by Simbulele Jezile | Jun 20, 2025 | Featured, Free Resources, Resource Hub
South Africans are giving more — and making an even bigger impact — thanks to a major change on Africa’s most trusted crowdfunding platform. As of June 2025, BackaBuddy now charges 0% platform fees on all campaigns, meaning every rand raised goes directly to the cause.
For individuals, schools, charities, and community groups, this shift is already helping more people raise funds, reach more donors, and uplift more lives.
Raising More. Giving More.
Already this year, the move to 0% platform fees has helped channel over R12 million extra directly into the hands of campaigners and charities.
In the past 12 months, more than 54,000 donations through BackaBuddy have raised over R157 million — supporting medical care, education, disaster relief, disability access, housing, and many personal needs across South Africa.
People Funding Purpose
Every day, individuals use BackaBuddy to raise funds for life-changing needs — from surgeries and school fees to funeral costs, disaster recovery, and community projects.
Whether it’s a mother crowdfunding for her child’s hearing aids, a teacher helping a student get to university, or a neighbourhood rallying to rebuild after a fire — every campaign brings hope and opportunity.
“When people feel empowered, they give more,” says Patrick Schofield, Founder and CEO of BackaBuddy. “Compulsory. Mandatory. Exclusionary. These are words I don’t like. But choice, agency, and accessibility? These are words I do. It’s what informed my thinking in developing the 0% platform fee model at BackaBuddy. Firstly to maximise funds going directly to those who need them. But also, by giving you the option to add a voluntary tip when you donate, you’re given the choice — and the agency — to support the work we do in enabling crowdfunding for others. If you feel our service is excellent and our platform delivers real value, you’ll choose to support us. And if not, you won’t. What better way to ensure everyone at BackaBuddy is super focused on excellence in service and being the best possible platform out there for you.”
Since launching in 2015, BackaBuddy has helped raise more than R630 million for over 44,000 campaigns — powered by a caring community of over 650,000 donors in South Africa and around the world.
How It Works
BackaBuddy’s 0% platform fee officially launched in June 2025. Donors now have the option to leave a small voluntary tip to help support the platform — while every rand raised (minus only third-party payment processing fees) goes directly to the campaign.
Charities Already Seeing the Difference
Both large and small charities are benefiting from the change.
Gift of the Givers shares:
“We pride ourselves on ensuring that every cent possible goes to the people we help. With BackaBuddy’s 0% platform fee and transparent cost structure, our fundraisers know that their supporters’ donations go where they’re needed most — inspiring trust and generosity.”
Charities, like Rainbows and Smiles — supporting families of children with cancer — agree:
“The 0% platform fee has been a real gift,” the team says. “It reassures donors that their contributions go directly where they’re needed — and for smaller charities like ours, it removes so much of the stress of fundraising. Every rand now makes an even bigger difference.”
Why More Are Choosing BackaBuddy
More South Africans are choosing BackaBuddy because it helps them raise more — with 0% platform fees ensuring every campaign keeps more of what it raises. The platform offers trusted, easy-to-use technology and practical tools to help campaigners tell their stories and inspire giving.
To support a fundraiser or launch your own campaign, visit:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za
by Simbulele Jezile | Jun 6, 2025 | Campaign, Featured
Picture: The 2023 Comrades Marathon down run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Shelley Kjonstad/African News Agency (ANA)
As thousands prepare to lace up for the Comrades Marathon, a remarkable group of runners are stepping up — not just for the challenge, but for change.
Every stride on race day will cover more than distance. It will raise awareness. It will honour lives. And in many cases, it will fund vital work led by some of South Africa’s most impactful nonprofits.
At BackaBuddy, we’re proud to be the platform of choice for individuals and charities running with purpose — transforming this iconic race into a celebration of generosity, resilience, and collective action.
Running for Children, Education, and Hope
Rainbows and Smiles
Rainbows and Smiles offers emotional, social, and financial support to families facing the unimaginable: childhood cancer. Their Comrades runners race in memory of brave little warriors and in honour of those still fighting — ensuring no child faces cancer alone.
Every year, they are joined by a powerful group of supporters who turn their sweat into support. Together, they run with heart, and for hope.
Support their champions here: Rainbows and Smiles Foundation | BackaBuddy
CHOC Cows
With their unmistakable horns, high energy, and unmatched spirit, the CHOC Cows are a beloved feature of the Comrades route. But beyond the fun is a serious mission — to “keep more than hope alive” for children affected by cancer.
By fundraising through BackaBuddy, CHOC Cows and their many champions help provide accommodation, counselling, awareness, and comfort to families across South Africa.
Support the herd here: The CHOC Cows | BackaBuddy
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria’s Comrades runners take each step in support of access to education, groundbreaking research, and impactful community upliftment. Their fundraising contributes to student bursaries, academic development, and outreach programmes that transform lives.
This year, they’re joined by individuals such as:
- Prof Andries de Lange – A UP staff member whose campaign, From the Academic Field to the Finish Line, channels his Comrades run into fundraising for educational equity and empowerment.
