3 April 2025 at the Skoll World Forum, Trevor Noah announced the establishment of the Trevor Noah Foundation (TNF) Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund, a R30 million ($1.75 million) philanthropy initiative providing flexible funding to South African education nonprofits implementing innovative approaches that advance teacher development and youth opportunity pathways.

Named “Khulani Nathi” — meaning “Let’s grow together” in the South African language isiXhosa — the fund embodies TNF’s philosophy that true education transformation requires collective action and shared growth. The name reflects TNF’s commitment to nurturing educational innovations that can take root and flourish across South Africa’s education landscape.

The Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund addresses significant systemic challenges in South Africa’s philanthropic landscape, where flexible capital remains scarce despite evidence showing its effectiveness in catalyzing sustainable change. With research indicating that 50% of South African teachers will retire by 2040 and the coming “YouthQuake” where 1 in 3 young people globally will be African by 2050 – this investment in Africa’s educational future is more critical than ever.

“Traditional project-restricted grants, rigid program funding, and prescriptive corporate social investment models create unintended barriers for creative thinking, local innovation and community-responsive solutions. True localization requires transforming how we fund – with trust, flexibility and recognition of local expertise at the center,” said Shalane Yuen, Managing Director of TNF.

This localization effort is especially critical given that an overwhelming minority of grant-making foundations are based in Africa, while 95% are concentrated in Europe and North America (Harvard Kennedy School, 2018).

The fund will deploy capital using trust-based philanthropy principles over three years. It will support established organizations in testing promising approaches, building evidence for their effectiveness, and contributing to a more substantial education ecosystem in South Africa. By providing multi-year unrestricted support, TNF aims to address power imbalances in traditional grant-making while empowering local leaders who understand their communities best.

The initiative aligns with growing philanthropic movements emphasizing trust-based practices, localization of resources, and community-driven systems-change approaches. Given the demographic shifts ahead and the critical role education plays in unlocking opportunities, this venture philanthropy approach represents a timely continued investment in Africa’s future.

“I want the Trevor Noah Foundation to be known for transforming the lives of youth and shining a light on the incredible potential of African young people. Everyone in this room has the power to make an extraordinary impact—I’m calling on you to join us in this movement,” said Trevor Noah during the announcement.

Since its founding in 2018, TNF has significantly impacted South Africa’s education landscape. Through its flagship Khulani Schools Program, TNF has partnered with underserved schools to create conducive learning environments, benefiting more than 13,000 students and 500 educators annually. Trevor Noah Foundation’s Education Changemakers initiative has equipped over 230 young leaders with skills to drive educational innovation in their communities while providing essential seed funding to fuel their projects advancing education outcomes.

The Khulani Nathi Innovation Fund represents a strategic evolution of TNF’s work, building on lessons learned while addressing systemic challenges in South Africa’s education sector. By leveraging its established network of partners and proven track record of implementation, TNF is well-positioned to identify and support promising innovations that can scale nationwide.

Trevor Noah Foundation invites philanthropists, impact investors, and corporate partners to join this collective action by co-funding or creating complementary initiatives that recognize the transformative potential of unrestricted funding in education. The first grantees will receive funding by the end of Q4 2025. For more information on the application process or how to get involved, visit www.trevornoahfoundation.org/KhulaniNathi.