Charter Academy Foundation
Empowering Youth. Enabling Communities.
The Charter Academy Foundation (CAF) is a South African non-profit organisation focused on advancing youth economic empowerment through financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Building on nearly two decades of delivery experience through Charter Academy, CAF exists to scale evidence-led, partnership-driven programmes that equip young people to participate meaningfully in a changing economy.
Who We Are
The Charter Academy Foundation is the philanthropic and impact-focused arm of Charter Academy. While CAF is newly incorporated, it formalises and extends a legacy of social-impact work that began in 2006.
Too many young South Africans still struggle to transition from education and training into meaningful economic participation. CAF responds with focused, evidence-based interventions that build capability, confidence and opportunity pathways, while creating a dedicated structure through which this work can be scaled sustainably.
Our values: Collaboration · Integrity · Innovation · Impact · Empowerment
Vision
A generation of young Africans who are financially empowered, employable and entrepreneurial; driving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.
Mission
To empower people and enable communities by equipping young South Africans with the financial, professional and entrepreneurial skills to thrive in a changing economy.
Our Work
CAF’s programmes are designed to be scalable, partnership-ready and grounded in evidence.
Financial Literacy & Wealth Creation
Build financial capability across life stages, including money management, credit, savings, investment and property literacy.
Work Readiness & Employability
Prepare young people for the labour market through professional skills, behavioural readiness, digital capability and pathways into employment.
Entrepreneurship & Business Development
Support youth entrepreneurship through incubation, micro-enterprise development, coaching and early-stage business readiness.
Partnerships, Research & Data-Driven Design
Use research, monitoring and learning to ensure programmes are responsive, effective, measurable and scalable.
Legacy Impact & Alignment
CAF builds on Charter Academy’s delivery since 2006. The figures below reflect that legacy experience, not CAF-specific results.
90,000+
Beneficiaries reached through Charter Academy’s legacy delivery
National
Delivery footprint across South Africa
Long-standing
Relationships with banks, regulators and institutions
SDGs & NDP 2030
Aligned with relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals and South Africa’s National Development Plan 2030
Build Impact With Us
Meaningful and sustainable social impact is built through collaboration. CAF welcomes organisations, institutions and professionals who share our commitment to youth economic empowerment and want to contribute through aligned funding, programme partnerships or expertise.
Financial Contributions
Once-off, recurring or programme-specific support that helps CAF extend reach and strengthen delivery.
Corporate & Institutional Partnerships
CSI/ESG-aligned funding, programme co-design, youth employment and skills initiatives, and collaborations aligned with national priorities.
Skills, Time & Expertise
Mentorship, coaching, facilitation, technical or advisory support, and structured volunteer engagement aligned with CAF programmes.
Partnership principles: Shared objectives · Long-term orientation · Evidence-led approaches · Accountability · Transparent reporting
Governance & Leadership
CAF is guided by experienced leadership with expertise across education, skills development and organisational transformation, and operates with a strong commitment to fiduciary responsibility, ethical conduct, compliance and stakeholder transparency.
NPO / foundation
CAF is registered with CIPC as a non-profit company, NPC 2025/673280/08.
PBO and section 18A
SARS PBO reference 930088596. Income-tax exemption from 28 November 2025; section 18A approval from 9 March 2026 for approved activities, including training unemployed persons for employment.
Start a Conversation
If you are interested in supporting CAF’s work through funding, partnership or skills-based engagement, we welcome the opportunity to connect and explore how your contribution can support meaningful and sustainable economic participation for young people.
Prefer email? Write to foundation@charteracademy.co.za.