- Dr Bianca Frost– A dedicated educator whose campaign, From the Classroom to the Comrades, supports young learners by showing them that discipline, dreams, and determination can cross any finish line.
Support The University of Pretoria Team here: University of Pretoria | BackaBuddy
Why Run for a Cause?
Whether you’re passionate about healthcare, the environment, mental health, education, or emergency relief — there’s a cause on BackaBuddy that speaks to every heart.
Running for a cause is an incredible achievement on its own. But using it as a platform to uplift others? That’s legacy.
And the good news? It’s simple to get started. We’re here to help you launch, share, and grow your campaign — from start to finish line.
Ready to Join the Movement?
by Simbulele Jezile | May 29, 2025 | Campaign, Featured
In a world where childhood cancer turns families’ lives upside down, a spirited herd from all over the world are lacing up, diving in, and moo-ving mountains — one race, one challenge, one campaign at a time. They are The Cows — and they’re not just fundraising, they’re doing it with heart, humour, and a whole lot of cowbell.
Since 2008, this animated crew has rallied behind CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation South Africa, helping ensure that children and teens fighting cancer get the care and comfort they deserve. With every event they take on, The Cows live by their motto: Love Living Life — and use every opportunity to give back.
Why CHOC Matters
CHOC is there when it counts most — making sure no child or teen faces cancer alone. While doctors handle the treatment, CHOC wraps families in care and support.
They offer:
- A safe place to stay near hospitals
- Nutritious meals to keep little fighters strong
- Help with transport for long journeys
- Emotional support for parents and kids
- Bright, kid-friendly hospital spaces
- Training for early diagnosis
CHOC keeps families together, spirits lifted, and hope alive — with help from champions like The Cows.
The Cows: Turning Athletic Spirit into Action
What began as a small group has grown into a nationwide movement. The Cows show up at races, swims, rides, and endurance events, dressed head-to-hoof in cow gear, armed with infectious enthusiasm and a fierce will to make a difference. They’ve made it their mission to turn every sporting challenge into a fundraising opportunity for CHOC.
At this year’s aQuellé Midmar Mile in February 2025, 54 Cow champions dived into action and raised an incredible R228,000 through BackaBuddy. Each campaign, big or small, became a ripple of hope. Swimmers dedicated their efforts to children they’d never met, but whose battles had touched their hearts.
“We don’t do this for glory,” shared one long-time Cow. “We do it because we’ve seen what CHOC does for families. If our running shoes and swim caps can help even one child stay with their family through treatment, it’s worth every blister.”
View The Cows’ Midmar Campaigns:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/organization/the-cows
Charging Toward Comrades 2025: One Step, One Smile, One Story at a Time
The Cows are now gearing up for the ultimate challenge: the Comrades Marathon 2025 on 9 June. With their tails wagging and cowbells ringing, they’ll hit the road dressed in signature black-and-white suits — but their eyes are fixed on something far beyond the finish line.
Every kilometre run is a message to the children of CHOC: we see you, we support you, and we believe in your future.
But they can’t do it alone.
How You Can Help
Whether you’re an athlete, a supporter on the sidelines, or someone who simply believes in doing good, there’s a place for you in this story. You can:
- Make a donation to support The Cows and CHOC
- Cheer on a Cow champion
- Start your own fundraising campaign for CHOC through BackaBuddy
Start your own campaign here:
Become a Cow! – Raise Funds for CHOC on BackaBuddy!
Your support helps fund life-saving treatment, warm meals, and a sense of normalcy for kids who desperately need it.
To support The Cows and their fundraising efforts for CHOC:
View their BackaBuddy profile: The Cows on BackaBuddy
Learn More About CHOC Here: https://choc.org.za
by Simbulele Jezile | May 29, 2025 | Campaign, Featured, Join The Team
Head of Marketing – Where Mission Meets Metrics
Location: Cape Town or Remote (South Africa-based)
Sector: Crowdfunding | Social Impact | Performance Marketing
Reports into: COO
Direct reports: 4
Exco level position
Type: Full-time | Salary: R50 000 – R70 000 depn.
Start date: ASAP but flexible for the right person
BackaBuddy is South Africa’s leading crowdfunding platform for personal and charitable causes. We’re a two sided marketplace where trust and peer-to-peer engagement drive exponential impact.
We believe in the power of stories backed by results. That impact isn’t just something you support — it’s something you can see, measure, and grow. This is where you come in.
We’re looking for a Head of Marketing who’s driven by purpose but obsessed with performance. Someone who understands how evidence of impact drives future funding — and is able to build the systems that prove that impact at scale.
Your Mission: Build a Growth Engine Fueled by Proof of Impact
As Head of Marketing, your core responsibility is maximising the value and impact of what people achieve through BackaBuddy. That’s gathering, curating and sharing the 1000’s of incredible stories of how ‘People are powerful’ when we act together. Our aim, to massively broaden BackaBuddy’s brand as the first call for people to raise the funds they need and see the impact. How? By solidifying our image as the most trusted, successful, and transparent crowdfunding platform in South Africa.
