Posted on June 9, 2009

print  e-mail

Kellogg Foundation to Close South Africa Office

Citing a sharp decline in assets, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation has announced that it will close its office in Pretoria, South Africa, bringing to three the number of office closings the foundation has announced this year.

Although the Pretoria office has been the focus of an ongoing financial audit, the decision to close the office was based on immediate budgetary constraints, said Kellogg Foundation CEO Sterling Speirn. According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, the value of the foundation's assets declined roughly 22 percent last year, to $6.36 billion. The hit to its endowment led the foundation to announce earlier this year that it would close its offices in Jackson, Mississippi, and São Paolo, Brazil, and also trim budgets in other offices.

Despite the closure of the Pretoria office, the foundation said it will honor its existing commitments in southern Africa and will continue to pursue its mission in the region through a more cost-effective delivery model.

"Going forward, the foundation will allocate funds to nonprofit organizations with a strong local presence, a proven track record, and philosophies that align with those of the foundation," said Speirn. "When the new partnerships are in place, foundation funds will be deployed in the most efficient manner possible to serve vulnerable children, families, and communities."

“Kellogg Foundation Revises Delivery Model for Southern Africa.” W.K. Kellogg Foundation Press Release 6/01/09.

Wilhelm, Ian. “Kellogg Foundation to Close Two Overseas Offices.” Chronicle of Philanthropy 6/05/09.

Primary Subject: Philanthropy and Voluntarism
Secondary Subject(s): International Affairs/Development, Economic Crisis
Location(s): Pretoria, South Africa

FC013496