The Christchurch Foundation Secures Council Backing as a “Second-Generation Organisation”
- jemmabalmer3
- Mar 19
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 19
The Christchurch Foundation has successfully secured new funding from the Christchurch City Council. This support underscores the Council’s commitment to working in partnership with community organisations to build resilient, thriving communities throughout Christchurch and the Banks Peninsula. This decision marks a significant milestone, reinforcing the Foundation’s shared commitment to fostering philanthropy in the greater Christchurch region.
Chair of The Christchurch Foundation, Dr Anake Goodall, welcomes the decision and what it represents for the organisation.
"This financial support will enable the Foundation to strengthen existing community partnerships, grow the kete pūtea entrusted to us, expand our philanthropic footprint and support the community in which we operate. It will also, following our right-sizing and sharpened focus this year, allow us to maintain the increased momentum we are achieving in both funds under management and distributions."
This showcases the Council’s support for the local community foundation, and what this will ultimately mean for the citizens of the greater Christchurch region.
Interim General Manager Lynne Umbers was delighted with the decision.
"The Christchurch Foundation is committed to helping create a thriving and resilient community, and a partnership with the Council is critical. We look forward to the workshop and strategy discussions we'll have with the Council as a result of this decision. Together, we can make this city and the wider Waitaha region the best it can be."
By reaffirming the power of working together, The Christchurch Foundation continues to demonstrate that community-led philanthropy is a cornerstone of social recovery and progress. In the last year, the Foundation has opened funds that support lymphoedema treatment, ecological sustainability, female founders and the Muslim community. The Foundation remains committed to supporting initiatives that make a lasting difference for all Cantabrians.
For further details or media enquiries, please contact:
Lynne Umbers, Interim General Manager
The Christchurch Foundation
021 279 9722
About The Christchurch Foundation
The 2010/2011 earthquakes highlighted the need for a strategic approach to philanthropy in Christchurch.
Many cities, corporates and individuals from around the world wanted to gift to the city’s recovery. A mayoral fund and a central government initiative were launched to act as vehicles to enable this, but neither were developed with a long-term view.
The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) spent some time investigating options for various models and ownership. In 2015, the City established a Funding Steering Committee, who recommended to Council that a Community Foundation be established following a global trend where cities are providing an entity for the transparent management and facilitation of major gifting and business partnerships.
The Christchurch City Council approved the establishment of a Community Foundation in August 2016, and The Christchurch Foundation became a registered charity in September 2017. Since we started, we have facilitated over $15.3m of funds into our city, supporting our community through the Port Hills fires and March 15th Mosque shootings. The Christchurch Foundation currently has $2.8m under management; an effective doubling over this past year.
About Community Foundations
Through New Zealand's Community Foundations, over $70 million has been granted to New Zealand communities in the past 5 years. and there is over $260 million invested in endowment funds for the future. With the invested endowment fund model protecting the original gifts, the potential good these gifts can do for the future is boundless. Community foundations serve as vital infrastructure for local philanthropy, providing tax-effective vehicles for giving and professional fund management that creates lasting impact. Throughout New Zealand, 18 community foundations are successfully connecting donors with local causes and building permanent endowment funds that will benefit communities for generations.
Further Information:
