NLC extends deadline for non-profit funding applications
Organisations that miss the December cutoff will see their profiles archived, barring them from this cycle’s funding.
South Africa.- The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) has extended the deadline for non-profit organisations to finalise their funding applications to December 19 for those who registered profiles on the online platform by May 30.
The move targets groups that have started the process but face hurdles in wrapping it up, ensuring they can still compete for grants in the current 2024/25 financial year.
The NLC, which channels proceeds from national lottery ticket sales into community projects across arts, sports, recreation, charities and other sectors, launched its 2024/25 call for applications on December 2, 2024. The initial deadlines were pushed back several times – first to February 28 2025, then to March 31 and finally May 30. This was done to accommodate the overwhelming interest and iron out technical issues with the new digital system.
Now, with the latest update, the commission aims to salvage incomplete submissions rather than let them lapse entirely. Organisations that miss the December cutoff will see their profiles archived, barring them from this cycle’s funding but allowing updates for future rounds.
NLC Commissioner Jodi Scholtz, who took the helm in 2023 during a period of internal reforms, emphasised the commission’s push for smoother operations. She said: “We have worked diligently to respond to the frustrations of our stakeholders around the long wait for funding, while ensuring that we build fraud-prevention into our processes.”
Her comments reflect ongoing efforts to overhaul a grant system plagued by backlogs; last year, the NLC underspent R720m (€36m) on grants due to capacity shortages, leaving community initiatives short on support. The NLC encourages prompt action, reminding groups that full submissions include detailed project plans and proof of impact.
