The Sunrise Foundation - Gisborne/Tairawhiti

The Sunrise Foundation - Gisborne/Tairawhiti Sunrise is a community foundation that can help you support local charities or causes you care about.

19/06/2026

4 sessions. 40 organisations. One incredible community.

Our 2026 Round Table sessions have now wrapped up, and once again they've been one of the highlights of our year.

Over four sessions, we heard from 40 organisations and community groups from across Tairāwhiti. Together they shared their successes, challenges, hopes and realities.

There were laughs, tears, honest conversations and heartfelt moments.

We heard about growing demand for services, funding pressures, rising costs and the ongoing challenge of finding enough volunteers. It's tough out there for many groups doing important work in our community.

The sessions are also a valuable opportunity for organisations to connect, share ideas and learn from one another.

To everyone who joined us this year, thank you. Thank you for your honesty, your commitment, and for the incredible work you do to make Tairāwhiti a better place.

You are the reason local giving matters.

Thanks to a grant from Sunrise, Cancer Society Gisborne East Coast has been able to provide massage therapy sessions for...
17/06/2026

Thanks to a grant from Sunrise, Cancer Society Gisborne East Coast has been able to provide massage therapy sessions for people living with cancer and their whānau.

The sessions offer a chance to pause, relax and find some relief from the physical and emotional stresses that can come with a cancer diagnosis and treatment.

One recipient shared:

"The massages are addictive! I always left completely relaxed and they have helped calm my mind during phases of overthinking. They break the stress cycle so you can pick yourself up again and carry on."

We're proud to support initiatives that help care for the wellbeing of local people and families facing cancer, and grateful to Cancer Society Gisborne East Coast for the incredible support they provide throughout our region.

Cancer Society Gisborne East Coast have an endowment fund with Sunrise. If you would like to learn more or actively support it, click the link: https://www.sunrisefoundation.org.nz/our-funds/special-interest-endowment-funds/cancer-society-gisborne-east-coast

15/06/2026

The stats say it all...kiwis don't volunteer for the recognition on their CV, they volunteer because it's who they are.

This National Volunteer Week, we extend our heartfelt thanks to the incredible people who volunteer their time, expertise and passion as Sunrise Foundation trustees and committee members.

Research shows that 65.5% of volunteers give their time simply because it aligns with their values, not because it's a task or an obligation. We see that spirit reflected in our trustees and committee members every day.

Their commitment, wisdom and generosity help ensure local giving continues to create lasting benefits for our region, now and for generations to come.

Thank you for the countless hours you contribute, the thoughtful decisions you make, and the genuine care you show for our community. We are deeply grateful for your service and dedication.

✈️ Honouring our aviation heritage for generations to come.Sunrise Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of ...
10/06/2026

✈️ Honouring our aviation heritage for generations to come.

Sunrise Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Gisborne Aviation Museum Endowment Fund, helping protect and preserve this important part of Tairāwhiti’s history long into the future.

Located at Gisborne Airport, the Gisborne Aviation Museum shares the stories of early flight on the East Coast through restored aircraft, memorabilia, and the incredible people who helped shape local aviation history.

Thanks to this new endowment fund, donations made today will be invested forever, with annual income supporting the museum’s preservation work, operations, and future development.

Run by passionate volunteers, the museum is a true community treasure, connecting visitors of all ages with stories of courage, innovation, and local pride.

As Treasurer Linda Hermon says, “This fund gives us confidence for the future. It means we can plan ahead, maintain our collection to a high standard, and continue inspiring people with stories of those who dared to take to the skies."

Donations of any size are warmly welcomed to help grow the fund and ensure Gisborne’s aviation heritage continues to inspire future generations. 🧡

10/06/2026

If your organisation is doing amazing mahi (work) in Gisborne-Tairāwhiti we want to hear from you!

Here's what you need to know:
🧡 Applications close noon, 2 July
🧡 Up to $7,500 per organisation
🧡 Covers both project and operational cost
🧡 Open to registered charities and organisations with a charitable purpose in Gisborne-Tairāwhiti.
🧡 All applications to be submitted via the online portal on our website.

This is your chance to secure funding that makes a real difference to the people and communities you serve. Please contact us directly if you have any questions - we're happy to help.

08/06/2026

Two sessions down. Countless conversations. One clear message.

Last week we hosted two of our four annual Round Table sessions with organisations supported through Sunrise Foundation funding.

These sessions are always a highlight of our year.

