How We Fund and Invest

There are three decision-making paths for Momentum Waikato’s funding and investment for social enterprises and community organisations.

• Our donors themselves choose the charities or causes that are to receive the income from our investment of their donations – see How You Invest.

• The governance team of one of our dedicated giving circles or named funds makes a grant or investment, applying their own criteria and process – see Our Funds.

• Momentum Waikato’s own Vital Impact Investment program makes an impact investment from the ‘untagged’ portion of the Waikato Regional Endowment Fund, namely those monies our donors have entrusted to us to create ‘A Better Waikato For Everyone, Forever’, as explained below.

Momentum Waikato has diversified its approach to funding the change needed for truly inclusive prosperity in our communities and environment. The foundation is now using its own capital to directly drive its mission, while still growing its endowment fund.

Our Vital Impact Investment program aims to meet the Waikato Vital Signs wellbeing goals by ‘impact investment’ that seeks both a financial AND a social or environmental return.

We are seeking to actively partner with changemakers, social enterprises and community leadership organisations to deliver financially and socially measurable returns, whether its via projects or ongoing relationships.

This could be in the form of start-up capital, equity stakes, underwrites or low interest loans.

If a community group or a social enterprise is looking for capital to achieve change, you can pitch to us for an ‘impact investment’ partnership at any time. Regardless of the financial mechanism, we will actively work with those we enable to realise our shared goals of creating ‘A Better Waikato For Everyone, Forever’.

Momentum Waikato’s Vital Impact Investment program is informed by the Waikato Vital Signs community consultation process, carried out every four years.

Priority will be given to regional, transformational projects, at scale, that seek to address one of the following three priority areas of concern, as identified in the Waikato Vital Signs reports.

• Affordable housing.

• Educational and development pathways for young people.

• Increasing community connectedness and access to services, knowledge and support.

Beyond that, investment and funding will be considered for projects and programmes that aim to bring about significant positive change in a locality or across the region to the indicators for the Vital Signs ‘Impact Areas’ - Children and Youth; Strong Communities; Arts and Culture; Economic Vitality; Education; Environment; Health; and Recreation and Sport.

Applicants will need to meet all the following criteria.

• Respond to a clear need in the Waikato – the challenge is significant and deeply rooted in the Waikato community.

• Be inspirational – the outcomes are visible and inspire greater community generosity.

• Be transformational – the outcomes disrupt the status quo to catalyse and accelerate much needed change.

• Demonstrates leadership – organisations have a track record and the organisational capacity to deliver the outcomes at governance, management and initiative levels.

• Be scalable and sustainable – the outcomes have the potential to be delivered across the Waikato, and possibly nationally with other players, beyond the time that funding ceases.

In meeting these criteria, it is anticipated that initiatives will be in some way new or innovative. We also actively encourage collaboration across two or more organisations.

Financial support in the Vital Impact Investment scheme will be assessed by an independent Advisory Panel of subject-matter experts who, following a thorough due-diligence process will make funding recommendations to the Momentum Waikato Distributions Committee.

Momentum Waikato is focused on helping Waikato-based community organisations who have bold ambitions and/or a track record of making a transformational impact in our region.

Specifically, this means initiatives in the local authority areas of:

• Hamilton City

• Waikato District

• Thames-Coromandel District

• Hauraki District

• Matamata-Piako District

• Waipa District

• South Waikato District

• Otorohanga District

• Waitomo District.

Technically, we can distribute funds to anywhere in New Zealand, however we will normally only make grants to individuals or to non-Waikato organisations where our donors direct us to do so.

Financial support will be considered for organisations that are:

• a registered charitable trust

• a limited liability company

• a registered incorporated society

• an education institution

• a social enterprise.

Organisations should have a governing document (such as a constitution, rules, memorandum and articles of association) and a bank account in the organisation’s name with at least two independent signatories.

Grants and other financial support will not normally be available to support day-to-day operating costs.

We will not fund requests to support:

• contributions to general appeals or circulars

• religious activity which is not for wider public benefit

• public bodies to carry out their statutory obligations

• activities which have already taken place

• grantmaking by other organisations.

We are happy to discuss your proposal at any stage of development to determine how your project may fit within our investment framework. Contact us via info@momentumwaikato.nz.