Momentum offers a menu of smart giving options
Published on 5 October, 2022
Do you want to financially support local social and environmental activity across the Waikato in a way that ensures your help has an effective and ongoing impact?
Momentum Waikato, the region’s community foundation, has a portfolio of philanthropic investment funds, each set up by a community group, social enterprise or local champions to diversify and grow the income enabling their own or others’ worthwhile work.
These funds grow within the multi-million-dollar regional endowment in Momentum’s care, benefiting from its scale. Part of the resulting investment income goes back to the initiator’s operation or is distributed in the community, and part is re-invested, as per their wishes.
A number of these ‘named funds’ welcome public donations - meaning you can help grow its income and impact by adding to its capital.
Momentum now has thirteen such funds in its care, together supporting a diverse range of community activity – from art to sport, environment to disability support, for specific locations or the whole region.
The ‘McKenzie Centre Fund’ is an example of backing for a specific social good entity - McKenzie Centre supports children who have disabilities and their families. Another is the ‘Te Awamutu College Foundation Fund’, which provides the school with resources and scholarships.
Several of Momentum’s funds enable social enterprise. The Community and Enterprise Leadership Foundation (CELF) set up their fund to support its leadership programs. Cambridge entrepreneurs John and Nicola Kenel established the ‘Financial Literacy Fund’.
The ‘All Good Ventures Fund’ supports the trust of the same name, which invests in social enterprise start-ups.
SUSTAINABLE: Donations to the Waikato Community Rugby Fund provide growing and resilient funding to support grassroots rugby across the region.
Both the Waikato Rugby Union and the Hamilton Civic Choir Foundation have funds with Momentum to diversify their income streams and provide a smart way for their respective fans to support them financially.
Locale-specific funds include the Taitua Fund, set up by the late John and Bunny Mortimer for the Taitua Arboretum, and the Hamilton CBD Development was set up by Foster Group to give businesses and others the opportunity to support central city improvements.
In comparison, two conservation funds have a wide footprint. The ‘Waikato Catchment Ecological Enhancement Fund’ adds to the conservation funding offered by WCEET, while the ‘Waikato Hauraki Conservation Fund’, started with a gift from Dianne and Selwyn June, focuses on predator control.
Last but certainly not least are Momentum’s two giving circles, led by volunteer committees and open to donating members - the Waikato Women’s Fund and Waikato Intercultural Fund.
Momentum is welcoming more named funds all the time.
If you would like to find out more and or donate towards any of these smart funding initiatives, visit momentumwaikato.nz/our-funds or get in touch via momentumwaikato.nz/contact.
