Research Reports

Central to Inyathelo’s work is building and sharing new local knowledge through top-quality research publications. Our research has covered areas such as higher education Advancement practices in Africa, access and success rates in tertiary education, and funding frameworks and approaches in South Africa.

We have also initiated research work of relevance and value to the development sector more broadly, including research into National Lotteries funding practices, non-profit governance and assessing the size and interest of corporate funding for addressing LGBTI issues and causes. Inyathelo is currently researching the size and scope of private philanthropy in South Africa and broader funding streams into civil society.

All of Inyathelo’s research reports are available here for free download:

2014 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa.

This report presents the findings of the 2013 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa. The survey, which is the first in what we hope will become a regular annual series, was conducted by EduActive Solutions Ltd on behalf of Inyathelo with financial support from the Kresge Foundation.

2014 Inyathelo Leadership Symposium: blind spots and bright lights

As part of the Kresge Inyathelo Advancement Initiative (KIAI), Inyathelo has organised annual opportunities for university vice-chancellors to engage with the broad concept of Advancement, beyond the basic concern of raising money for their institutions.

2015 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa.

This report presents the findings of the 2014 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa. The survey was conducted by EduActive Solutions Ltd on behalf of Inyathelo: The South African Institute for Advancement with financial support from the Kresge Foundation.

2016 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa.

This report presents the findings of the 2015 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa.

2017 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa.

This report presents the findings of the 2016 Annual Survey of Philanthropy in Higher Education (ASPIHE) in South Africa.

A New NPO Act for South Africa: The Implications of the Proposed New Policy Framework for South African Civil Society. (2014)

Researchers interviewed experts on non-profit law, NPO leaders, the NPO Directorate regarding the implications of the new policy framework for South African civil society.

Blueprint for the future: Looking back, turning inward and moving forward (2011)

The conference focus and discussion raised important questions with regard to current success of South African universities in graduating students with the skills required for South Africa’s development.

Business and Higher Education in Dialogue: Leadership for South Africa Report

A key objective of the Kresge-Inyathelo Advancement Initiative is to provide a platform for high level engagement that focuses on solving the challenges faced by higher education in South Africa.

Exploring Third Stream Income for Universities: Conference report

Governance Practices of national non-profit bodies and national networking organisations in SA. (2010)

Ricardo Wyngaard and Peter Hendricks. This study is exploratory in nature and aims to place certain key findings and specific recommendations on the DSD's non-profit governance agenda.

Institutional Research at South African Universities: A snapshot review

This study, funded by The Kresge Foundation and conducted by Inyathelo, provides a snapshot of Institutional Research (IR) operations at South African universities.

Making It Their Business: An Exploratory Study of Interest Levels Amongst Businesses to Support an LGBTI Foundation in South Africa. (2010)

By Melanie Judge and Gabrielle Ritchie. The objectives of this Atlantic Philanthropies study were to assess the extent to which LGBTI-owned businesses and local or multinational companies are likely to provide sources of funding for an LGBTI Community Foundation.

Meeting their Mandates? Research report on the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund and the National Development Agency. (2011).

The research report on the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and the National Development Agency (NDA).

Meeting their Mandates? Summary

A research study to inform future activities and campaigns which promote more effective relationships between the National Lotteries Board (NLB and its National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF) and the National Development Agency (NDA), on one hand, and the civil society sector on the other hand.

Student Access and Success: Issues and Interventions in South African Universities. (2014)

Report into the key access and success challenges facing public higher education in South Africa. In-depth interviews were conducted with 18 of our 23 universities for the study funded by US-based Kresge Foundation.