Top of the South Community Foundation

22/06/2026

There’s just one week left to apply for funding through the Top of the South Community Foundation's 2026 Grant Round.

This is our only funding round this year so now is the time to apply if you're part of a community group, charity, school, environmental project or local initiative making a difference across Te Tauihu,

Funding is available through a range of community funds supporting projects that strengthen our region and the people who call it home.

Applications close 30 June.

Find out more and apply here: https://www.topsouthfoundation.org.nz/our-grant-process/

Local giving. Lasting impact.

22/06/2026

Confidence. Identity. Belonging. These aren't things you can teach in a classroom and for young wāhine in Motueka, Wilderness Canoe Trust (Canoe Journeys) found another way.

Through the Top of the South Community Foundation and the generous support of the GSG Wilson Fund, the Kōhine Adventure Health Programme gave young women a full year of outdoor challenge, connection, and space to discover who they are — canoeing, climbing, camp craft, and so much more.

Read the full story on our blog: https://www.topsouthfoundation.org.nz/news/5373-finding-themselves-out-there-the-kohine-adventure-health-programme/

19/06/2026

This National Volunteer Week, we're giving a Big Shout Out to someone who powers everything we do. Jane Peterson volunteers as Board Chair of our Foundation, bringing her leadership and commitment to our mahi, week in, week out.

Volunteers like Jane aren't just supporting our work. In so many ways, they are our work. Our board, our committees, the organisations we fund — all of it runs on the time people give freely, because they care about their communities.

This week, and every week, we're incredibly grateful. Ngā mihi nui, Jane.

We're proud to be part of The Big Shout Out, a nationwide celebration of the volunteers who hold Aotearoa together.

15/06/2026

"You can change a community one person at a time." Tanya McMurtrie lives it.

Tanya McMurtrie is an Investment Adviser at Craigs Investment Partners in Nelson. She is sharp, thoughtful, and deeply connected to Te Tauihu. And for 20 years, she has been a volunteer mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nelson-Tasman.

She gives to the Top of the South Community Foundation through Payroll Giving, participates in a dollar-for-dollar Workplace Giving programme at Craigs Investment Partners, and has included a legacy donation in her Will.

Through Craigs Workplace Giving programme, employee contributions are matched dollar for dollar by the company. Tanya is actively involved in deciding where those funds go and the Top of the South Community Foundation is part of distributing these funds to charities in need at Christmas time. It is a model that shows what is possible when businesses and individuals commit to giving together.

Tanya gets to see the difference her generosity makes. She watches it happen. Right here, in the region she loves.

Like Tanya, there are many ways you can support the Top of the South Community Foundation. Find the one that works for you.

👉 Read Tanya's inspiring story:

“You can change a community one person at a time.” Tanya McMurtrie lives it. In a world that often mistakes busyness for generosity, Tanya McMurtrie has quietly, consistently, and wholeheartedly shown up for her community for more than two decades. Not for recognition. Not for reward. But becaus...

14/06/2026

Volunteers are the backbone of so many community organisations across Te Tauihu.

This National Volunteer Week, we're celebrating the people who generously give their time, skills and energy to strengthen our communities. Thank you to every volunteer making a difference, often behind the scenes, every single day.

Kiwis don't volunteer for the CV. They volunteer because it's who they are.

69.5% say volunteering is simply part of their values, it's not a task or an obligation. Just part of who they are.

Close behind: believing in the cause (61.4%) and wanting to show manaakitanga, care and generosity toward others (55.6%). Skill-building and free time didn't make the top motivations. Identity and community did.

We give because we care. It's pretty straightforward.

Volunteering New Zealand

Check out some other key highlights around volunteering from our nationwide survey 'Giving in Aotearoa, NZ': https://communityfoundations.org.nz/latest-news/what-the-data-tells-us-about-volunteering-in-aotearoa-and-why-it-matters

12/06/2026

Some lessons can't be taught in a classroom.

For over 50 years, Rotoiti Lodge Outdoor Education Centre has been taking young New Zealanders deep into Nelson Lakes National Park. Teaching water safety, shelter building, while building resilience in one of the most stunning settings in the country.

Students arrive as school kids. They leave having tested themselves in ways they never expected.

When schools aren't in residence, the lodge opens its doors to community groups, iwi and youth organisations. They have created a welcoming place for people to connect with nature and each other.

