Located at Wits Business School in Johannesburg, South Africa, The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) was established to bridge the gap in the study, research and practice of philanthropy and social investment in Africa.

Global interest in the field of philanthropy and social investment in Africa and continents outside of Euro-America is growing exponentially. Recent years have seen a considerable increase in research and writings related to these topics. Despite this, the study of these fields is in a nascent stage, with very little formal academic research, teaching and publications available in Africa. In response to this lack of dedicated, formal academic focus, Wits Business School and the Southern Africa Trust introduced the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment.

The Centre aims to support the advancement of this field, by filling the current gaps in teaching, research, and publication. The Centre serves as a source of knowledge, a cultivator of partnerships, and a catalyst for innovation, community engagement and a heightened sense of citizenship and social responsibility throughout the African continent and beyond. From the outset, this initiative took on a wider pan African outlook – seeking to understand philanthropic behaviour in different contexts and histories.