Community foundations — like Taranaki Foundation — are local, independent and not-for-profit. They run a well proven model of place-based philanthropy which is growing in popularity world-wide. Taranaki Foundation is one of 17 community foundations across New Zealand and more than 1800 internationally.
Taranaki Foundation is about bringing people together to make a lasting difference in local communities throughout our region.
We do this by connecting generous local donors with the people, projects and charitable causes making a real difference in Taranaki.
An important point of difference is that the funding streams we create will last indefinitely. Our smarter funding model leaves capital to grow while the income it earns is used for granting. Because we protect your initial gift, it can continue to generate income for local causes indefinitely.
Taranaki Foundation currently manages nearly 3 million dollars of charitable donations. These are split into a variety of different Funds — each set up by a group or individual with a specific purpose.
Taranaki Foundation Funds are sorted into four categories: General Funds, Community Funds, Named Funds and Pass Through Funds. Every Fund is based on one of three models – Endowment, Pass Through or Combined.
If you have a bright idea for a project or initiative that could benefit our community now and in the future, we want to hear from you.
Get in touch with us now.
We are the foundation for your community. If you want to carry out a fundraiser for us or one of our Community Funds, get in touch with us now.
We can set up a specific fundraising campaign through our donation portal to help promote your campaign and manage the transactions.
Subject to investment returns, we aim to distribute 4 percent from each Named Fund as annual community grants in accordance with the charitable priorities as outlined in the donor Memorandum of Wishes.
A further 1 percent of the income is retained by Taranaki Foundation to cover our operating costs.
Any remaining income and capital growth is reinvested in order to grow each Fund — allowing them to continue in perpetuity.
To be eligible for a Taranaki Foundation annual grant, your organisation must:
Note: The Foundation does not fund religious or political advocacy, fundraising activities, core education, individuals (except scholarships), activities outside Taranaki (unless specified by a donor), or retrospective claims.
All our open grant schemes are listed on our Apply for Funding page.
We have one funding round per year, with applications opening on September 1st and closing on September 30th annually. Applicants will be notified of the outcome in November. Find out more about applying for funding here.
Taranaki Foundation acts as The Tindall Foundation’s (TTF) Local Donation Manager for Taranaki, distributing donations from $500 to $10,000 to projects and initiatives that support The Tindall Foundation funding priorities.
TTF’s application process runs in parallel with Taranaki Foundations funding round. Apply through the Taranaki Foundation funding portal, and your application will automatically be considered for both funding streams.
No, Taranaki Foundation accepts only one grant application per organisation for our annual funding round.
Once all applications are received, we review them internally to match requests for funding to the focus of our funds.
All applications are submitted through our online Taranaki Foundation Funding Portal.
Register / Login:
if this is the first time your first time applying through the Foundation Funding Portal you will need to register with a username (your email address) and a password. Every time you log in you will use this username and password.
How to apply:
When applying, we will need to know a few details about your organisation and what you are requesting funding for. Details we will ask for include:
– Charities Services or Incorporated Society Number (if applicable),
– Verified bank account details (e.g. bank deposit slip or screenshot of your account details),
– Programme/project details
– The need for your programme/project
– Expected outcomes of programme/project
Our Distributions Committee is made up of experts in charitable giving. They review grant applications, making annual distributions in line with the stated wishes of each Fund, or based on the needs of the community for non-designated Funds. We have a Distribution Policy which provides a robust framework for the committee to use when making granting decisions.
All positions on the Distribution Advisory Committee are voluntary and report to the Board of Trustees.
To see who has received funding in the past, download our previous Impact Reports below:
Our Trustees ensure Taranaki Foundation’s grant-making process is transparent and addresses the interests of applicants and the wishes of donors and funding partners.
Applications are reviewed and matched with available Funds by our staff and Distributions Committee members. If an application doesn’t match with any Fund’s criteria it is rejected.
Where there is a donor who wants to be involved in the decision-making process we ensure that they receive a shortlist of projects that match their Fund’s purpose and we take their wishes into consideration.
