Nelson Mandela Foundation

Nelson Mandela Foundation
Name	Nelson Mandela Foundation
Founded	0 1999
Founder	Nelson Mandela
Location	Johannesburg, South Africa
Key people	Sello Hatang (CEO), Graça Machel (Board Member)
Focus	Dialogue, Memory, Legacy
Website	https://www.nelsonmandela.org

Nelson Mandela Foundation. Established by Nelson Mandela himself in 1999 after he stepped down from the presidency, the organization serves as the official custodian of his life and legacy. It is dedicated to promoting the values, vision, and work of its founder through dialogue, memory, and social justice initiatives. Headquartered at the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory in Johannesburg, it operates as a non-profit trust focused on fostering a just society.

History and establishment

Following the end of his term as President of South Africa in 1999, Nelson Mandela founded the organization to manage his post-presidential work and public engagements. The initial focus was on supporting his activities in areas like HIV/AIDS advocacy, peace and reconciliation, and rural development through the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Nelson Mandela Rhodes Foundation. In 2004, it established the Centre of Memory to house his personal archive and serve as a resource for researchers and the public. The official opening of its permanent home, the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, in 2013 solidified its role as a leading institution for preserving historical records related to the struggle against apartheid.

Mission and objectives

The core mission is to contribute to the making of a just society by promoting the values, vision, and work of its founder. Its objectives are framed around the principles of dialogue, memory, and legacy work, aiming to address contemporary social challenges. A key objective is to use the life and times of Nelson Mandela as a catalyst for public discourse on critical issues like poverty, inequality, and human rights. The foundation seeks to achieve this by curating his archive, hosting dialogues, and developing programmes that inspire active citizenship and ethical leadership.

Key programmes and initiatives

A flagship programme is the **Dialogue for Social Change**, which convenes conversations on difficult topics such as xenophobia, racism, and economic inclusion. The **Centre of Memory** serves as a living archive, preserving millions of documents, photographs, and artifacts related to Mandela and the broader African National Congress struggle. The annual **Nelson Mandela Lecture**, delivered by global figures like Barack Obama and Kofi Annan, is a major platform for advancing his ideals. Other initiatives include the **Nelson Mandela International Day** campaign, which encourages 67 minutes of community service, and projects supporting access to education and social cohesion.

Governance and structure

The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, which includes prominent figures such as Graça Machel and Professor Njabulo Ndebele. Day-to-day operations are led by a Chief Executive Officer, a role held by Sello Hatang since 2013. It functions through several interconnected divisions, including the Centre of Memory, the Dialogue and Advocacy unit, and Communications. Financial oversight is provided by an audit committee, ensuring accountability to its donors and partners, which include the South African government, corporate entities, and international philanthropic bodies.

Partnerships and collaborations

It maintains strategic partnerships with a wide array of institutions to amplify its impact. Key collaborators include the African Union, the United Nations, and the The Elders, an independent group of global leaders founded by Mandela. It works closely with sister organizations like the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and the Mandela Rhodes Foundation. Academic partnerships with institutions such as the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Oxford support research and scholarship. Corporate partnerships with entities like the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations help fund its programmes and archival work.

Legacy and impact

The foundation has played a pivotal role in shaping the global understanding of Nelson Mandela's life and the history of the anti-apartheid movement. Its advocacy and dialogue work have influenced national conversations on reconciliation and social justice in post-apartheid South Africa. By institutionalizing Nelson Mandela International Day, it has mobilized millions worldwide into community service, creating a lasting legacy of public engagement. The preservation and digitization of the Mandela archive ensures that future generations can learn from this critical period in the fight for democracy and human dignity.

Category:Organizations established in 1999 Category:Nelson Mandela Category:Organizations based in Johannesburg