems change. It brings together philanthropists, foundations, and private sector partners to pool funding and support efforts aimed at driving systems change in sectors such as health, education, and economic opportunity. Founded in 2017, Co-Impact aims to enable lasting impact so that communities can experience meaningful improvements in their lives.



The Jobs Fund is a challenge fund that supports projects that catalyse innovative models for sustainable and inclusive job creation in South Africa.



LGT Venture Philanthropy strives to improve the quality of life of people facing disadvantages, contribute to healthy ecosystems and build resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. LGT Venture Philanthropy strengthen the capabilities of locally rooted organisations delivering effective, scalable solutions to systemic problems across health, education and environment.



The FEM Education Foundation, FEMEF, is a non-profit organisation that was established on 19 October 2016 as a landmark corporate and social investment initiative during a General Meeting of FEM Shareholders. To this end, R750 Million payment has been made into the foundation. The objective of FEMEF is to make a real and significant impact in improving education in South Africa. This end will be achieved through partnering with a few carefully selected NGO’s that operate in the education space.



Mulago Foundation is a philanthropic organization that supports high-impact, scalable, and innovative solutions to poverty. Mulago finds and funds high-performance organizations that tackle the basic needs of the very poor.



Cartier Philanthropy is committed to improving the lives of vulnerable communities across the world, with a particular focus on women and children. With the right support and access to new opportunities and choices, Catier Philanthropy believe that those living in poverty can actively shape their own destinies and begin to thrive.



Rippleworks envision a world where all people have equitable access to the resources and opportunities to live their lives to the fullest potential.



DGMT is committed to developing South Africa’s potential by helping to create an ethical and enabling environment where human needs and aspirations are met; and where every person is given the opportunity to fulfil their potential, for both personal benefit and for that of the wider community. DGMT commission projects that can seize the opportunities for success; communicate those opportunities in ways that inspire leadership and action; and connect people of like and unlike mind, who are committed to the same goal.



ELMA aims to improve the lives of children and their families, with a primary focus in Africa.



Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation (DRK) is a global venture philanthropy firm that finds, funds, and supports early-stage social impact organizations solving the world’s biggest social and environmental problems. At DRK, we believe - even in the most challenging times - that hope springs eternal.



Co-Impact is a global philanthropic collaborative focused on improving the lives of millions through just and inclusive systems change. It brings together philanthropists, foundations, and private sector partners to pool funding and support efforts aimed at driving systems change in sectors such as health, education, and economic opportunity. Founded in 2017, Co-Impact aims to enable lasting impact so that communities can experience meaningful improvements in their lives.



The Jobs Fund is a challenge fund that supports projects that catalyse innovative models for sustainable and inclusive job creation in South Africa.



LGT Venture Philanthropy strives to improve the quality of life of people facing disadvantages, contribute to healthy ecosystems and build resilient, inclusive, and prosperous communities. LGT Venture Philanthropy strengthen the capabilities of locally rooted organisations delivering effective, scalable solutions to systemic problems across health, education and environment.



The FEM Education Foundation, FEMEF, is a non-profit organisation that was established on 19 October 2016 as a landmark corporate and social investment initiative during a General Meeting of FEM Shareholders. To this end, R750 Million payment has been made into the foundation. The objective of FEMEF is to make a real and significant impact in improving education in South Africa. This end will be achieved through partnering with a few carefully selected NGO’s that operate in the education space.

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