Our Distribution Committee meets in October to determine the successful applicants, and once the grants are ratified by the Taranaki Foundation Trustees, the decisions are announced.
Taranaki Foundation was established in June 2016 (under our original name Te Karaka Foundation) and is currently securing and growing the assets that will fund great local causes in the future. We do have a modest annual distribution programme. Find out more about applying for funding here.
You can donate to any existing Fund using our donation portal here.
If donating via your local branch or internet banking, please make your gift to:
Account Name: Taranaki Foundation
Account Number: 15-3953-0804837-00
Reference: Name of the Fund you would like to support
Email us your contact details if you would like a donation receipt (to claim your tax credit).
If you want to donate in person or in a different way, contact us now to discuss options.
You can choose to set up your own Named Fund or to contribute to any existing General, Community or Named Fund whose focus best reflects the causes, groups and work you are most passionate about. Read more about establishing a Named Fund here or browse the existing Funds you can donate to here.
Any donation you make will be prudently invested by Taranaki Foundation and each year income earned will be distributed to the community according to the terms of the Fund you’ve chosen. Your donation becomes part of the Fund’s capital and remains untouched – so your gift keeps on giving year after year after year.
If you want to donate in a different way, contact us now to discuss options.
By making your charitable giving via Taranaki Foundation your donation can go further and forever within the community you love.
Your donation can be invested and grown, with the income it generates funding local causes year on year. It’s a simple, effective and long-lasting way for your generosity to support our community’s needs and impact long-term change.
Better still, you can choose who benefits from your gift. Find out more here
Setting up your own Named Fund is really easy. When you get in touch, we will meet with you to find out about you and your charitable aspirations. Taranaki Foundation is very much donor led, so we can tailor your Fund to reflect your values and priorities. Find out more about establishing your own Named Fund here.
You can choose to remain entirely anonymous, during your lifetime and after your death.
If you are creating a Named Fund then you decide what the Fund will be called and how much information about the people and story behind it is shared or not shared. Your wishes will be honoured forever.
We encourage you to create your Fund now and make contributions to it as you are able.
Once your Fund reaches $50,000 you will be able to direct grants to appropriate projects and charitable causes.
Alternatively, you may wish to contribute to the Taranaki Fund which has been established to to meet the current needs of the community. Or you can donate to an Established Community Fund like the Hospice Taranaki Fund, Taranaki Legacy Fund and Purangi Trust Fund.
Many of our donors already have relationships with specific charities that they want to continue. This is very easy — we simply “tag” your Named Fund with any charities you wish to support (and then make sure funding goes to them, as specified, each and every year). These tagged funds are managed by Taranaki Foundation and are held at arm’s length to the charity they benefit.
Charities and community groups love tagged donations because they know they can rely on the annual funding and plan accordingly. Also, because we (as opposed to the charity) have the capital on our books, the charity is usually not excluded from applying for funding from other sources.
If this occurs during your lifetime, we will work with you to nominate a new beneficiary for your Fund. If a charity ceases after your passing, Taranaki Foundation will endeavour to identify another organisation that operates within the same charitable purpose as the original beneficiary. Where this is not possible, Taranaki Foundation will allocate the income earned on these Funds to priority needs in the region through the General Taranaki Fund.
The vast majority of Taranaki Foundation’s Funds are based on the Named (Endowment) Fund model, where the capital is protected and grants are distributed only from the income generated.
However, you can opt to establish a Fund using the Pass-Through or Combined models. In these models either all or some of the original capital is distributed via grants. For example, with the Pass Through model, an individual could donate $50,000, to be paid out in $10,000 increments over a five-year period. With the Combined model they may choose to pay out half of the capital in annual distributions, protecting and growing the other half for future distributions.
You can learn more about the different Fund models Taranaki Foundation uses here.
Each Fund is monitored and accounted for individually however, to reduce risk and lessen administration costs, capital across all funds is combined and managed by Taranaki Foundation.
