Top of the South Community Foundation

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.

04/06/2026

The future of our region depends on the opportunities we create for young people today.

We're proud to support Future of Work Marlborough, helping rangatahi explore pathways into local industries, further study, and meaningful careers right here in Te Tauihu.

A big thank you to everyone involved in bringing this event together. We look forward to seeing the connections, conversations, and opportunities it creates for Marlborough's young people.

03/06/2026

Everyone deserves to feel the sand between their toes and the water on their skin and Kaiteriteri Recreation Reserve is making sure more people can do exactly that.

Kaiteriteri Beach is one of Te Tauihu's most beloved destinations. But for visitors with limited mobility, getting onto the beach and into the water has never been easy - until now.

A Mobi Beach Chair and beach mats now give people with reduced mobility safe and supported access onto the sand and into the water. Alongside this, an existing beach-side bathroom has been thoughtfully modified — with an adult change table, handrails, hot water, a wider doorway, and a rolling door — creating a dignified, practical space for those who need it most.

The impact has been immediate and deeply felt. One young man, visiting with his family, was able to get safely into the water for the first time. While in the water other children gathered around him, playing alongside him in a way that doesn't always happen. An ordinary beach day became something much more.

Donor generosity and grant funding from the Top of the South Community Foundation helped bring this project to life. This is what inclusive communities look like in action.

Find out more: experiencekaiteriteri.co.nz

31/05/2026

Today our 2026 grant round opens, with funding available across different funds supporting communities throughout Te Tauihu.

All of our funds are open at once, creating opportunities for organisations working across a wide range of causes, from environmental projects and programmes supporting tamariki, rangatahi, and local employment.

Grants of up to $15,000 are available, depending on the fund.

If you have a project, programme, or initiative that would benefit your community, we encourage you to take a look at the criteria and see what funding opportunities may be available.

Applications are open from 1–30 June 2026.

Know an organisation doing great work in our region? Please help us spread the word by sharing this post with your networks.

Find out more and apply at: topsouthfoundation.org.nz/our-grant-process

30/05/2026

Just minutes from Nelson's city centre, little-spotted kiwi are calling again.

The Brook Waimārama Sanctuary has been quietly restoring 690 hectares of native forest, protecting some of Aotearoa's rarest species, including tuatara and orange-fronted parakeet, behind a pest-proof fence that keeps predators out and wildlife safe.

It's community-led, volunteer-powered, and making a real difference right here in Te Tauihu.

The Sanctuary has an established Community Group Fund with the Top of the South Community Foundation, where every donation is professionally invested and the income flows directly back into pest control, species reintroductions, habitat restoration, and environmental education, year after year.

Read the article in The Nelson Mail today.

Find out more: topsouthfoundation.org.nz/funds/brook-waimarama-sanctuary-community-group-fund