You’ll lead a multidisciplinary team that transforms campaign milestones into powerful content, ensuring that every donor receives clear, timely, and emotive proof of the change they helped create. And by doing that, you’ll convert once-off donors into recurring contributors to social good.
The metal of our new Head of Marketing:
- You’ll have experience in growing two-sided marketplaces or digital platforms, ideally where trust and peer-to-peer engagement drive exponential growth.
- You’ll have worked hand-in-hand with product and engineering teams to translate user insights into features, and features into growth. You’ll be comfortable owning messaging, onboarding, and feature adoption KPIs.
- You’ll demonstrate understanding of behavioral economics, habit-forming design, and community-led growth strategies that build intrinsic motivation among donors and campaigners.
- You’ll be comfortable designing and testing trust systems, including campaign validation mechanisms, donor recognition and social proof features — not just messaging.
- You will have studied or contributed to international crowdfunding/giving platforms and can intelligently localize those insights for African markets.
- You’ll be able to lead B2B2C marketing — helping integrate giving into banking, retail, and healthcare ecosystems via APIs, widgets, or white-label tech.
- You’ll be comfortable being a public-facing evangelist — speaking at events, engaging the media, and building BackaBuddy’s profile as Africa’s leading giving infrastructure.
The basic experience required:
- Have 10+ years in marketing or related experience with
- 5 years in team leadership.
Quantitative KPI’s will include:
- % of donors receiving meaningful campaign updates
- Growth in recurring donors and donor lifetime value
- Increases in platform traffic and successful fundraising campaigns
- Growth in brand recognition in SA and globally
What We Offer:
- A fast-moving, fast growing (100%pa) purpose-driven company with a team of 32 people, 5 of us dedicated to marketing.
- The opportunity to deploy your knowledge to achieve massive directly measurable impact.
- Having creative freedom backed by excellent technology and team.
- A culture of transparency, collaboration, and continuous growth
To apply:
Send us:
– your CV
– a brief cover letter including what inspires you to work with us
– portfolio with your best work and,
– your best GPT convo (prompt + output: the one that made you pause) to [email protected]
NB: Thank you for taking the time to submit your application. Please note ONLY candidates that are selected for an interview will be contacted further.
by Simbulele Jezile | May 23, 2025 | Campaign, Featured
Buhle Dlamini (38) from Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, is a devoted mother of four-year-old twins and a hardworking domestic worker who has spent years caring for others. But after being diagnosed with aggressive cervical cancer in February, she now faces her own fight—for her life and her children’s future.
A Mother’s Love, a Daily Fight
For Buhle, the struggle is not just physical—it’s deeply emotional. She now lives with constant discomfort, abnormal bleeding, and pain that sometimes makes it hard to walk. But she continues to work and care for her children, keeping much of her suffering to herself.
“I cry at night when no one can hear me,” she says softly. “I can handle the pain, but I can’t bear the thought of not seeing my children grow up. What will happen to them if I’m not here?”
Her twins, Ayabonga and Asbongi, are her whole world. Their laughter, their school songs, and even their sibling squabbles bring her pride.
“When they tell me about their friends or sing songs from school, I feel so proud,” she says. “Even when they’re naughty, I smile—it means they’re strong and happy.”
Despite her diagnosis, Buhle still gets up every morning to work. “I don’t have a choice,” she explains. “We’re a poor family. I need to keep going—for them.”
The Friend Who Stepped In
For the past five years, Buhle has worked for Trek Scale and in the home of Sherees Dalton, who has come to know Buhle not just as an employee, but as family.
“She’s become a sister—the sister I never had,” says Sherees. “We share our lives. We trust each other. When she told me what she was going through, I knew I couldn’t just stand by.”
With Buhle’s father also battling blood cancer, and little family support around her, the emotional and financial weight has been immense. “She carries so much on her own,” says Sherees. “And if Buhle isn’t here, her twins will be orphaned. That’s the reality.”
Wanting to do more than offer words, Sherees turned to action. She launched a BackaBuddy campaign—Miracles for Buhle—to raise R60,000 for the urgent medical treatment, surgery, and transport costs Buhle needs to start her recovery.
“She’s one of the most hardworking, honest people I’ve ever met,” Sherees says. “She works multiple jobs without complaint. But this isn’t something she can do alone—she needs a community to carry her now.”
A Life-Saving Campaign
Before any treatment can begin, Buhle needs a cone biopsy to determine how far the cancer has spread. From there, she may need a hysterectomy and further specialized care. But until the funds are raised, her journey is on hold.
So far, just over R3,000 has been raised from 16 generous donors. And while in need of further support, the messages and small acts of kindness are already making a difference.
“To the people who have donated—even R20—you’ve made me feel like I’m not alone,” says Buhle. “I can’t find the words to thank you.”
Her wish is simple: “I just want to live long enough to raise my children. That’s all I want. That’s what I’m fighting for.”
To support Buhle, visit her BackaBuddy campaign link here:
