I recently gave a presentation in Christchurch New Zealand with Iain Hines from J R McKenzie Trust to “Seed” – the bi-annual conference of the Combined Community Trusts. Here are the key points, and the presentation is below. As funders, we need our processes for finding, selecting and reporting on funding to be in the…
Continue reading →Here are two useful rules of thumb for philanthropy: First do no harm Err on the side of generosity These are neither new nor radical, but they are important and complementary considerations – and are sometimes neglected. The “first do no harm” principle is so obvious it is generally taken as read, but I think…
Continue reading →With a 12 year old son at home, seeing “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was not optional. And yes, I admit it, despite the paper-thin, deja vu plot I did kind of enjoy it – especially sassy Rey and very human Finn. Oh but the messaging. Need a miracle? Try violence. Because while violence is…
Continue reading →It’s a good time of year for looking back and reflecting… Earlier this year I stepped down from my Executive Director role at Todd Foundation to become an independent consultant. Here is an article I wrote recently about the lessons learned in my 10 years with Todd Foundation. (This was originally published in the December…
Continue reading →New research into financial giving in Aotearoa NZ, undertaken by Berl and commissioned by Philanthropy NZ, was released last week. You can listen to me discussing the results of the Giving New Zealand survey – and philanthropy more generally – with Ros Rice on the Collaborative Voices radio programme here: Alternatively, here is a short summary:…
Continue reading →How many of us have a good knowledge of our history here in Aoteraoa New Zealand? November 2015 commemorated 150 years since the siege of a Maori village called Waerenga-a-Hika near Gisborne on the East Coast of New Zealand’s North Island. In the six-day siege, 71 Māori villagers and 20 colonial soldiers were killed. Its…
Continue reading →I was privileged to recently co-present a series of three workshops for funders based in the Waikato recently alongside Peter Glensor from Hui-E Community Aotearoa. At the invitation of Trust Waikato, we first explored the nature of philanthropy and the community sector, then how philanthropy can do a better job of supporting communities organisations and…
Continue reading →If we are serious about impact and outcomes, Collective Impact seems a promising approach. I recently presented on the topic of “Collective Impact – the possibilities, pitfalls and Aotearoa NZ experience” at a funding hui in Taupo. You can view the presentation below, and a big thanks to Comet Auckland and to the Tow Foundation…
Continue reading →I have spent most of the last three months in Italy, France and Spain, which prompted me to reflect on our own culture and identity – a relevant topic perhaps for Māori Language Week. Our holiday was a kind of interlude between completing my role as Executive Director of Todd Foundation and starting my new…
Continue reading →Making social funding dependent on proving outcomes is a compelling concept – but one that is full of fishhooks. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Social Bond pilot (also known as Social Impact Bonds) and the Ministry of Social Development’s Community Investment Strategy to Invest in Services for Outcomes are examples of this seemingly simple and…
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