Impact Report 2020 “Community foundations enable people to give back to their own community and support local projects. It is a great way for anyone who wants to make a positive change in their community’s future to get involved and show their generosity.” Sir Stephen Tindall Nature School New Zealand Trust. Contents Our vision 2 Our story 2 Our philosophy 3 Letter from the Chair 4 Letter from the Executive Director 5 Nurturing a culture of philanthropy 6 2020 philanthropy highlights 8 Where we work 9 30 years with Nikau 10 Michael and Suzanne Borrin Foundation 11 A sister’s love continues to make a difference to dance 12 A pioneer of her time 13 Our community – Porirua 14 Improving youth employability with a life-changing programme 15 Our community – Kāpiti 16 Fostering a sense of kinship 17 Finding friendship and connections at MenzShed Kāpiti 18 Our community – Wairarapa 19 The next generation of leadership 20 Competition changing lives 21 The role of generosity in times of uncertainty 22 2020 grants 23 The Nikau Family 33 Our partnerships 33 Our people 35 Our model 38 How we work 39 New approach to distribution 39 Financials 40 Our vision Nikau Foundation was founded with the objective of building healthy, resilient and self-sustaining communities. Working to grow philanthropy throughout the Wellington region, Nikau Foundation aims to foster the arts, conservation, and health and wellbeing of our communities to provide a solid foundation for a thriving Wellington, now and in future. Our story Inspired by the work of a worldwide network Working with our regional committees in Porirua, of community foundations, Nikau Foundation Kāpiti and Wairarapa, Nikau Foundation continues to was established in 1991, the first of its kind in widen our reach and lay down roots for more impactful Aotearoa New Zealand. This network now change regionally. comprises 17 foundations throughout the Year on year, we are welcoming more funds on board, country, each working to make a positive and receiving a higher volume of donations, investing lasting impact within their respective communities. more and issuing more grants to support the work We have strong connections to our community and of community organisations throughout the region. are tuned in to their needs, working to ensure local Our growth and continued impact is testament to generosity goes to local causes. Our aim is for every the passion and commitment of our team, Board New Zealander to be able to effect lasting change of Trustees, supporters, volunteers and partner wherever their home and heart is and wherever their community organisations. interests lie. Nikau Foundation is the Wellington region’s community foundation. Together, we are building a lasting legacy for the people and places we love. 2 Nikau Foundation IMPACT REPORT 2020 Our philosophy Meaningful, personalised giving Guided by the principle of meaningful giving, our donors decide who and what their gift goes to. Whether you are establishing an individual fund, choosing to give as a family or giving as a way of honouring a loved one, all gifts will be distributed in a way that resonates most. Smart investment for long-term impact With a focus on building sustainable funding streams to achieve long-term community transformation, donations are invested smartly. It is the income your giving earns that will be distributed to local causes – the gift itself remains protected so it can continue to support causes that resonate with you well into the future. Our model offers enduring trusteeship, meaning your fund will be guided and governed by a team of passionate, professional and connected people for ever. Connectedness With an extensive network throughout the Wellington region, Nikau Foundation is deeply rooted in our local community. Through our connections, we are not only aware of important community projects and initiatives but also where the biggest opportunities for philanthropic impact lie. This means that we are perfectly placed to maximise the impact of your gift. Whether it be the arts, te ao Māori, education or research, health, environment or youth development, we work with you to find the causes that speak to you the most. Transparent and trusted We are transparent in all our processes and ensure that our donors feel connected and informed with the investment they are making in the community. We are cost-effective – taking care of all the administration, reporting and financial management. If you have an existing charitable trust or are considering establishing one, Nikau Foundation can offer easier options for management around compliance, investments, effective grant-making and more. We provide the means to run the equivalent of a charitable trust without the significant workload, while your trust’s original purpose continues on. 3 Letter from the Chair It has been said that COVID-19 accelerated the future, and that is certainly true for Nikau Foundation. This year, our systems, policies and the Board of Trustees and staff were fully stress tested as we navigated the ‘new normal’. I am pleased to report that, despite the chaos, Nikau’s endowment funds under management increased we made substantial progress on all fronts. over the year by 24% to over $18 million, driven by new endowments and fund transfers. As Nikau’s reputation I would like to acknowledge the commitment and and public awareness grows, the outlook for the coming hard work of all staff and trustees and the Kāpiti, year is for continued or even stronger momentum. Porirua and Wairarapa district committees, which has Taking into account corporate trusteeships (principally propelled Nikau to its best year yet and enabled us to the Michael & Suzanne Borrin Foundation), our total emerge full of confidence for the future. In particular, managed funds now exceed $69 million. I would like to acknowledge the leadership of Alice Montague, our Executive Director. Perhaps the most significant step forward taken this year was the adoption of a new distribution policy. I would also like to recognise the work of our partner This policy ensures that we are able to sustainably community organisations, whose collective generosity, distribute 3.5% annually, maintaining the real value of flexibility and dynamism really shone in the face of endowments whether markets are up or down. A key unprecedented challenges. benefit to the community is that, when hard times strike By the time lockdown arrived, Nikau was on its way and funds are needed most, Nikau will continue to issue to working in the cloud, and we were able to operate grants at normal levels. The policy also frees up Nikau to remotely and effectively. This allowed us to focus on focus on total investment returns rather than investing some major strategic projects that might otherwise for income and yield. By adopting this model, our donors have taken far longer to complete – a new website, can be assured that their gifts will continue to have their a new customer relationship management system full impact for ever. and the final roll-out of our new branding. We hope During the year, we bade farewell to trustee Pancha that, with the assistance of these projects, we will Narayanan after five years of service, much as Chair continue to expand our reach and, in turn, the of the Grants Committee. On behalf of the Board impact we make throughout the Wellington region. of Trustees, I extend my gratitude for his work in With financial markets facing immense uncertainty, developing our grants strategy. Effective grant- we followed the advice of our professional fund making is much harder than it sounds, and Pancha managers Hobson Wealth and ‘looked through’ certainly helped us take this critical area forward. the crisis – and just as well we did. Wendy Venter joined us as a new trustee and has made a substantial contribution working on the Audit and Risk Committee. During the year, Nikau adopted a comprehensive risk management framework, and In spite of the unique each of our standing committees now reviews risks as “challenges that 2020 presented, a standing agenda item. Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank our Nikau Foundation has made volunteers, donors and sponsors. The Nikau ‘family’ substantial progress and has is now extensive, and the outstanding progress of the Foundation would not be possible without each and emerged full every one of your contributions. of confidence Ngā mihi/kind regards and optimism “ for the future. Chris Milne Chair 4 Nikau Foundation IMPACT REPORT 2020 Letter from the Executive Director Me mahi tahi tātou mō te oranga o te katoa We should work together for the wellbeing of everyone. We are delighted to bring you the 2020 Impact 2021 marks 30 years since a group of generous Report. No one could have imagined the challenges like-minded Wellingtonians came together with that lay ahead for our communities at the start of the the combined vision of bringing the community year. As we reflect on the impacts of COVID-19 we foundation model to Aotearoa New Zealand. must also take time to consider the many examples of We look forward to looking back at the impact the tenacity of human spirit and inherent generosity Nikau Foundation has made since 1991 and to that shone through. celebrating this important milestone with you all in 2021. Special thanks must go to past trustees It is a privilege to be able to share with you a selection and our loyal Nikau Club members who have of stories from grant recipients and the remarkable supported us throughout this period. donors whose generosity in creating forever funds has ensured causes close to their hearts can be supported. I would like to thank all of our community We feature the work of the Wairarapa Dragon Boat organisations, the incredible Nikau staff and Board Club, Te Ātiawa ki Whakarongotai, Drive4Life and of Trustees, who have provided invaluable support, scholarship recipient Zoe Edwards.