South Africa Development Fund Inc
South Africa Development Fund Inc. (SADF) is a public charity based in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. Founded in 1985, it supports community-based organizations in South Africa serving communities disadvantaged by racial and social injustice, using grants and capacity building to support grassroots activism and social and racial justice movements.
South Africa Development Fund Inc at a glance
In short: South Africa Development Fund Inc reported $516K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $516,199 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -64.3% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $549,069
- -18.1% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $438,414
- -70.3% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $15,698
- +32.2% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $577,740
- -61.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to South Africa Development Fund Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
SADF does not accept unsolicited requests; its website says it is not accepting unsolicited proposals. The website also lists organizations for which it accepts designated contributions.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 300758, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: (617) 522-5511
Website: https://sadevelopmentfund.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who South Africa Development Fund Inc funds
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
SADF supports community-based organizations and projects in South Africa. Its website identifies partners in locations including Johannesburg, Khayelitsha, and Cape Town.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $7K (2019) to $1.4M (2024). In 2025 it reported $516K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Ready to take the next step with South Africa Development Fund Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $549,069 | $438,414 | $577,740 | $516,199 | Total only | $15,698 |
| 2024 | $670,255 | $1,474,559 | $1,510,862 | $1,447,538 | Total only | $11,878 |
| 2023 | $684,894 | $1,175,980 | $1,255,091 | $1,189,356 | Total only | $9,688 |
| 2022 | $748,055 | $918,917 | $1,011,780 | $935,645 | Total only | $2,868 |
| 2021 | $903,648 | $1,328,619 | $1,551,880 | $1,398,176 | Total only | $1,341 |
| 2020 | $1,101,088 | $1,261,663 | $1,350,164 | $1,198,269 | Total only | $18,096 |
| 2019 | $1,194,344 | $1,523,925 | $1,541,242 | $6,625 | 1 | $20,849 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
SADF’s stated mission is to support grassroots activism and social and racial justice movements that provide services and resources to communities disadvantaged by a history of racial and social injustice. It supports community-based organizations committed to non-sexist, non-racial, democratic practices and work addressing human rights through health, education, economic development, environmental justice, and democracy-building.
The funder describes its grant program as providing discretionary and donor-advised grants to community-based projects and organizations in South Africa. Examples of grantees listed on its website include SECTION27, which describes its work as pursuing equality and social justice through law, advocacy, legal literacy, research, and community mobilization; the Social Justice Coalition, which campaigns for safety and dignity in townships; the Treatment Action Campaign, which advocates for people with HIV/AIDS and TB; and GroundUp, which publishes reporting on human rights in South Africa.
Grantmaking
SADF’s 2024 filing describes a program of discretionary and donor-advised grants to community-based projects and organizations in South Africa. Its website lists grassroots partners including SECTION27, the Social Justice Coalition, the Treatment Action Campaign, and GroundUp, but provides no grant amounts for these examples. The filings report zero grants for 2023, 2024, and 2025; they do not provide grant totals or typical award sizes for those years.
The 2024 filing states that grantees must use funds for the agreed charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, repay funds not used in a timely manner or in accordance with the grant agreement, and submit a report on progress and expenditures. It also states that board members with a current or recent relationship to a grantee must recuse themselves from votes concerning that grantee.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Holly Shepherd as Executive Director, Heeten Kalan as Chair, Mokubung Nkomo as Secretary, Nomazizi Sokudela as Vice Chair, and Paul Stopforth as Treasurer. SADF’s leadership page also lists Kalan, Sokudela, Nkomo, Stopforth, and Shepherd as its board leadership, identifying Shepherd as Executive Director.
South Africa Development Fund Inc is led by Heeten Kalan, Chair on every filing since 2019; 1 of 5 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heeten Kalan
Chair
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Holly Shepherd
Executive Di
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$99K (2019) → $38K (2025)
Mokubung Nkomo
Secretary
Clerk → Secretary, 2020
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nomazizi Sokudela
Vice Chair
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Stopforth
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $38K, to Holly Shepherd (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about South Africa Development Fund Inc
How much does South Africa Development Fund Inc give each year?
South Africa Development Fund Inc reported $516K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it reported $1.4M in grants paid.
How large is South Africa Development Fund Inc?
South Africa Development Fund Inc reported $549K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $438K.
What does South Africa Development Fund Inc fund?
SADF’s stated mission is to support grassroots activism and social and racial justice movements that provide services and resources to communities disadvantaged by a history of racial and social injustice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from South Africa Development Fund Inc?
SADF does not accept unsolicited requests; its website says it is not accepting unsolicited proposals. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does South Africa Development Fund Inc make grants?
SADF supports community-based organizations and projects in South Africa. Its website identifies partners in locations including Johannesburg, Khayelitsha, and Cape Town.
What is South Africa Development Fund Inc's EIN?
South Africa Development Fund Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2674813. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does South Africa Development Fund Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS January 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 22, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 6, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
Other open foundation grants in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in South Africa Development Fund Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Similar funders in Massachusetts
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
Eastern Bank Foundation
Wakefield, MA
Eastern Bank Foundation supports economic inclusion and mobility, including small businesses, early childhood development, affordable housing, and workforce development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $50 to $2,002,500, with a median of $2,500, primarily in Massachusetts and also in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. It accepts online applications and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$266.7M
Grants
1,786
Total Given
$19.0M
Barr Foundation
Boston, MA
The Barr Foundation funds arts and creativity, climate, education, and New England’s social sector, primarily through long-term support for organizations in New England. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $3.275 million, with a median of $80,000. Its filing says it accepts only requests from preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests, though its website describes program-page inquiries and occasional open calls.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
903
Total Given
$123.2M
Liberty Mutual Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
Liberty Mutual Foundation funds basic needs such as food and shelter, education and workforce development, and climate and community infrastructure, including homelessness and community preparedness programs. Its 2024 grants had a median of $35,000, and most funding supports organizations or programs serving the Boston area, though it also gives elsewhere. It accepts unsolicited online requests on a rolling basis, with no submission deadlines.
Assets
$46.1M
Grants
706
Total Given
$50.6M
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc (FKA Oneworld Boston Inc)
Woburn, MA
Cummings Foundation Grants Inc. funds nonprofits working in human services, education, healthcare, fairness and justice, and the environment, primarily in greater Boston and eastern Massachusetts. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $3.5 million, with a median of $35,000; it accepts letters of inquiry through an online portal during its application cycle, which was not open at the time described.
Assets
$258.2M
Grants
658
Total Given
$38.2M
American Tower Corporation Foundation
Boston, MA
Assets
$15.4M
Grants
632
Total Given
$1.7M
More similar funders
More Funders in Massachusetts
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from South Africa Development Fund Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
South Africa Development Fund Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?