They give us the opportunity to hear directly from the people doing incredible work across Tairāwhiti — what's working well, what's changed, and the challenges they're navigating every day.

We've heard about increasing demand for services, the ongoing pressure of rising costs, uncertainty around funding, and the challenge many organisations face in attracting and retaining volunteers.

But we've also heard stories of resilience, innovation and impact.

Stories of people coming together, communities supporting one another, and organisations continuing to make a difference despite the pressures they face.

One of the things we value most about these sessions is the opportunity they create for connection. Around the table, organisations discover shared challenges, exchange ideas, and realise they're not facing those challenges alone.

A huge thank you to everyone who has joined us so far for their honesty, openness and willingness to share.

We look forward to hearing from even more groups at our remaining sessions over the coming weeks.

Local Giving for Local Needs

📣 A reminder that applications for Sunrise Foundation’s Annual Funding Round are now open!If your organisation has a cha...
07/06/2026

📣 A reminder that applications for Sunrise Foundation’s Annual Funding Round are now open!

If your organisation has a charitable purpose supporting our Gisborne–Tairāwhiti community, we encourage you to apply through the online grants portal on our website. 🧡

Our annual funding round supports a wide range of local causes, helping create lasting impact across the region.

⏰ Applications close at 12 noon on 2 July — so don’t leave it until the last minute.

Find the funding guidelines and apply online via our website. https://www.sunrisefoundation.org.nz/grants/annual-funding-round

📣 Something exciting is happening behind the scenes at Sunrise Foundation…As Sunrise continues to grow, so too does the ...
04/06/2026

📣 Something exciting is happening behind the scenes at Sunrise Foundation…

As Sunrise continues to grow, so too does the work happening every day to support our community, donors, fundholders and grant recipients. That’s why we’re now looking for a new part-time team member to join us in a newly created Operations & Finance Lead role. 🧡

Board Chair Rob Dymock says the role reflects the exciting momentum Sunrise is experiencing across Tairāwhiti.
“It's a wonderful position to be in, and we’re excited to begin the search for someone who can support the current team and help us continue building on that success.”

The position is now advertised on Seek, so if you’re passionate about community and making a long-term difference in Tairāwhiti go check it out.

📣 Applications are now OPEN for Sunrise Foundation’s 2026 Annual Funding Round!If your organisation has a charitable pur...
02/06/2026

📣 Applications are now OPEN for Sunrise Foundation’s 2026 Annual Funding Round!

If your organisation has a charitable purpose and supports our Gisborne–Tairāwhiti community, we encourage you to apply for funding through Sunrise Foundation’s General Fund. 🧡

We know that for many local groups, funding isn’t always about launching something new. Sometimes it’s about keeping essential services running, supporting staff, paying the bills, or simply making sure people can continue accessing the support they rely on.

That’s exactly why this funding round exists — to provide flexible support that responds to the real needs in our community.

🧡 Applications open: 2 June
🧡 Applications close: 2 July at 12 noon
⚠️ Late applications cannot be accepted.

Applications must be submitted online through the funding portal on the Grants page of our website, where funding guidelines can also be downloaded.

If you applied last year, please remember to use the same login email address and password.

If you’re unsure whether your project is the right fit, or would like to talk things through, please get in touch — we’re always happy to help.

To begin your application, click the link: https://www.sunrisefoundation.org.nz/grants/annual-funding-round

31/05/2026

🧡 Sunrise Foundation is delighted to announce the establishment of The Aurora Education Foundation Endowment Fund.

Created to support Aurora’s incredible work with high-potential children across Tairāwhiti and the East Coast, the fund has been generously seeded by local donors who believe deeply in the power of education and opportunity.

For the past 10 years, Aurora has delivered specialised extension programmes to students across the region, often travelling to some of the most isolated schools in the country, from Hicks Bay to Tutira.

By establishing this endowment fund with Sunrise, donations will be invested for the long term, helping provide ongoing support for Aurora’s programmes for generations to come.

Aurora co-founder Karen Bush (Sunny) says:
“We see extraordinary potential in the children we work with. This fund gives us confidence that we can keep investing in that potential and expanding our reach across the region.”

We are proud to support Aurora’s vision of backing future leaders and creating lasting impact through education. If you would like to support The Aurora Education Foundation Endowment Fund, please get in touch with the Sunrise team. 🌱

See the full range of funds established with Sunrise on our website: https://www.sunrisefoundation.org.nz/our-funds/special-interest-endowment-funds

Address

1 Peel Street (BDO Building) Gisborne
Gisborne
4010

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