Specialist & bespoke service to the “non-profit”-sector

ASCENT IMPACT

A Division of the Ascent Group, led by a team that has vast practical business and operational NPO experience, Ascent Impact provides specialist and bespoke services including strategic advisory services and facilitation, organizational development programs, financial sustainability reviews, fundraising, compliance and tax advisory support specifically focused on organisations in the Non-Profit / NGO Sector throughout Africa.

Ascent Advisory provides strategic support for leaders who aim to develop and execute sound strategy. Our collaborative interventions reduce structural and process inefficiencies and help change organisational awareness and focus.

Ascent People provides bespoke executive and management development services, supporting business leaders who want to hone their business skills and establish a truly human enterprise.

THE ASCENT GROUP

Ascent Impact

Ascent Advisory

Ascent People

The Ascent Group supports business and non-profit leaders in the development and execution of strategies that will create sustainable value over time.

Subsidiaries include:

(Typical topics that we cover include, but is not limited to: Financial Management, Taxation, Governance & Compliance, Sustainability, Policy Development, Business Fundamentals, Project Management etc)

This entails sitting with the client for a session or two, and reviewing their operational structures. Are they set up optimally in terms of tax, income generating activities, risk management and sustainability. We then provide suggestions and a roadmap of best practice implementation. The key focus is on finances, fundraising, cash-flow, BEE and optimized structures from net output view.

This includes the previous financial review plus a more in-depth review on their overall compliance e.g. board of directors, internal controls, policy development and implementation. We follow a review process and draft a detail report that is discussed with the client, big donors (if so authorised) and then assist the client with the implementation thereof.We sometimes find that big donors want to implement the above before they partner with new NPO’s. The objective is not to criticise the NPO, but rather to constructively add value throughout their partnership and thus to contribute to their sustainability.

Partaking in our general public NPO training (done in partnership with Sustainable Development Network)

Attending our Business Fundamentals program (which runs over 6 months)

Bespoke NPO focused training, which could be done in-house with specific organisations or with a selected group

Bespoke And Specialist Development Programs

Financial Sustainability Review

Organisational Compliance Review

We provide bespoke and specialist training, on 3 levels:

We work with key donor partners to develop their “professional skepticism”, critical mindset and a sustainability framework. We help them interpret and understand the financial statements of the organisations they support, identifying critical questions to ask, understanding the risk areas and how their help could either feed short term results or long-term sustainability.

Donor Development: Financial & Risk Interpretation

This entails a broad scope of advisory services e.g. strategic facilitation, strategy execution, mergers, change management, commercial mediation, setting up revenue generating activities etc. This could be either Ad-hoc or a long term value partnership (which we prefer), as part of our Organisational Development program.

The ODP is a partnership where we engage with the client over the course of 6 months to a year to determine their unique value proposition, strategy and the execution thereof, taking into consideration their operational resources and constraints, industry analysis, people development and management and financial growth and sustainability.

Annual audits, financial statements & tax compliance

Setting up new entities e.g. NPC, Trusts etc with all the relevant compliance

Strategic Advisory Services

Organisational Development Program

Secretarial services

(in partnership with HVM AUDIT INC)

(in partnership with HVM AUDIT INC)

Audits

Tax Advisory & Administration

Board Membership

(in partnership with HVM AUDIT INC)

Strategic tax advice, annual tax compliance, registrations and dealing with SARS on behalf of the client

We serve on NPO boards, typically through transition periods, to help with specific projects or compliance and source board members from our broad network of audit and advisory clients

Fundraising Fundraising entails 3 options:

OPTION 1 Sourcing of donor funds, both national and international. The core focus is on corporate donors who finds a connection/synergy with the NPO and ideally should be an engaged investor (i.e. should provide donor funds as well as expertise/ collaboration) OR international foundations.

OPTION 2

OPTION 3

Structuring of strategic investments/partnerships in local companies in order to benefit from dividend income and collaboration, whilst the corporate partner benefits from an improved BEE status. It is imperative that this is not just “window dressing”, but that there is an active partnership with a focus on the transformation mindset

Sourcing legacy funding through endowments & structuring of wills/testaments.The key focus is to preserve financial integrity and sustainability and to help NPO’s achieving the optimal influence with the resources under their control.

GET IN TOUCH

TELEPHONE: 082 713 9934 PHISICAL ADDRESS: 4 Thierry Street, StellenboschEMAIL: daniel@ascentgroup.co.za