Seeds of lasting change
A $20 million milestone proves the Acorn Foundation is igniting powerful change in the BOP, while building a legacy of hope and transformation.
words KARL PUSCHMANN
It’d be easy to say the Acorn Foundation has 20 million reasons to celebrate, but that would only be telling half the story. It’s actually the entire Western Bay of Plenty that has cause to celebrate the charitable foundation’s amazing success.
The community foundation, which was formed in 2003, has just passed the significant milestone of handing out $20 million in distributions to our community. What’s even more impressive is that in the next year or two that figure is projected to hit a whopping $25 million.
“This milestone reflects the collective effort of everyone who has been involved with Acorn over the years,” Lori Luke, the Acorn Foundation’s CEO, tells UNO.
“For many of our donors, they’re very modest, everyday folks. They’re not the uber-wealthy. For them to be able to contribute to something that has such a long-lasting impact on this community is really powerful.”
The Acorn Foundation’s community model is what sets it apart from other types of philanthropy in New Zealand.
While this model is new here, it’s well established overseas, especially in the US and Canada.
“The whole basis of it is that a lot of people participate and identify things that are important to them,” Lori explains. “We collect that money, invest it and distribute a portion of the investment returns each year to where our donors want it to go. The beauty of this model is that there's always money coming in and we build quite lovely relationships with our donors and get to understand what's important to them, to help them meet their giving goals.”
Donors can choose where to direct their funds, either supporting broader fields like arts, animal welfare, or youth development or they can get specific. One example Lori gives is the Omanu Beach Surf Life Saving Club, which receives around $50,000 a year thanks to one donor who named them as a recipient in her sizeable estate.
“It's been a game changer for them,” Lori smiles. “This particular donor, they’d never heard of her! She just happened to live up the road and liked watching the nippers practise.”
Ultimately, Acorn’s philosophy is about making a tangible difference in the community. As well as aiding and supporting various charities and services, they also provide scholarships and awards.
“It’s about human connection," Lori says. “For those who want to leave a lasting legacy, Acorn offers a powerful way to give back and is creating positive change that will benefit the region for years to come.”
