NLC Evaluation of Small Grants (2018-2022)

The Legislative mandate of the NLC includes inviting applications from registered organisations to apply for grants (small, medium and large) in support of worthy good causes.  Non-profit entities working for the public good are eligible for funding from the National Lotteries  Commission. Mthente was commissioned by the NLC to undertake an evaluation of the small grants disbursed over the past five years (2018-2022). The study examined the efficiency of the small grant category in enabling first-time and emerging applicants to access funding, the impact of the funding on the objectives of grantees, the sustainability of grantees and the positive or negative unintended consequences for grantees and the NLC. Through comprehensive surveys with NLC grantees during the period in question and in-depth interviews with various NLC implementers, Mthente produced a comprehensive evaluation report that met the intended objectives. Overall, the study provided the NLC with a better understanding of the function and value of small grants in supporting emerging / grassroots organisations, and how this contributed to NLC’s funding objectives.