The story behind our name
Tshikululu is the Venda name for the African rock fig, Ficus abutilifolia, a tree that takes root in the smallest gaps and flourishes in South Africa’s far north despite few resources and a hard environment. We work the same way. Alongside social investors, we design and implement development programmes that take root in difficult conditions and grow stronger over time.
Maximising the power of social investment
We partner with social investors to design and implement high-impact social investment strategies, social development programmes, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) solutions that address poverty, inequality, and unemployment in South Africa.
Our vision is a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Our purpose is to maximise the power of social investment to achieve impact.
Our values
Dynamic. We approach social change with a pioneering mindset. We learn from our failures and thrive on complexity.
Excellence. The work is too important to be mediocre. We are performance-driven, and we hold each other accountable.
Integrity. We are ethical and never compromise on our values, and we care for our colleagues, clients, and partners at all times.
Resilience. We meet competing priorities with optimism and energy, persevere when the going gets tough, and take the time to reflect.
More than two decades of track record
Since 1998, Tshikululu has grown stronger each year. We celebrated our twenty-fifth anniversary in 2023, and today we manage and advise on social investment across every sector of the South African economy and beyond.