Mental health challenges affect millions of people, yet access to support remains out of reach for many.
Whether it’s therapy, counselling, psychiatric care, rehabilitation programmes, crisis support, or mental health awareness initiatives, the cost of accessing help can be a significant barrier. At the same time, many organisations providing vital mental health services rely heavily on public support to keep their programmes running.
This is where mental health crowdfunding is making a meaningful difference.
Across South Africa, individuals, communities, and organisations are using crowdfunding to fund access to care, support mental health initiatives, and help ensure that nobody has to face their struggles alone.
Why Mental Health Funding Matters
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mental health conditions account for a significant portion of the global burden of disease, yet many people never receive the care they need.
Closer to home, the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) reports that many South Africans face barriers to accessing mental healthcare, including affordability, stigma, and a shortage of available services.
For individuals seeking therapy or treatment, costs can quickly add up. For organisations providing mental health support, maintaining helplines, counselling services, and awareness programmes requires ongoing funding.
This is where community support can have a tangible impact.
How Mental Health Crowdfunding Supports Access to Care
Mental health crowdfunding takes many forms. Some campaigns help individuals access therapy, rehabilitation, psychiatric treatment, or recovery support. Others help fund organisations working on the frontlines of mental health care. Many do both.
What they all have in common is a community coming together to make support more accessible.
Supporting Mental Health Services Through Recurring Giving
One organisation that has used crowdfunding to build sustainable support is the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG). As Africa’s largest mental health support and advocacy organisation, SADAG provides counselling, support groups, awareness campaigns, and life-saving helplines to thousands of people every year.
Through the Humankind Project: Humans Helping Humans, supporters can contribute through recurring monthly donations, helping sustain mental health services over the long term. The campaign demonstrates an important reality about mental health funding: support is often needed every day, not only during moments of crisis.
The Power of Monthly Giving
Recurring donations allow organisations to plan ahead, expand services, and respond when people need help most. BackaBuddy’s Donors for Life programme helps organisations build communities of recurring supporters who contribute monthly towards causes they care about.
For organisations interested in growing sustainable donor communities, BackaBuddy also hosts workshops and support sessions through the Donors for Life initiative.
Takeaway: While once-off donations are valuable, recurring giving can help create long-term stability for mental health organisations.
Turning Personal Challenges Into Community Action
Mental health crowdfunding is not limited to organisations. Many individuals have used BackaBuddy to raise awareness, fund mental health support, and create conversations around emotional well-being. A powerful example is Walking for Mental Health, a campaign created by Penelope van Maasdyk.
Rather than simply asking for donations, Penelope used a 1,000km walking journey across Spain as a platform to advocate for mental health, storytelling, healing, and connection. Her campaign raised funds while also encouraging conversations about depression, trauma, grief, recovery, and the importance of seeking support.
The campaign highlights something important: crowdfunding can raise awareness just as effectively as it raises funds.
Takeaway: Sometimes a fundraising campaign becomes a vehicle for changing conversations and reducing stigma.
When Communities Champion Mental Health Causes
One of the most powerful aspects of crowdfunding is that supporters don’t always need to be the direct beneficiary. Through BackaBuddy’s Champion Fundraising model, individuals can create campaigns in support of organisations or causes they care about.
This could look like:
Running a marathon for a mental health charity
Hosting a community event to support a counselling programme
Completing a challenge to raise awareness and funds
Creating a campaign in honour of someone affected by mental illness
Champion fundraising allows people to turn personal passions into practical support for mental health causes.
Case Study: Moving4Mind
A recent example is Moving4Mind, a campaign created by Stellenbosch University student Josh. To raise awareness around mental health challenges among young people, Josh committed to running 300 kilometres from Elands Bay to Table Mountain. The goal wasn’t simply fundraising. It was to start conversations around mental health, resilience, and asking for help.
The campaign raised more than R46 000, helping support mental health helpline services through Miles for Smiles and Cipla South Africa.
His campaign demonstrates how individuals can mobilise communities around a cause while helping fund practical support services.
Takeaway: Champion campaigns create opportunities for people to advocate, educate, and fundraise simultaneously.
Keeping Supporters Connected
Mental health campaigns often resonate deeply because they involve personal journeys. Keeping donors informed through campaign updates helps maintain trust, encourages ongoing support, and reminds people of the impact they are helping create.
Updates might include:
Therapy milestones
Programme outcomes
Awareness campaign achievements
Helpline statistics
Recovery progress
Community impact stories
BackaBuddy campaign updates can be posted directly from your campaign dashboard, helping supporters remain connected to the journey or you can send your update to our team to send out to your donors on your behalf.
Why BackaBuddy Works for Mental Health Fundraising
Mental health fundraising requires more than a donation button. It requires trust, compassion, and a platform that allows people to tell their stories safely and authentically.
BackaBuddy helps individuals and organisations:
Launch dedicated fundraising campaigns or organisations pages
Accept secure online donations
Receive recurring monthly donations
Share campaign updates
Mobilise Champion Fundraisers
Build long-term donor communities
Reach supporters across South Africa and beyond
Whether you’re raising funds for therapy, supporting a mental health organisation, funding rehabilitation, or creating awareness around an important issue, crowdfunding can help connect people who need support with people who want to help.
Our Final Thoughts
Mental health challenges can feel isolating. Crowdfunding reminds people that they don’t have to navigate those challenges alone.
Whether it’s helping someone access therapy, funding a crisis helpline, supporting a rehabilitation programme, or raising awareness around mental wellbeing, every donation contributes towards a larger community of care. And when communities come together around mental health, they do more than raise funds. They help make support more accessible, conversations more open, and hope a little easier to find.
South Africa has hundreds of registered animal welfare organisations, SPCAs, and independent rescue groups caring for abandoned, neglected, and injured animals every day. While many rely on donations to keep their doors open, veterinary costs, food prices, and operational expenses continue to rise.
Crowdfunding has become one of the ways organisations are closing that gap, allowing communities to directly support rescue work as it happens.
Every Rescue Story Starts With One Animal
People don’t donate to shelters because they like statistics. They donate because they met Paul. Or Clementine. Or the abandoned puppy needing emergency surgery.
Here are some inspiring examples of organisations that have turned powerful rescue stories into meaningful community support through BackaBuddy.
Recycling for Animal Welfare (RAW)
Recycling for Animal Welfare (RAW) began with the rescue of a tiny puppy named Paul. Inspired by his survival, Judy Knox and John Ancill built a grassroots rescue organisation, funding much of their work by collecting and recycling glass and cardboard.
As veterinary costs continued to grow, recycling alone could no longer cover the demand. Their BackaBuddy campaign gave supporters another way to help, bridging the gap so they could continue rescuing and caring for animals in need.
Rather than replacing their recycling model, BackaBuddy allowed supporters to bridge the gap when veterinary costs exceeded what recycling alone could cover.
Transparency Builds Trust
Pekingese Haven, which cares for more than 60 rescued and abandoned Pekingese dogs, is a great example. As veterinary costs continued to rise, the organisation launched a BackaBuddy campaign explaining that funds would go directly towards settling growing vet bills and ensuring every dog received the treatment and care it needed. Regular updates keep supporters informed, and the campaign is still exceeding its fundraising goal.
When donors can clearly see where their money is going and the difference it will make, they’re more likely to support a campaign with confidence.
Be transparent about your needs. Explaining how donations will be used and staying engaged with your tribe helps build trust and encourages ongoing support.
Building a Tribe, Not Just Raising Funds
While emergency appeals are important, many animal welfare organisations also need a reliable monthly income to cover everyday expenses like food, veterinary care, medication, and shelter.
Building a community of recurring donors can provide greater financial stability and reduce the need for constant crisis fundraising. Through BackaBuddy’s Donors for Life initiative, organisations can learn how to grow a sustainable giving community using tools such as recurring donations, supporter engagement, and regular campaign updates.
Monthly giving helps create a more predictable source of income, allowing organisations to focus on caring for animals rather than continually raising funds.
Organisations interested in building a recurring giving community can contact [email protected] to learn more about the Donors for Life programme.
Champion Fundraising Helps Supporters Become Advocates
While recurring donors provide long-term stability, some supporters choose to make an impact differently, by fundraising on behalf of an organisation.
A great example was Purpose In Every Stroke, where Alon Sarembock took on the challenge of swimming from Robben Island to Bloubergstrand to raise funds for SANCCOB and its vital seabird rescue and rehabilitation work. Although he wasn’t part of the organisation, his passion for ocean conservation inspired him to rally his own community, raising more than R20,000 through his BackaBuddy campaign.
BackaBuddy’s Champion Fundraising feature allows anyone to do the same, whether it’s taking on a sporting challenge, celebrating a birthday, or hosting an event in support of a cause they care about.
There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Campaign
Crowdfunding isn’t only for emergencies. The Karoo Donkey Sanctuary uses BackaBuddy to raise ongoing support for the care of more than 140 rescued donkeys, encouraging supporters to become monthly custodians through recurring donations. Other organisations use crowdfunding to fund emergency surgeries, sterilisation drives, wildfire relief, feeding programmes, or much-needed infrastructure upgrades.
The most successful organisations don’t just raise funds, they build a community around their mission. By sharing regular updates, celebrating rescue stories and adoptions, and showing the real impact of every donation, supporters become part of the journey. Over time, that community becomes a tribe of people who return, share the story, and continue making a difference.
The strongest campaigns combine a clear purpose with authentic storytelling, helping supporters feel connected to the organisation and the animals whose lives they’re changing.
Giving Your Community the Tools to Help
Every rescue organisation begins with people who refuse to walk past an animal in need. Crowdfunding gives those organisations another way to invite the public into that mission.
Whether you’re responding to an emergency veterinary bill, funding a sterilisation drive, keeping a sanctuary operating, or building long-term support, BackaBuddy helps make it easier for people to get involved. Dedicated campaign pages, secure donations, recurring giving, Champion Fundraising, and campaign updates all help organisations share their needs clearly and keep supporters connected to the story.
The easier it is for people to support your work and see the difference they are making, the easier it becomes to grow a community that stands beside you for the long haul.
Every donation becomes part of another animal’s story.
Pretoria, Gauteng — Two Grade 8 learners from Gauteng North are preparing to represent South Africa on the international stage after achieving a groundbreaking milestone in the country’s science fair history.
Johan Vorster of Pretoria Boys High School and Gustav Heesen of Afrikaans Hoër Seunskool have been selected to compete at the prestigious Genius Olympiad in Rochester, New York, following a remarkable rise through South Africa’s science competition circuit.
Making History in South African Science
The pair first drew national attention in 2025 when, as Grade 7 learners, they became the first students of their age group ever to win the Overall Title at the Gauteng North Imbewu Science Fair, competing against and outperforming older learners across multiple grades.
Their award-winning project focused on an accessible, AI-driven solution designed to support teachers managing overcrowded classrooms.
“Both boys were fascinated by the rise of AI and tools like ChatGPT, and had already started experimenting with coding during a previous expo project,” the family shared. “Gustav is exposed to a lot of conversations around technology and innovation at home, while Johan has insight into the real challenges faced by teachers, especially in rural areas, through his mother’s work in education. Their excitement about new technology and their desire to make a meaningful impact eventually came together in one project.”
Their achievement marked a historic moment for the competition and highlighted the growing potential of young South African innovators.
A Passion for Innovation at a Young Age
Johan and Gustav’s interest in science and innovation began long before their award-winning project.
“Johan and Gustav were in the same class and naturally challenged each other to think differently and find better, faster ways of doing things,” the family explained. “Gustav has always had a strong interest in science, watching science shows from a young age and doing backyard experiments with his dad. Their shared curiosity and competitive spirit helped fuel their passion for innovation.”
The pair say becoming the first Grade 7 learners to win the Gauteng North Imbewu Science Fair overall title was an emotional moment.
“There were a lot of tears, we are still in disbelief,” they shared. “We worked incredibly hard on the project, putting in long hours over weekends and evenings. Winning showed us that age doesn’t matter when you are willing to put in the effort and believe in what you’re building.”
From National Recognition to the Global Stage
Their success continued into 2026, when they competed at the South African Youth Environmental and Science Symposium (SAYESS), earning the title of Second Runner-Up nationally. That performance secured them an invitation to represent South Africa and the Imbewu Science Fair at the Genius Olympiad, one of the world’s leading international competitions for high school science and innovation.
For Johan and Gustav, the opportunity represents far more than travel.