Taranaki Foundation’s investment portfolio is managed by Craigs Investment Partners, Forsyth Barr & Jarden with supervision from our Investment Management Committee. Several other investments sit with other fund managers, providers and in assets outside the Craigs portfolio. We are open to working with all Fund Managers in New Zealand.
We have a Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives (SIPO) that outlines our investment strategy.
If you have an existing relationship with an investment/fund manager you are welcome to continue using their services given they meet the appropriate fiduciary requirements. We are open to working with all advisors in our community.
Taranaki Foundation directs 1 percent of the income earned on invested funds towards operating expenses.
Anyone establishing a Named Fund is encouraged to consider donating towards operating expenses. This can be in the form of a one-off donation when the Fund is established or a series of smaller donations over a fixed time period, or (in the case of donations that are bequeathed) a single donation when the gift is received by Taranaki Foundation.
You’re free to change your mind at any time.
You decide the places, causes or charities you wish to benefit from your generosity. You can change your distributions in the future, by updating your Memorandum of Wishes with the Foundation, without having to change your Will.
You can remove or re-add Taranaki Foundation to your Will by simply amending your Will through the ordinary avenues.
You don’t have to be specific. You can consider leaving a percentage of your estate, perhaps with a ceiling limit attached to it.
Often, we can’t give as generously as we would like during our lifetime. A gift in your Will can be the perfect way to make a difference, without impacting on your current financial needs.
Giving is all about your personal situation. You can choose to:
Foundation staff can work with you to understand your wishes and provide the documentation your lawyer will require to include a gift in your Will.
Or you may choose to work directly with your professional advisor to make a bequest to the Taranaki Foundation in your Will.
General Funds:
Play is essential for people of all ages and abilities.
Accessibility and inclusivity considerations have been considered and incorporated across the design elements including:
Car parking is now unaffected with Stage One opened. When Stage Two and Three Contruction commences, any impact on carparking will be communicated with the public and car park users.
Stage One of Destination Kāwaroa opened on 18 December 2024, after a 9 month construction process.
Construction of Stage Two, once funding is confirmed, is expected in the first quarter of 2025. Timelines once confirmed will be communicated with the public.
The design concept has been completed by the New Plymouth District Council parks team. This has been in collaboration with Ngāti Te Whiti and a wide range of community stakeholders.
Various workshops have been carried out with local organisations, schools, and groups to get wide input to ensure the creation of a play space that can meet the needs of all users as best as possible. Some of the community stakeholders who have been involved: Conductive Education, Rainbow Youth, CCS, Sport Taranaki, Age Concern, NPDC Age and Accessibility Working Party, Blind Foundation and Deaf Aotearoa.
We’re giving people the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to their community and play a part in making our city an incredible place to live, work and play.
Already Taranaki people of a variety of means have made large and small contributions, including those who have given generous in-kind commitments.
Donations and additional funding will make the full vision of Destination Kāwaroa happen.
Over the last two years the project team have conducted a wide range of community consultations, which showed a strong need and support for the redevelopment of the existing playground and development of new play areas.
Feedback from this research showed that the existing playground lacked creative play experiences, were not inclusive for those with disabilities, were not multi-purpose and that the community strongly desired these traits in a play area.
Ngāti Te Whiti hapu are supportive of the playground and as project partner are collaborating on all aspects of the design and execution to fully incorporate the cultural narrative.
In addition, the redevelopment of the playground has the support of the New Plymouth District Council, Toi Foundation, NZCT, Sport Taranaki, Venture Taranaki and The Halberg Foundation.
New Plymouth District Council will maintain and upkeep the play space and surrounding areas as they do with all other community playgrounds and recreational spaces that are council owned.
NPDC as the asset owner has been responsible for the research, consultation, design, procurement and construction of the project. Through NP Partners, NPDC will invest further in site infrastructure, ongoing management and maintenance.
Taranaki Foundation are the lead organisation managing the project fundraising, working together with New Plymouth District Council who are responsible for construction, management and operation and Ngāti Te Whiti who are providing input into all aspects of the design and execution of the project.
