FAQs about community foundations

Are Community Foundations new?

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.

What is the purpose of a Community Foundation?

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.

Who can be a Community Foundation Supporter?

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.

Who Benefits?

Charitable organisations in the Tasman, Nelson and Marlborough regions, as directed by donors wishes and the needs of our community.

Donor FAQs

How do I leave a gift in my will?

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.

How do you allocate funds?

‘Named’ Funds specify the charities and causes that donors wish to support. All untagged funds are distributed annually to local organisations who have applied for support. The Trustees know our community well and make their granting decisions based on the current needs of our community.

How is this different to giving directly to the Charity?

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.

How can I be assured that my donation will be taken care of in the future?

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

When to apply for Funding?

We will ensure dates of all grant rounds are widely publicised. The June Grant Round has been postponed to later in 2025.

My Charity needs funding – can you help?

Each of the funds we hold support different charitable purposes. We will publish a clear set of guidelines for each fund so you can see which ones align most strongly to the work that you do

How will my application be processed?

Applications are made through our portal. The applications are then reviewed by a Distribution Committee who make recommendations to our Board of Trustees. The Distribution Committee check that the applications align well to the wishes of the donor, meet community need and that organisations are able to deliver their proposed projects. Applicants are notified of the result of their application, and if they are successful, will be asked to complete an accountability report.

This process ensures we distribute funding to achieve the highest impact with our donors gifts.

Have a question we haven't covered?

Get in touch, we'd love to chat with you.

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© Top of the South Community Foundation 2025.
Photos from Nelsontasman.nz, Only Marlborough and Unsplash.
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