“For us, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” they said. “We are incredibly proud to represent South Africa and to show that young South African scientists can compete on a global stage.”
The Olympiad will bring together some of the brightest young scientific minds from around the world, creating opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from global peers, and showcase South African innovation internationally.
“They are very excited to see the incredible ideas and projects from learners around the world,” the family added. “They hope to learn from others, gain new perspectives, and bring back inspiration to share with their friends and peers, encouraging them to pursue their own ideas seriously.”
Building Solutions for South African Schools
Beyond the competition itself, the boys hope their innovation can eventually make a real difference in South African classrooms.
“They are working towards developing a mobile-friendly app that can help teachers save time by automating tasks like marking tests and exams,” the family explained. “This would allow teachers to focus more on teaching.”
The long-term goal is to create accessible tools that help educators identify learning gaps early and support learners more effectively.
“They also hope their solution will help identify learning gaps early, giving learners more support and helping them reach their full potential, and ultimately showing that learners can achieve more than expected.”
Community Support Needed
While the invitation to compete internationally is a major honour, the cost of international travel remains a significant challenge. Flights, accommodation, registration fees, visas, travel insurance, and transport costs still need to be covered to ensure the boys can take up this opportunity.
If you are unable to donate, sharing their story can help reach others who can.
To support Johan Vorster and Gustav Heesen, visit their BackaBuddy campaign page here.
Barrydale, Western Cape — A young athlete from the small farming town of Barrydale has earned the opportunity to represent South Africa in Europe after being selected for the WSS Western Cape Schools Athletics Tour taking place from 27 June to 18 July 2026.
Aushwin-Leigh Jantjies, a learner at Barrydale High School, has been selected to take part in the international athletics tour after an extraordinary rise in the sport.
Although he only started participating in athletics in 2023, Aushwin-Leigh has already made history as the first athlete from Barrydale High School, and the town of Barrydale, to reach this level of achievement.
He currently runs the 400m in an impressive 48.19 seconds.
A Dream Bigger Than One Athlete
For Aushwin-Leigh, this opportunity is more than a personal milestone.
It is a dream shared by his family, school, and wider Barrydale community, many of whom have watched him train, grow, and believe despite limited resources.
For a young athlete from a rural town, opportunities like this are rare.
“To wear the South African flag on an international stage is a dream bigger than himself,” the campaign shares.
Talent Built Through Sacrifice
Aushwin-Leigh has earned his place through sacrifice, discipline, and raw talent.
While many athletes have access to proper training facilities, sponsorships, and structured support, he has had to pursue his dream with very little.
His community is made up largely of farm workers and working families, many of whom work tirelessly to provide for their households. Raising the full cost of the tour locally is therefore extremely difficult.
Early Support Has Started the Journey
A BackaBuddy campaign launched by Carly Booysen has already raised R1,620 toward the R100,000 needed to help cover the cost of the international tour.
Nine donors have stepped forward in the first few days, helping begin the journey toward getting Aushwin-Leigh to Europe.
The funds raised will assist with travel, tour expenses, accommodation, and the costs linked to representing South Africa abroad.
A Future Olympic Dream
Aushwin-Leigh hopes this tour will help him continue developing as an athlete and move closer to his dream of one day becoming an Olympian.
For his supporters, the campaign is about making sure poverty does not stand between a talented young athlete and an opportunity he has already earned.
“No child should lose the opportunity to represent South Africa because of poverty,” the campaign shares.
How the Public Can Help
Supporters can contribute to Aushwin-Leigh’s campaign or help by sharing his story with schools, athletics clubs, businesses, sports supporters, and community networks.
To support Aushwin-Leigh Jantjies’ journey to represent South Africa in Europe, visit his BackaBuddy campaign page here.
Every film starts as an idea. Every theatre production begins with a script, a rehearsal room, or a conversation between creatives who believe a story deserves to be told. The challenge is that bringing those stories to life often requires funding long before tickets are sold or audiences arrive.
For many independent filmmakers, theatre companies, student productions, and community arts projects in South Africa, traditional funding can be difficult to secure. Grants are competitive, sponsorships are limited, and production costs can quickly escalate.
That’s why many creatives are turning to platforms like backaBuddy for crowdfunding support to fund productions, build audiences, and bring their projects to life. Platforms like BackaBuddy make it possible to raise funds directly from supporters who believe in your vision, while also building a community around your work from day one.
