Trust delivers $11.6m to community groups
Trust Waikato delivered $11.6 million in the past financial year to support initiatives across the region.
Hamilton groups received $3.1m in funding spread across 98 community groups.
The trust made significant donation towards the second stage for Hamilton City Council’s gardens project ($200,000), the Rauawaawa Kaumatua Trust ($300,000) and the Te Kahao Health Ltd ($100,000).
Other donations were received by NZ Red Cross Hamilton Service Centre ($60,000), Waikato Medical Research Foundation ($75,000), Hamilton Gardens Summer Festival Foundation ($100,000), Link House Trust ($70,000) and the Waikato Institute of Technology ($75,000).
The balance was made of grants for differing amounts from $500 upwards.
Some of the main talking points from the trust’s annual public meeting, attended by stakeholders from across the Waikato, was the fiscal management of the trustees.
From the $11.6m paid out through grants, $8.8m was approved for 636 community projects with $2.8m going to 10 significant capital projects.
A further $2.5m was paid to the trusts strategic partners.
Trust chairman Niwa Nuri outlined the new 10-year plan focusing on achieving impact and influence at a regional level through effective philanthropy, leadership and partnership.
In recognising the need for strong leadership, the strategy has a deeper focus on tackling new challenges and its five and 10-year goals towards enabling transformational change for people, communities and places where the need is greatest.
Outlining where the need is greatest chief executive Dennis Turton acknowledges social services is a major area the trust is focused on.
Last year the trust considered applications totalling over $6m for supporting families and young people.
It included 264 requests from social services, and the trust approved funding of $3.5m.
‘‘The trust is supporting with capacity building and capability through Community Waikato and this model is now being replicated around the country.’’
This is where a number of social services are housed in one location where significant operational costs are saved because of shared services.
The trust is in good shape going into the future with funds valued at $371m.