EMPOWER FAMILIES FOR INNOVATIVE PHILANTHROPY
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yellowwoods foundation

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TIES BETWEEN FAMILY BUSINESS AND PHILANTHROPY

Executive summary


Yellowwoods is a primarily family-run holdings company, which has other large investments in the restaurant and hospitality industry, as well as in financial services.
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​The business, initially a single insurance company launched by Robert Enthoven, has been in the South Africa
n-based family for three generations. 

About the foundation

Founder - Dick Enthoven
Form - Private company
Issues addressed - Youth unemployment, financial inclusion, child development, arts
Geographic focus - South Africa
Resources given by the family/firm - Financial, human, network, influence
Sources of financing - Yellowwoods, government, other private sector
Ongoing family involvement - Family members are on the main board of Yellowwoods

conclusion

Breaking down silos begins at home. Yellowwoods does not separate its monitoring of social and environmental goals from its main business. As well as launching social enterprises such as Harambee, it also works with its investees to articulate and hold them accountable for social and environmental goals. Yellowwoods takes the position that these goals should be integrated into what is defined as shareholder value and focuses on finding the “sweet spots” where social value creation can happen in tandem with financial value creation. Reward and incentive structures for the businesses have been recrafted to ensure that there is alignment between Yellowwoods and the executive teams running its core businesses to build social as well as financial value.
This integration of social and business objectives is reflected in Yellowwoods own governance, in which financial and social concerns are managed, without hierarchy between the objectives, by the main board. Whilst family members are on the board, it does not exclusively consist of family – other individuals, including Nicola, sit on the board. A smaller subcommittee of directors also delves into social issues more deeply. Quarterly meetings are the occasion to review how Yellowwoods is living up to its social mission statement – ie, whether it is bringing about significant and positive change in the world, acting in ways that make the family and businesses’ teams proud.
NEXT - MAHVASH AND JAHANGIR ​SIDDIQUI
Photo Credits
François du Chatenet,
France
Peartree Photography, South Africa


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Empower Families for Innovative Philanthropy (ERFIP) is a Swiss registered foundation.
  • About
    • Our History
    • Our Mission
    • ERFIP Today
    • Who We Are >
      • Founder
      • Board
      • Team
  • ERFIP Circles
  • Knowledge Center
    • Annual Reports
    • Resources
    • Case Studies
  • Press
    • Gallery
  • CONTACT US