FAQs about community foundations
No, community foundations have existed globally since the early 1900's. The first New Zealand community foundation was the Acorn Foundation, which was founded in 2003. Aotearoa currently has eighteen community foundations from Northland to Wakatipu in the deep South.
Community Foundations are all about working with local people to make an even better region to live in. They provide a way for people to give locally. Their gift is invested and will keep giving to their region forever, to causes they have chosen to support. The Community Foundation helps generous locals set up their fund and make distributions on their behalf.
Anyone who wants to be! With the Community Foundations' complete giving model there is a way for everyone to help whether it be big or small, now or later. See how you can make a gift.
Donor FAQs
Your lawyer can help you with this and we do recommend that you seek professional advice. Top of the South Community Foundation has prepared a tool kit for your use that will help guide you through the process.
We ask our Donor's to complete a Memorandum of Wishes (MoW) that reflects their gifting wishes.
We ask our Donor's to complete a Memorandum of Wishes (MoW) that reflects their gifting wishes.
One of the main advantages of gifting through the Foundation is that it offers you the opportunity to support specific organisations on an annual basis. Your ongoing gifts are really helpful and assist organisations with their goal of long-term financial sustainability. Donor gifts that are given directly to Charities are most often spent on everyday needs, and hence many people prefer to give to their chosen causes using the Community Foundation giving model, so their gift continues to grow and lasts forever.
Please talk to us about causes close to your heart, and we will work with you to achieve your goals through establishing one simple fund.
Please talk to us about causes close to your heart, and we will work with you to achieve your goals through establishing one simple fund.
Our Trust Deed stipulates that the on-going governance of Top of the South Community Foundation is subject to strict criteria, that ensures we will be able to take the same care of your donation now and in the future despite any Trustee or staff changes that occur. Top of the South Community Foundation will report to you annually on your giving, and communicate throughout the year via our newsletter, website and social media pages.
Applicant FAQs
We currently have one major funding round per year, that opens 1 June and closes June 30. Our application form is online only, the apply now button will be visible at the bottom of the pages 'Our grant process' and 'Who and what we fund' during this time. Only applications received by the 30th June will be considered for that funding round.
In 2024 our priority areas of funding are tagged to supporting under privileged youth and families in Nelson Tasman, Employment Support causes in Marlborough and General charitable causes and Environmental causes across the region.
We will typically make grants of between $2,000 - $8,000 in Nelson and Tasman and $1,000 - $3,000 in Marlborough. You do not need additional funding i.e. you can apply to us for all or part of the costs of a project.
Our grant application process is transparent and addresses the wishes of Donors, Funding Partners and the interests of applications that fit our criteria.
Applications are reviewed and allocated to funds when they best match our criteria, Donors and Partners wishes, and the interests of the application.
Where a donor wants to be involved in the decision-making process, they receive a shortlist of applications that match their funds purpose and we take their wishes into consideration.
We contact all applicants on the outcome of their application when the above process is final.Applications are reviewed and allocated to funds when they best match our criteria, Donors and Partners wishes, and the interests of the application.
Where a donor wants to be involved in the decision-making process, they receive a shortlist of applications that match their funds purpose and we take their wishes into consideration.
© Top of the South Community Foundation 2024.
Photos from Nelsontasman.nz, Only Marlborough and Unsplash.
Made with ♥️ by Avoca in Nelson, New Zealand
Photos from Nelsontasman.nz, Only Marlborough and Unsplash.
Made with ♥️ by Avoca in Nelson, New Zealand