By Steuart Pennington
Entrepreneur, successful businessperson and founder and chairperson of the Robin Hood Foundation, Cindy Norcott, has just launched her third book. It reads just like the London A-Z providing a map of how to set up a successful, sustainable non-profit, what the route is, what the landmarks are and where to go if you get lost!
Entitled The Weight of Hope, it is her first book about the Robin Hood Foundation – and is the legacy and gift that she will leave for those following in her footsteps as she hands over the reins of an organization that she has successfully headed up for more than 20 years. “To mark the occasion, I thought I’d write this little book about what I’ve learned. It is a practical, hands-on kind of book that others who do this sort of work will find inspiring,” Cindy explains.
The NGO sector in South Africa comprises some 250,000 registered non-profits, and almost the same number unregistered. Many have made an indelible contribution to the fabric of our society, often stepping in where government and private sector either can’t or won’t. But many have failed, often labelled as fly-by-nights. For those who are passionate about NGO work and want sustainability as their core purpose Weight of Hope is a must read. Yes, it includes a chapter on the history of the Robin Hood Foundation which Cindy started, but it is much more than that. It reads like an easy-to-understand instruction manual (of which there are few!) dealing firstly with the WHY and then moving on to the HOW, including a section on Maintenance and finally Trouble-shooting.
I have started a number of NGO’s, some of which have endured and some of which have not. I wish I’d had a copy of this book then, it is the sort of book that someone who wants to start a non-profit should read first. My experience was to start with the operational strategy, getting the WHY right, and then move onto a sustainable fund-raising strategy – the HOW. I made many mistakes along the way. Weight of Hope covers mistakes made and lessons learnt and has a very useful chapter on fundraising. As Cindy says “Many people do it wrong or don’t know where to start – and then they wonder why people don’t support them.” Another very practical chapter deals with handling volunteers – how to attract them, manage them. motivate, retain, and reward them.
While I have not been faced with the challenge of burnout, it is real, I come across it often. Says Cindy, “burnout is synonymous with people in this space, so I talk about boundaries. I provide self-care tips so people know how to look after their own souls while trying to help everyone else. I discuss the mistakes we all make, including so-called white saviour syndrome. It’s a very real thing. Some people come in almost like colonialists with a hero or rescuer complex. They decide what they are going to do for a community without engaging them and asking.” Indeed, a real issue!
Finally, Cindy emphasises using people from within communities and hiring local contractors. “In short, it is about working with people rather than for them.” I couldn’t agree more, in the work I do in education if you want to assist a school to become ‘more functional as a place of learning’, you have to find a way of placing the school ‘at the center of the community’ the only way to do this is to engage the local contractors in much of what you do, thereby keeping the money raised, within, and for, the community.
The Weight of Hope is available at R250 per copy plus VAT from Cindy Norcott and you can email her at cindy@proappoint.co.za or visit her website – www.cindynorcott.co.za She will donate R50 per copy bought to the Robin Hood Foundation, so it is literally the book that keeps on giving. She is hoping to donate R100 000 back to the Foundation from book sales in 2026.
About Cindy Norcott:
Cindy Norcott is a celebrated South African entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and philanthropist. She is the founder and CEO of Pro Talent, a multi-award-winning recruitment agency, and the visionary behind the Robin Hood Foundation, which uplifts underprivileged communities. Cindy is also a sought-after business coach and author of three books, including her latest release, Weight of Hope. With over three decades of experience, she continues to inspire through her leadership, generosity, and passion for making a difference.
Printed by Inspirational Publishers cindy@proappoint.co.za
ISBN 978-1-0492-1243-2
The post Cindy Norcott’s A-Z for setting up a non-profit – a must read! – by Steuart Pennington appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News.
Entrepreneur, successful businessperson and founder and chairperson of the Robin Hood Foundation
The post Cindy Norcott’s A-Z for setting up a non-profit – a must read! – by Steuart Pennington appeared first on The Home Of Great South African News. Read More
