Choosing a project with a track record you can verify

You've found a community organisation whose work sounds compelling—education programmes, skills training, a youth centre in a township you know. Before you commit time, money or connections, you need to know whether their claims about what they've achieved actually hold up. A track record matters most when you can walk through the evidence yourself.

Dig into their actual project history

Ask the organisation for a list of completed projects, not glossy aspirations. You want specifics: What was built? Who did it serve? When did it finish? How many people went through the programme or benefited? A credible organisation will have this ready and will name the location, the dates and the measurable scope. If they hedge or offer only vague descriptions, that's a signal.

Request copies of impact reports or monitoring documents from at least two finished initiatives. These don't need to be polished—in fact, raw data showing participation numbers, attendance rates, or feedback from beneficiaries is more useful than a slick brochure. Ask whether an external evaluator looked at the work. If they contracted an independent third party to assess outcomes, they'll usually say so and can share findings or a summary.

Phone or visit one completed project site if you can. Talk to someone who was actually there—a teacher who ran a literacy class, a beneficiary who went through the training, a local councillor or community leader familiar with the work. Ask open questions: Did the project run on time? Did staff show up reliably? Did it make a difference to your life or your community? The answers will be far more honest than anything on a website.

Check their governance and financial track

Search the CIPC registry to confirm the organisation is registered as a non-profit organisation and that its status is active. Get the NPO registration number and verify it matches their letterhead and proposals. Search the SARS NPO list to check they hold a Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) certificate or exemption. These aren't guarantees of good work, but they show the organisation meets minimum legal requirements and submits annual compliance returns.

Ask for their latest audited financial statements. Most credible organisations produce these annually or at least biennially. You're looking for evidence that money came in, was accounted for, and went toward the stated programmes. If they claim they've worked with government agencies, major donors or corporates, ask for written references from those partners. Follow up with those funders directly—did the project deliver what was promised?

Check whether they've been cited in any compliance actions or disputes. Ask the organisation directly if they've ever faced audit findings, funder disputes or governance complaints. Evasion here is a warning flag.

Talk to their staff and partners

Request the names of at least two other organisations they've worked with—as partners, not just funders. Phone those partners and ask what it was like to collaborate. Did the team show up prepared? Did they follow through? Did the partnership achieve its aims? Honest colleagues will give you a more nuanced picture than the organisation's own account.

Ask to speak briefly with someone on the team who manages implementation or monitoring. You don't need to interview extensively, but a 15-minute conversation will tell you whether the person running the work understands the detail, can cite actual numbers and challenges, and thinks clearly about outcomes. Be wary of evasion or answers that sound rehearsed.

Request the names of board members or trustees and, if helpful, check their LinkedIn profiles or ask around. A strong board includes people with relevant expertise—finance, programme management, community relations—who've worked on similar initiatives.

Look for patterns across their work

Consider whether the projects they list show growth, learning or consistency over time. Have they repeated a successful approach in multiple locations? Have they adjusted their model based on earlier results? Organisations that show adaptation and reflection tend to be more grounded than those claiming perfect success with each new venture.

If you're considering backing a new project, ask how it builds on proven work. What did they learn from the last phase? Why will this iteration work better? Their honest answer matters more than their confidence.

When you've gathered this evidence, you'll have a much clearer sense of whether the organisation walks the walk. On Strove, you can find community development organisations with verified credentials and read feedback from others who've worked with them—another layer of due diligence that costs you nothing but attention.