About Hashtag Nonprofit NPC

Ruen is passionate about the use of tech and online media for social activism. She holds a BSc (Information Systems). One of her first jobs was at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission where she managed the electronic archives and website. She worked on the SA Heritage and Technology Programme at Michigan State University. After returning to Cape Town in 2003, Ruen set up a consultancy to help non-profits navigate technology and the internet.

With a grant from the Open Society Foundation, she established the Nonprofit Network, an online resource to assist nonprofits with their digital communications, and wrote several e-books on digital communications strategies for nonprofits.

In 2021, Ruen developed and launched the #Nonprofit website, a passion project that has since evolved into Hashtag Nonprofit NPC which oversees a number of projects, including this #Nonprofit digital magazine for the South African nonprofit sector. She continues to consult on tech management and digital communications for nonprofits.

Jodi is a seasoned Digital Communications Consultant with a strong focus on the nonprofit sector. She currently serves as the Content Manager for #Nonprofit and has been involved in the #Nonprofit website since its inception. 

Jodi has worked with a number of leading nonprofit organisations in South Africa over the past decade, managing newsletters, websites and social media campaigns. Her professional journey has also encompassed significant roles in the corporate sector in the UK, where she honed her expertise in insurance, recruitment, and customer care. She holds a BA in Politics and English.

In 2022, Jodi was appointed Alumni Officer at a prominent high school in Cape Town, managing outreach, events and digital communications.

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in the social impact sector having worked at a senior management level in both programme/campaign and fundraising positions for international and South African NGOs. 

Sarah spent 12 years at the start of her career with IFAW, where she worked her way up to being Country Director Southern Africa and then Global Director of Emergency Relief.  Thereafter she moved exclusively into Fundraising and Communication, first with the Cape of Good Hope SPCA and then as a consultant, serving and supporting a wide range of local South African organisations, helping them to diversify and strengthen their fundraising and communications programmes.  She worked for several years with the international capacity building NGO, The Resource Alliance, first building their Africa programme and then as Director of Partnerships. 

In 2022 she joined Operation Smile South Africa as the Executive Director.  She lives in Cape Town with her husband, two young adult sons and two dogs and remains passionate about strengthening the nonprofit sector.

Helen is an experienced museum and heritage professional who currently does Public Programming and Outreach for the Western Cape Archives. Prior to this, she offered consulting services in museum education, research, archiving, and training. During her consulting, she was involved in heritage projects for a number of non-profits including the Nelson Mandela Foundation, the Black Sash, and the Desmond Tutu Peace Foundation. Helen is passionate about creating a vibrant, professional museum and heritage sector.

Gadija has an extensive background in tech in the development sector, managing everything from hardware to software but most especially database and IT systems at organisations like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Black Sash, and UCT's Graduate School of Business.