Through The NOW Fund, Old Westerfordians are supporting a generation of New (Old) Westerfordians — exceptional young people who have the potential to transform South Africa but are not able to access an excellent high school education.
The NOW Fund currently supports fifteen promising learners - two each in Grade 11 and 12, three in Grade 10, five in Grade 9 and three in Grade 8. Our five alumni all achieved university admission and are studying at either the University of Cape Town or the University of the Western Cape.
Introducing the NOWFund NPC
As we have grown, it has made sense to become an independent entity. We are now a registered Non-Profit Company and are awaiting SARS clearance which should happen in the next few months.
While we wait for SARS, SA-based donors can still use the usual Spirit NOW Fund bank account to receive their tax certificates. International Donors are welcome to use our new bank details listed on our banking details page.
While we wait for SARS, SA-based donors can still use the usual Spirit NOW Fund bank account to receive their tax certificates. International Donors are welcome to use our new bank details listed on our banking details page.
For more details on the new format of the Fund, please take a look at these Frequently Asked Questions.
How it Works
Generous Old Westerfordians make once-off or monthly contributions toward putting a young person through the full five years at Westerford.
It costs approximately R350000 to put one child through five years of high school at Westerford (taking inflation over the next 5 years into account). This includes fees, books, uniforms, additional academic support if needed, extramural expenses, and other school-related costs including transport and lunches if required.
Supporting and Mentoring
We partner with the Spirit Education Foundation (https://spiritf.org/education-foundation/) to ensure our scholars are cared for holistically. Aside from taking care of scholar selection and the administrative requirements of uniform and stationery supplies etc, they offer psychosocial support, mentorship and a community of supportive peers.
Fundraising
Since 2017, we have raised over R4,1 million rand and changed the lives of 20 young people.
Since 2017, we have raised over R4,1 million rand and changed the lives of 20 young people.
100% of donations to the NOW Fund go towards the scholars' fees and additional support. No admin fees and no CEO salary.
The new format will require approximately R25000 per annum in operational costs. We aim to fundraise for this separately. The committee continues to volunteer their time - all costs are fundraising, marketing, legal and financial administration costs
Tax Benefit
As a donor to The NOW Fund, you are entitled to receive a tax donation certificate for an income tax deduction... so you can rather give the money to educating a young person than to SARS. Isn’t that a fine idea?! Email nowfund@westerford.co.za for more.
BEE letters are also available for corporate donations.
How to help
Set up a monthly debit order, make a once-off donation, crowdfund a full scholarship or encourage your organisation to sponsor a scholarship.
Every amount donated makes an impact.
You also don’t need to be an OW to contribute to this project. As OWs you can enrol your friends, colleagues and extended family (who all know how great Westerford is because you came out of it). They can contribute to the fundraising for your year-group
If you’ve got more questions like…
- Where is the money kept? (Investec)
- Who’s in charge? (There’s a whole team)
- Can I name a scholarship after myself? (Yes… you can!)
- Will this help me get my child into Westerford? (Sadly, nope)
- Who’s in charge? (There’s a whole team)
- Can I name a scholarship after myself? (Yes… you can!)
- Will this help me get my child into Westerford? (Sadly, nope)