NP Partners is a public-private partnership forum for business leaders, community leaders and entrepreneurs drawn together by a shared vision. We are committed to investing in the growth of our city and district, creating community value and impact through a Partner-led, Council-managed programme.
Destination Play is the first of NP Partners bold initiatives for our city and community.
All contributions $1,000 and greater will be recognised visually on site with a naming wall and in certain play areas.
The contribution levels are:
If you would like to discuss how you contribution will be recongised, options to make a large donation, and/or represent an organisation or business that wishes to be a partner contact Taranaki Foundation CE, Josh Hickford – 027 4621412 josh@taranakifoundation.org.nz
You can contribute here: Destination Play at Kāwaroa
If you wish to make a donation, and/or represent an organisation or business that wishes to be a partner in this ambitious community legacy project contact Taranaki Foundation CE, Josh Hickford – 027 4621412 josh@taranakifoundation.org.nz
You can also find more information about the project on the Taranaki Foundation site www.taranakifoundation.org.nz/destination-play/
Yes. Not only will your gift help bring this community project fully to life, but your donation will also qualify for a tax rebate of 33.3% up to the limit of your taxable income.
The project delivery has a staged approach based on the confirmed funding available.
Stage One has been officially opened in December 2024. Stage Two will commence in early 2025 once funding is secured.
With Stage One now open, we are now looking to secure the remainder of Stage Two funding. We have successfully secured over $6.86M in funding for the project with just over $100,000 still to raise. Stage Two delivery is underway but will not be completed until the remaining funding is secured.
To date Destination Kāwaroa has over to $6.9M in confirmed funding for the project. This total forms all of Stage One with a shortfall for Stage Two funding currently being raised through philanthropic donations from organisations and individuals, sponsorship and other fundraising channels. This includes our community fundraising campaign where anyone from the community can contribute to the project at any level. You can donate here: Destination Play at Kāwaroa
The funding Taranaki Foundation is providing to the project is from donors donating specifically to Destination Kāwaroa.
With Stage One now open, we are now looking to secure the remainder of Stage Two funding. We have successfully secured over $6.86M in funding for the project with just over $100,000 still to raise. Stage Two delivery is underway but will not be completed until the remaining funding is secured.
These funds are outside of our funds under management and are not included in our annual funding round.
Read more about our Funding Round here.
The project team have been in partnership with mana whenua throughout. This includes local hapū Ngāti Te Whiti. Some elements include:
As well as replacing an ageing playground facility, Destination Kāwaroa will transform this significant location into a major intergenerational educational and play resource.
The approx. 22,000 m² play area will include:
The Destination Kāwaroa project is led by the Taranaki Foundation in partnership with Mana whenua of Ngāmotu – New Plymouth, Ngāti Te Whiti, NP Partners and New Plymouth District Council.
NPDC as the asset owner has been responsible for the research, consultation, design, procurement and construction of the project. Through NP Partners, NPDC will invest further in site infrastructure, ongoing management and maintenance.
Taranaki Foundation Workplace Giving is an easy way for companies to help their employees give back to our local community with regular donations through their payroll system.
It is simple for both employer and employee. Find out more about Workplace Giving here
No. Companies aren’t required to contribute any money up front. All a company needs to do is:
Enable staff to donate through the payroll system (we can help set this up).
Include Workplace Giving information in induction packs for new staff.
Give us the opportunity to talk to your staff about workplace giving. We keep these presentations short and can do them in small groups to minimise the impact on your business. There is no obligation on your employees to participate.
No they don’t. While some employers choose to contribute alongside their employees, it is not required.
Not only is Workplace Giving an easy way for people to donate a little often, it also has the added bonus of an immediate tax benefit.
Employees receive an immediate tax credit for their donations, instead of having to retain their receipts and wait until the end of the year to claim a rebate.
For every dollar donated they receive a third back as a tax credit in the same pay period. If you donate $7.50, the government pays $2.50 of that meaning only $5 is deducted from your pay packet.
