The Distributing Agency for Charities, established in terms of the Lotteries Act (No. 57 of 1997), is once again in the position to consider applications for funding from the proceeds of the National Lottery. In adjudicating applications received by the advertised deadline, the Distributing Agency will focus on the following areas:
* Capacity-building and development of under-developed organisations, communities and groups.
* Literacy and numeracy programmes (ABET).
* Organisations supporting or assisting school-going children from underprivileged communities.
* Community and residential programmes for children; the youth; women; families; the disabled; the chronically/ terminally ill; drug and crime prevention and rehabilitation programmes; and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programmes.
* Rural and informal settlement projects aimed at meeting the basic needs of the community.

Preference will be given to applications for areas that are under-resourced and under-served. Applications will be considered from registered non-profit organisations that have 2 consecutive years’ signed audited financial statements. However, those who are not registered or do not have 2 years’ audited financial statements should seek assistance from, and enter into partnership with, a registered organisation.