Why Crowdfunding Works So Well for Creative Projects
Creative projects have one major advantage when it comes to crowdfunding: They already have a story. People don’t support films, plays, documentaries, or performances because they need funding. They support them because they connect with the message, the purpose, or the people behind them.
Crowdfunding transforms supporters into participants. Instead of waiting until opening night, audiences become part of the journey from the beginning.
For creatives, this can mean:
Raising production funding
Building an audience before launch
Testing whether an idea resonates
Maintaining creative independence
Creating a community of advocates who help share the project
According to the UNESCO Global Report on Cultural and Creative Industries, the creative economy contributes significantly to employment and cultural development worldwide, yet many independent creatives continue to face barriers to accessing traditional funding opportunities.
What Makes Creative Crowdfunding Campaigns Successful?
While every project is different, successful campaigns often share a few common characteristics.
They Tell a Story People Want to Be Part Of
People support creators as much as they support projects.
Before explaining budgets and production costs, help people understand why the project matters, what inspired it, and why you’re passionate about bringing it to life. A strong campaign story gives supporters something to connect with emotionally and a reason to care about the outcome.
A great example is Meat Thing, a short film by Reuben Goldblum that raised R22 917 from supporters, exceeding its R20 000 goal.
Rather than focusing only on fundraising, the campaign immediately introduced readers to the film’s unusual premise: a dark comedy about a lonely butcher whose grip on reality begins to unravel when a piece of meat starts talking back to him. The campaign then explained where the project was in its development journey and how support would help move it into production.
By giving potential donors a glimpse into the story, the creative vision, and the team behind it, supporters could see exactly what they were helping bring to life. You can find the campaign here.
Here is all you need to know about writing a successful campaign narrative.
They Show the Vision Visually
Creative campaigns should look creative. Supporters want to connect with the vision. This could include campaign images of:
Concept art
Rehearsal photos
Cast/crew if relevant to the campaign story
A campaign video
BackaBuddy allows campaign creators to embed YouTube videos directly onto campaign pages, making it easier for supporters to connect emotionally with a project.
Takeaway: People are more likely to support a project they can already imagine coming to life and that they can connect with.
For guidance on creating an effective campaign video, click here.
They Explain What Support Makes Possible
Supporters are more likely to contribute when they understand how their donation will help bring a project to life.
Whether funding equipment, venue hire, costumes, post-production, festival travel, or community arts programmes, clearly explaining what the funds will be used for helps build trust and allows donors to see the impact of their contribution.
Takeaway: People are more likely to support a creative project when they can clearly see how their contribution helps make it happen.
Building an Audience Before Opening Night
One of the most overlooked benefits of crowdfunding is audience development. When someone contributes to a campaign, they become emotionally invested in the outcome.
They’re more likely to:
Follow updates
Share the project
Attend screenings or performances
Recommend it to others
In many cases, your earliest donors become your strongest promoters.
Takeaway: Crowdfunding builds momentum long before launch day.
Keeping Supporters Part of the Journey
The most successful creative campaigns don’t stop communicating once donations start coming in. Supporters want to know:
When filming begins
How rehearsals are progressing
When milestones are reached
When the final production launches
BackaBuddy campaign updates make it easy to keep donors informed throughout the process. In the POPArt Theatre campaign, campaign creator Hayleigh used BackaBuddy’s built-in update section to keep donors informed.
Takeaway: Updates transform donors into long-term supporters.
Why BackaBuddy Works for Creative Crowdfunding
BackaBuddy provides creatives with a simple, flexible way to raise funds while focusing on what they do best: creating. Campaign creators can:
Launch dedicated campaign pages
Encourage donors with secure online donations
Share updates with supporters
Embed campaign videos from YouTube
Track fundraising progress in real time
Encourage supporters to share campaigns across social media
Most importantly, crowdfunding allows communities to become part of the creative process itself.
Creative projects have always depended on people who believe in stories. Crowdfunding simply makes it easier for those people to get involved. Whether you’re producing a short film, staging a theatre production, creating a documentary, or launching a community arts initiative, crowdfunding allows supporters to help transform an idea into something tangible.
And when a community believes in a story, remarkable things can happen.
