A UK-based charity backed by asset manager Ranmore Fund Management has launched a public index designed to improve transparency among smaller charitable organisations operating in South Africa.
Helpmore announced on Tuesday the launch of the Helpmore Trust Index, an online database intended to help donors identify grassroots charities that demonstrate strong standards of accountability, governance, and community impact.
The initiative aims to address a longstanding challenge within South Africa’s non-profit sector. While many smaller charities operate at a local level delivering targeted support, donors often struggle to identify which organisations are credible due to limited public information and fragmented oversight.
The Helpmore Trust Index has been created to introduce donors to charities that have passed a due diligence process conducted by the organisation. Only charities meeting Helpmore’s transparency and accountability criteria will be included.
Sean Peche, founder of Helpmore and chief executive of Ranmore Fund Management, said smaller charitable organisations play a broader economic role in their communities.
“Small charities, like small businesses, create jobs and generate economic growth. We can’t all create jobs by starting small businesses, but we can all create jobs by donating to well run charities, helping them to expand.”
The platform is designed as a dynamic database rather than a static directory. Helpmore says its team will continually expand and review the index, adding new organisations while monitoring those already listed.
Jamie Nye, chief executive of Helpmore, said the aim is to increase visibility for organisations that are already delivering measurable impact but remain relatively unknown to international donors.
“We want to introduce the public to the many wonderful, well run charities having a positive impact on the lives of others in South Africa. Only transparent charities that make it through our due diligence process will be included on our Helpmore Trust Index.
“It’s a dynamic process whereby our team is continually expanding and updating the index and if any charity subsequently breaks our trust, they will be instantly removed.”
The charity sector in South Africa includes thousands of community organisations operating in areas such as education, healthcare, food security, and youth development. Many operate on limited budgets and rely heavily on donations from individuals or philanthropic foundations.
For donors, however, assessing credibility can be difficult. Reporting standards vary widely, and smaller charities often lack the resources to produce formal impact reporting or maintain detailed public profiles.
Helpmore says its index is designed to bridge that gap by acting as a curated gateway for donors seeking smaller organisations with demonstrable impact and governance standards.
The charity is also encouraging members of the public with first-hand knowledge of effective grassroots organisations to help expand the database. Individuals can recommend charities for inclusion through the Helpmore website, where organisations will then undergo the platform’s due diligence process before being added.
Over time, Helpmore expects the index to grow into a broader reference point for donors seeking to support smaller charities across South Africa’s non-profit ecosystem.
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