Giving Stories
DONORS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
Leaving a bequest in your Will to Momentum Waikato's Endowment Fund is a special way to honour the Waikato community. Big or small, your gift will make a positive difference, now and for future generations.
It is simple and easy to create a real legacy. Working with your professional advisor, we offer our expert knowledge to tailor a giving solution that brings to life your values and is structured in the way you want.
Through our Waikato Endowment Fund, gifts are invested in perpetuity, and returns can then be granted to the charities or social enterprises the donor cares about and/or the changemakers we have identified.
We use independent professional investment managers, Craigs Investment Partners and JBWere, to provide expert fund management and advice.
Below are stories from local folks who have chosen Momentum Waikato to realise their aspirations for their community. Some have chosen to commit a bequest in their Will to the Waikato Endowment Fund and the projects it supports, others are targeting the investment income from their bequest or donations towards the causes or needs of their choice, while others are supporting our Transformational Projects, such as the Waikato Regional Theatre.
How can my estate have the greatest positive effect?
When I started to think about how to distribute my estate, I first thought of my personal circumstances.
Leaving a gift to Raglan in his Will…
Let’s call him ‘a Raglan local’. He’s a bloke who has lived in the popular seaside town for many years, a keen and adept surfer with a lifestyle and career designed to keep him at the beach.
The gift in Amanda's Will reflects her life of service
Amanda is a woman who has everything she needs, and absolutely no more.
Natasha Harvey - Why We Give
"I give because I believe in systems that empower women — not hold them back. Collective giving creates that system, and the Waikato Women’s Fund makes it real."
Rachel Afeaki-Taumoepeau - Why We Give
“The Waikato Women’s Fund has done incredible mahi since its beginning — but we’re only just getting started.”
Melissa Gibson - Why We Give
“That’s the beauty of the Waikato Women’s Fund — one day you might be the one receiving support, and the next you’re in a position to give it.”
Nancy Caiger - Why We Give
“I wanted my gifts to provide some leverage – a base others can build on in the years ahead.”
Michelle Howie - Why We Give
“Giving to the Fund is an act of solidarity. Of belief in what wāhine can achieve — for themselves, their whānau, and their communities.”
Pam Roa - Why We Give
“I’m inspired every day by the strength of women coming together to support our communities. Contributing to Te Ira Wāhine o Waikato – the Waikato Women’s Fund – was an easy way to support this kaupapa.”
Donella enjoys simple and perpetual charitable giving
Donella Graney likes to give back to her community, so being in a position to do so, has made regular donations to a range of local and national charities for some years.
‘A tree with many leaves of opportunity’ for Maaori in health
The determination that others must follow in her footsteps has led a successful young doctor to team up with a senior colleague to create a new philanthropic investment fund dedicated to getting more Maaori into the health sector.
Waikato business owners dedicating their profits to passion
Heather and Rod Claycomb are seeing lives changed across the world thanks to their unique family charity that supports social entrepreneurs to start new businesses for the benefit of people in need.
Bunny’s bequest grows Mortimer legacy
Throughout their lifetimes, Bunny and John Mortimer were exceptionally generous and supportive to their community, most notably with their gifting of Taitua Arboretum to the city of Hamilton.
'Our gift to the Waikato will flow on into the future'
Leaving a bequest in their Wills towards the future of the Waikato is an important priority for a couple looking to give back to the region they love to call home.
Bev's donor story
Te Ira Waahine, Waikato Women’s Fund is one way of contributing to the future of women and girls in this beautiful region we live in.
Rachel's donor story
What an honour to be asked to be a member of the Establishment Committee for the Waikato Women’s Fund (WWF).
Theatre an investment in kids’ future: Feisst
A top company director’s passion for supporting young people has prompted him to back the Waikato Regional Theatre.
Melissa’s donor story
I’m on the Establishment Committee of the Waikato Women’s Fund and one of its proud weekly financial contributors.
A Quiet Act of Generosity
Back in 2016 a local lawyer, when meeting a client to plan their Will, raised the possibility of a bequest.
Michelle's donor story
I became involved in the Waikato Women’s Fund in February 2018 when I was invited to join the initial discussions by a woman I knew at the table.
Nancy's donor story
A desire for her and her siblings’ grandchildren to have an equal opportunity to achieve is why Nancy Caiger got involved in an initiative focused on the needs and aspirations of local women and girls.
Donation Targeted at Music Gear
A stalwart of Hamilton’s vibrant musical theatre scene has targeted his donation for the Waikato Regional Theatre towards its music stands, because he is expecting to see them used by some of the world’s...
An Endowment Fund is the Key to Longevity and Effectiveness
A desire for her and her siblings’ grandchildren to have an equal opportunity to achieve is why Nancy Caiger got involved in an initiative focused on the needs and aspirations of local women and girls.
Hamilton Club Honors its Past with a Generous Legacy
Momentum Waikato understands how difficult it can be to dis-establish a club or society.
The Tanner Story
Jon and Sue Tanner lead by example. Growing up in the Waikato they were taught how important it was to be generous with their time, money and energy into things that mattered.
The Crosby Story
Bernie and Kaye Crosby remember well the dump site that is now Hamilton Gardens.