BENEFICIARY ORGANISATION ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

In order to become part of and maintain membership with FoodForward SA, Beneficiary Organisations (BOs) need to meet the criteria below. Failure to comply with the criteria may result in a change of membership status with FoodForward SA, including reorientation, suspension, and / or termination.

Given the large number of BOs that require assistance, compared with the limited resources available to FoodForward SA, the following criteria was developed to ensure that the neediest and most credible BOs, thereby safeguarding that the support will reach the intended recipients – those who are food insecure. The criteria for assistance to BOs may be reviewed and / or amended from time to time.

The Two Levels of Criteria

1. Compulsory requirements: Criteria which must be adhered to, to qualify for assistance from FoodForward SA.
2. Preferential requirements: Criteria that is advantageous, but not essential.

1. Compulsory Criteria

   The organisation requesting membership:

   • Must be registered with the Department of Social Development, have a current registered NPO number and certificate, and have compliant status.
   • Must have a Certificate of Acceptability (CoA) obtained from the local municipality and comply with all the relevant legislation in relation to food preparation and storage, including food safety and hygiene.
   • Must not use the food to make up food parcels – unless approved by FoodForward SA in writing.
   • Must already be assisting 150 or more vulnerable people.
   • Must have a Constitution and Governing Board. A list of all Board members and their contact details is required.
   • Must have a suitable and verifiable physical location from which it implements its programmes – in addition to an office address (if separate).
   • Must have an email address in the name of the organisation, and contactable telephone and cellular phone details.
   • Must have a bank account in the name of the organisation.
   • Must demonstrate that their financial position is such that it requires assistance from FoodForward SA.
   • Must demonstrate that they are able to pay the monthly membership fee.
   • Must be operating for at least 24 months from date of registration and have a proven track record.
   • Must provide letters of endorsement from 3 credible community organisations from the area. One of these letters must be from a governmental source. E.g. Ward Councillor, local DSD office, etc.
   • Must have a daily feeding programme operating at least 3 days per week.
   • Must adhere to all statutory requirements in relation to food safety, health safety, hygiene etc.
   • Must keep proper daily records of their beneficiaries.
   • Must complete an annual survey sent by FoodForward SA, reporting on activities, beneficiaries assisted etc.
   • Must have the necessary equipment and utensils needed for the preparation of food, in relation to the beneficiary population served.
   • May not discriminate against any person based on race, nationality, religion, political affiliation etc.
   • May not sell, exchange, or barter any donated food.
   • May not donate food received from FoodForward SA to any other person or organisation, unless permission has been granted by FoodForward SA in writing.
   • Must adhere to FoodForward SA's Minimum Food Handling Requirements.
   • Must keep a proper file / record of all food received, including delivery notes, correspondence, BO fees paid, beneficiaries served etc.
   • Must attend ALL meetings when required to do so.
   • Must be willing to allow FoodForward SA to make unannounced visits to inspect its premises and records at any reasonable time.
   • Must be willing to provide volunteers to assist FoodForward SA at our various warehouses – where applicable.
   • Must sign and adhere to FoodForward SA's Partnership Agreement.



2. Preferential Criteria

   The organisation requesting support / membership will receive preference when:

   • It has a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) number.
   • It has been operating for more than 3 years.
   • It is situated in a poverty nodal area.
   • It is offering remedial, skills training, empowerment, income-generating or similar developmental programme.
   • It undertakes Social Enterprise activities.
   • It is offering programmes that offer self-sustainability and independence, and community ownership.
   • It has at least 3-5 permanent staff members.
   • It has vehicles for the use of their operations.
   • It has specific indicators that monitor performance and progress and can demonstrate this.
   • It provides Annual Financial Statements by independent auditors or Three (3) months most recent Bank Statements.

Types of Beneficiary Organisations Supported

1. Training / Skills Development Centres
2. Health Care Organisations
3. Tertiary Institutions
4. Early Childhood Development Centres
5. Disability Care
6. Primary, Secondary, and Special-needs schools not receiving any government subsidy (NSNP) for nutrition
7. Shelters / Rehabilitation Centres
8. Aged Care
9. Orphans and Vulnerable Children
10. Community Kitchens

Membership Status

Continued membership status is not guaranteed. FoodForward SA reserves the right to suspend or remove BOs and add new BOs at its own discretion.

Exit Strategy

FoodForward SA may remove member BOs should they receive assistance for more than 5 consecutive years, or where BOs are found to have sufficient resources to sustain their own operations and activities.

Membership Fees

All FoodForward SA member BOs pay a monthly subscription fee based on your organisation size. We have four categories, related to the size of organisation: small, medium, large, and umbrella. BO subscription fees are reviewed annually, effective March each year. Only members with accounts in good standing will be allowed to participate, and benefit from our service offering. There are two main avenues where you can benefit: (1) Warehouse Collections (Monthly and ad hoc collections) and (2) Virtual Collections (Daily/Weekly collections directly from a participating retail store or food outlet (our partner retailers).

BO MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP FEE STRUCTURE 2026
Size of BO	Virtual Foodbanking (VFB) Only	Warehouse Collections Only	Warehouse and Virtual Foodbanking (VFB) Collections
Small	R 30.00	R 240.00	R 270.00
Medium	R 30.00	R 360.00	R 390.00
Large	R 30.00	R 480.00	R 510.00
Umbrella	R 30.00	R 780.00	R 810.00
VFB Only	R 30.00	Virtual FoodBank only Beneficiary Organisations Collecting from participating retail stores only.