Based on primary and secondary research, Trialogue estimates that companies invested R6.2 billion in social programmes and projects in 2010/11. Companies gave beyond BBBEE scorecard requirements, granting 1.4% of net profit after tax. This total amount covers all corporate contributions to communities, including donations such as products or food as well as infrastructural contributions made by mines in order that they meet their commitments to social and labour plans. Of the R6.2 billion, it is estimated that approximately R4.3 billion is disbursed by CSI departments as part of their budgeted CSI expenditure.
Education remains the development sector most supported by corporates, with 92% of companies including education in their CSI programmes in 2010/11 and 36.8% of total CSI spend being allocated to it. Almost 80% of companies support social and community development and 68% give attention to health - each of these sectors draws just over 15% of total CSI spend. The food security and agriculture sector showed the most growth in support, with 42% of companies addressing the issue in 2010/11.
Corporates are giving not only money, but time as well. In 2008, Trialogue's research found that 63% of companies had a formal employee volunteer programme in place which has risen to 76% in 2011's sample.
Social enterprise has been a hot topic through 2011. The research revealed that more than two thirds of NPOs consider their enterprise, or a part thereof, to be a social enterprise, with two-thirds of these estimating that between ten and 50% of their income will be self-generated within five years. This was backed up by the finding that self-generated income was the leading source of funding growth for NPOs in 2010/11.