Now, Lake Rotoiti Outdoor Education Trust has established a Community Group Fund with the Top of the South Community Foundation to ensure this vital work is supported long into the future. The fund is new, and every contribution helps it grow. As it grows, so does the impact on young people's lives across New Zealand.

Be part of building something lasting for outdoor education in Te Tauihu. Read the featured article in The Nelson Mail tomorrow.

👉 Find out more and support the fund: topsouthfoundation.org.nz/funds/lake-rotoiti-outdoor-education-trust-fund/

11/06/2026

We're taking you behind the scenes, sharing how funding applications are reviewed, assessed and decided by our Distribution Committee.

Our committee ensures that care and commitment goes into honouring the legacy and precise wishes of our donors, while responding to the evolving needs of our communities today.

Their work is quiet, considered and deeply important. Driven by one thing: a profound commitment to this region and the people who call it home.

The committee's message to community groups considering applying this year is simple: "Please apply. Community groups are the heartbeat of Te Tauihu, and we are here to support your vital work. Whether you are a long-established regional organisation or a small grassroots initiative, your efforts matter."

📅 The 2026 Grant Round is open now — applications close 30 June.

👉 Read the full article: https://www.topsouthfoundation.org.nz/news/5340-behind-the-scenes-tscf-grant-funding-distribution-committee/

09/06/2026

In July, Nelson Tasman adventurer Nathan Faavae will take on one of the world's toughest endurance events, the Yukon 1000.

Alongside racing partner Sophie Hart, Nathan will paddle 1,000 miles through the remote waterways of Canada and Alaska. For Nathan, this challenge is also an opportunity to support future generations of Pasifika rangatahi in Te Tauihu.

Nathan is aiming to raise $10,000 for the Fa’avae Pasifika Fund, held by the Top of the South Community Foundation. The fund helps create opportunities for Pasifika young people to participate in outdoor adventure programmes through Whenua Iti Outdoors.

Established as an endowment fund, donations are invested for the long term, creating ongoing support for Pasifika communities in our region for generations to come.

Nathan and Sophie won the Yukon 1000 in 2024, recording the second-fastest kayak time in the event's history. This year, Nathan returns with a different goal alongside the challenge itself.

As Nathan says: "We're trying to create something that will last for generations. The race is temporary, but the impact we hope to create through the Foundation can continue long after we've crossed the finish line."

If you'd like to support Nathan's campaign and help grow the Fa’avae Pasifika Fund, every contribution makes a difference.

Find out more and donate here:

Paddling 1000 miles to raise $10,000 for Pasifika youth in Tasman through the Fa’avae Foundation.

08/06/2026

Need help with a funding application? Come and have a chat.

If you're part of a community group, charity, club, or organisation in Tasman or Golden Bay and are thinking about applying for funding, these drop-in sessions are a great opportunity to get guidance and ask questions in person.

Our CEO Chelsea Routhan joins Rātā Foundation, Tasman District Council - Te Kaunihera o te tai o Aorere, and Department of Internal Affairs to discuss funding opportunities, application processes, and how to strengthen your funding request.

No appointment needed. Just drop in at a time and location that suits you.

📍 Tākaka | Tuesday 9 June, 10.30am–12.30pm

📍 Motueka | Tuesday 9 June, 3.30pm–5.30pm

📍 Richmond | Wednesday 10 June, 3.30pm–5.30pm

If you know a community group, sports club, school, or organisation that could benefit from funding support, please help spread the word.

04/06/2026

What happens when a policy change affects the ability of people to give back?

This week, concerns were raised that proposed changes to donation tax credits could put major community projects at risk, including a planned $30 million cancer lodge in Tauranga that would provide accommodation and support for people travelling for cancer treatment.

At the Top of the South Community Foundation, we see every day how philanthropy helps fill gaps, strengthen communities, and create opportunities that might not otherwise exist. Many of the projects and organisations making a difference across Te Tauihu rely on the generosity of donors who choose to invest in their communities for the long term.

It's a timely reminder that creating a culture of giving matters, and that the settings around philanthropy can have a lasting impact on the communities and causes we care about.

Thank you to Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ for continuing to advocate for a strong and thriving philanthropic sector.

Read the article here:

The Cancer Society warns planned facility in Tauranga is at risk after the Government capped tax rebates for major donors.