Giving with a shared purpose

Date: 29 October 2025, 7pm NZDT/5pm AEDT (other time zones)

RSVP: By email, to yvonne@thegifttrust.org.nz

Speakers: Cheryl Spain (Executive Director, The Gift Trust), Claire O’Rourke (CEO, Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network), Melissa Gibson (Len Reynolds Trust), Pip Wheaton (The Climatics)

Several of our individual donors have asked to learn how they could work together to fund bigger things and as we’re also now running several collaborative funder Gift Accounts, such as the Social Cohesion Fund and Matariki Koha, we thought tapping into some great minds in the field would be a great idea.

After brainstorming for a bit, we reached out to our friends at Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network (AEGN). This group was created in 2008 to host a safe, trusted space to share environmental funding opportunities, insights and experiences and develop potential collaborations. We’ve seen the swift and effective way they work as a group of funders and donors and asked CEO Claire O’Rourke to share their story with us. While collaborative efforts on The Gift Trust books are by no means limited to environmental causes, we’re keen to hear from Claire how high trust engagement has worked so well for the group. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage with Claire’s ideas on collaborative giving.

Joining AEGN will be:

Melissa Gibson (Chief Executive Officer, Len Reynolds Trust) – a key person in The Gift Trust’s social cohesion fund, and in the collaborative fund WEAVE

Pip Wheaton – Co-founder of The Climatics, one of The Gift Trust’s newest collaborative funds

“The Gift Trust provides a personalised service for my plan to give, donate and support the causes that are important to me at a reasonable cost.”

— Gillian, Gift Trust donor

"The gift accounts offered by The Gift Trust are a good option for individuals or organisations wanting to consolidate their charitable giving. I encourage all financial advisers to consider this important development."

– Dr Rodger Spiller, Financial Adviser, Money Matters

“An area of importance to our clients is charitable giving. The Gift Trust offers an opportunity to streamline the gifting process, while adding increased confidence and transparency. It also provides robust due diligence of eligible charities and access to additional support services for clients with complex needs.”

— Philip Stevenson, Bloomsbury Associates. CEFEX Certified Investment Adviser

“We would like to recognise and offer thanks for the support we receive though The Gift Trust’s donation. An annual donation from one of your donors is one of the largest donations that Kaibosh receives each year and has been absolutely pivotal to our ability to operate with confidence and to expand our operation across the Hutt Valley. We are extremely thankful.”

— Matt Dagger, Kaibosh, Gift Trust grant recipient

“My gift account has made my giving easy. It lets me get straight to the fun and satisfying part of giving to the causes I care about, without the hassle.”

— Anake, Gift Trust donor

"The Gift Trust provides a flexible and robust structure, to support donors' charitable giving intentions, while still enabling them to have a say in the investment of donated funds."

– David Ireland, Partner, Dentons Kensington Swan

"A Gift Account with The Gift Trust is a great option as an alternative to setting up a charity or private foundation while still preserving clients' control over their giving."

– Steven Moe, Partner, Parry Field Lawyers

"The administration and ongoing compliance requirements involved in setting up a private charity can be onerous, and even risky. Setting up a Gift Account allows The Gift Trust to look after those requirements, and provide support that allows the donor to focus on what they really want to do with their gifts."

– Sue Barker, Sue Barker Charities Law

"The Gift Trust takes the guesswork out of giving. Having support with research and due diligence on donations ensures that funds are truly making the desired impact. It has been a real pleasure to work with The Gift Trust."

– Ben, Gift Account holder

Get in touch

PO Box 19120, Marion Square
Wellington, New Zealand

04 391 4438

info@thegifttrust.org.nz

Giving with a shared purpose

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