In a bold move to reshape South Africa’s crowdfunding ecosystem, BackaBuddy, one of the country’s leading online fundraising platforms, has teamed up with Paysoft Impact to launch Donors For Life, a monthly giving program designed to tackle one of the sector’s most persistent challenges: the steep drop-off in support once a campaign loses its viral momentum.
While emergency one-off donations remain a lifeline for families and individuals facing sudden crises, the reality is that many pressing needs—from ongoing medical treatment and education fees to long-term social welfare support—do not disappear when the headlines fade. Donors For Life seeks to shift the paradigm from reactive, moment-driven giving to sustained, relationship-based philanthropy. The programme offers non-profits, community-based organisations, and social enterprises a suite of tools, including strategic storytelling, donor engagement frameworks, and tailored retention campaigns, all aimed at building committed communities of recurring supporters.
“For too long, organisations have been forced to live campaign to campaign, constantly chasing the next donation without the security to plan ahead,” said BackaBuddy CEO Patrick Schofield. “With Donors For Life, we’re giving them the infrastructure to cultivate loyalty and predictability in their funding streams.”
The programme’s emphasis on monthly contributions is intended to provide organisations with a more stable financial foundation, enabling them to plan, innovate, and scale their impact without the chronic uncertainty that plagues short-term fundraising. Paysoft Impact’s expertise in digital payment solutions will ensure seamless, secure, and tax-efficient recurring transactions.
As South Africa’s non-profit sector continues to navigate a tough economic climate, the launch of Donors For Life arrives as a timely intervention—one that could redefine how charities connect with their supporters. The question now is whether the public is ready to move beyond one-off generosity and embrace a long-term commitment to the causes they care about. If the early interest is any indication, the answer may well be yes.
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