What is a Community Foundation?
We love where we live.
Community Foundations are local, independent and not-for-profit. They run a well proven model of place-based philanthropy which has been growing across the world for over 100 years, and they are now established in almost all regions of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Community Foundations are regionally focused, strengthening communities from within and enabling local's aspirations for their community to take shape. They are connectors between local generosity and community needs and opportunities. Some convene impactful projects and all are building long-term, reliable funding streams for their local communities by investing and growing the gifts they receive. So, you’re not really giving to a Community Foundation, but through it. And the invested, not-for-profit model means that local generosity will have an impact, forever.
Why choose to give through a Community Foundation?
- Being local we know where our region's greatest needs are and, crucially, who is doing impactful work
- We make giving into communities easy and fulfilling
- You can choose how your donation is used and you can tap into our local knowledge to help you to guide your decisions to have more impact
- We invest in long-term community transformation by helping build permanent funds
- Our low, transparent fee structure gives confidence and protects gifts from being eroded by inflation over time
- It’s a smarter way to give that makes local generosity go further and forever (see our fund calculator here >>)
How do we know what our communities need?
First and foremost, we are close to our communities, working in partnership with those doing the changemaking mahi. We know who is doing great work in our communities and we connect generous people with causes that are making a difference and shifting the dial. Many Community Foundations undertake extensive research into the health of their communities, utilising existing data and regional insight. Some undertake Vital Signs® research reports, which gather data and provide a community check-up, identifying significant social and economic trends and supporting action on issues that are critical to the local quality of life. Data and insight not only assist Community Foundations in establishing granting priorities, but they also encourage collaboration with other local stakeholders and help to channel funding into areas of greatest impact.
One of the ways we work with communities is via the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Also known as 'The 2030 Agenda', these 17 goals provide useful architecture for purpose-led work, and for local giving to focus on goals for creating a sustainable world.
Read more about the UN Sustainable Development Goals here.
Are Community Foundations different from NZ's Community Trusts?
New Zealand has 12 Community Trusts which were established following the deregulation of the banking sector in the 1980's. They have an existing pool of assets, which are invested on behalf of the local community with the income given out as grants.
Community Foundations are different from Community Trusts as we are growing a pooled local fund through local giving and philanthropy. Further, we enable local people to be involved in assessing community priorities and where funding and local investment will go.
Community Foundations are all about community self-determination. Our model is tried and tested and has proven to be successful across the world for over 100 years.
Read more about the first Community Foundation and our network's history here >>
Got questions? See our FAQ page or
Contact Us
“Community Foundations and their influence is growing across Aotearoa NZ as more and more people understand their connecting and convening role in communities, bringing together the resources of the region and enabling community self-determination."
Sir Stephen Tindall talks about why it's good to give through your local Community Foundation.
Making the world go round, around the world.
There are over 1800 Community Foundations worldwide! They are a successful place-based philanthropy model and a global movement that’s been developing across the world for over 100 years. Here in Aotearoa New Zealand our Community Foundation network has been growing since 2003, today with most major regions covered. You can find your local Community Foundation here.
Find my local Community Foundation