Social Cohesion Fund

The Gift Trust is managing a fund on behalf of a group of New Zealand funders and individuals who, alongside Philanthropy New Zealand, have recognised a growing social division in Aotearoa, and an increase of misinformation and hate which is primarily spread online.

Information for charities and others seeking funding

The Social Cohesion Fund is still in its early stages of development, and we’re not yet ready for groups to apply. Once we have set the criteria, which will draw on a piece of landscape research we have commissioned from experts in the social cohesion space, we will be proactively reaching out to organisations identified by that research. At that time, we will also be welcoming expressions of interest from not-for-profits working in the space – keep an eye on our LinkedIn page for the latest updates.

We do not expect to be distributing funding for a few months. The Social Cohesion Fund will be open to New Zealand organisations only.

The funders are concerned about how these things will impact our society (families, communities, businesses, including our economic and political spheres), and the fund will support work that aims to:

Strengthen social harmony and inclusion, participation, and trust in institutional democracy.

Ensure that our foundational document of Te Tiriti o Waitangi is honoured and upheld

Share correct and accessible information about Te Tiriti o Waitangi and wider constitutional reform to inform public debate.

Support communities to have respectful, compassionate and effective conversations.

Ensure “people in the middle” are not swayed by misinformation.

Curtail misinformation, disinformation and fear based rhetoric, particularly that which affects communities experiencing social exclusion.

Reverse Aotearoa’s current slip into global trends of intolerance and racism.

If you are a funder or donor interested in supporting the Social Cohesion Fund, please contact Yvonne Trask at The Gift Trust: yvonne@thegifttrust.org.nz

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