Creating futures with philanthropy for education

Education and endowments are both about creating a brighter future, so combining them can really illuminate the financial way ahead for people and institutions.

Momentum Waikato manages a number of philanthropic ‘named funds’ that support a range of educational activities, via both scholarships for students and direct funding to schools and programmes. And this support for the sector will be boosted when Momentum’s own ‘focus fund’ for education is activated – more about that later.

All up in 2025, funds in Momentum’s care collectively granted almost a quarter of a million dollars just to student scholarships.

The Donny Fund at Momentum is the successor to the Donny Trust, continuing its support for a range of community organisations and projects that began several decades ago. It currently helps secondary students attend the Agribusiness Programme at St Paul’s Collegiate, and school leavers to get on-farm training with Growing Future Farmers.

One of the St Paul’s students who received a Donny scholarship in 2025 said the content of the Agribusiness Programme is “so cool to learn about, as well as be surrounded by, given my passion for farming”.

“Not only that, but it has widened my knowledge of the business side of everything and different kinds of farming like bee keeping. This program has been irreplaceable for my future.”

The Donny Fund supports Growing Future Farmers.

Growing Future Farmers CEO Wendy Paul has said: "The Donny Fund’s sustained support has been instrumental to GFF’s development and to the opportunities we’ve been able to create for young people".

The Te Awamutu College Foundation Fund was the first at Momentum established by and for a school. As detailed in a recent story here, the Fund’s 2025 disbursement supported their following Leadership Camp, a highlight annual event for Year 13 students.

Back in 2020, Principal Tony Membery welcomed the creation of this Fund.

“Te Awamutu College is very pleased to have this mechanism for alumni and supporters to donate towards special projects and resources that benefit our students,” said Tony.

Te Awamutu College Principal Tony Membery.

The Hillcrest High School Future Fund, the second school-specific named fund set up at Momentum, was started in 2025 by the Hillcrest High School Alumni and Community Society, specifically to provide a means for former students to support their old school.

Founder Brian Winter, the Society’s Treasurer, said they are aiming to grow the Fund so it can start making grants within a few years’ time.

“Like all state schools, Hillcrest High depends on Government funding, and it does a great job with what it gets,” said Brian.

“We wanted to create an additional funding stream that will provide greater financial security, which will ensure it can continue to provide its great specific projects and programmes.”

Te Rau Oranga Fund was set up by two Waikato Hospital doctors to remove barriers to greater Maaori involvement in the health workforce, through providing scholarships, career promotion and mentoring for both secondary and tertiary students. Their initial attention is current and former students of Fraser High School, and they intend to expand the offer to other schools as the Fund’s income grows.

Mikayla Williams was supported by Te Rau Oranga Fund to attend the ‘LIONZ’ Ladies in Orthopaedics New Zealand conference in 2025.

Te Rau Oranga Fund supported Mikayla, left, to attend the LIONZ conference.

“Being raised in a whānau that didn’t have a medical background meant I didn’t always see people who looked like me in these spaces. But that’s exactly why it meant so much to be in that room — surrounded by other women, many of whom had also forged their own way here,” said Mikayla.

The Fund for CCS Disability Action Waikato provides income that helps enable the organisation’s support for access to The University of Waikato for students with disabilities.

Those are all funds set up by organisations, while one of the most remarkable examples of education support from Momentum is one started by an individual donor a decade ago.

This anonymous ‘named fund’ provides scholarships and other support to Pasifika girls from the Waikato attending secondary schools, including to date Wesley College, Te Kauwhata College, Ngaruawahia High School, Huntly College and Tuakau College. The young women consistently appreciate the door that has been opened for them.

At Te Kauwhata College, a grant from the fund covered costs for Pasifika girls in their Senior Girls Premier Volleyball team competing at the 2026 North Island Secondary Schools competition.

For a Ngaruawahia High School student, a grant provided a laptop, calculator, and other needed school kit.

“Thank you for believing in me and investing in my education. I am so grateful for your support, and I will ensure to use these supplies to do my very best,” she said.

For a teen at Tuakau College, a grant will tangibly help her progress in life.

“I want to give you a very big thank you for this scholarship. I can get the resources I need for school, especially the books I need for specific classes, which is crucial for me as this year will be very important if I am to get into university. Fa’afetai tele lava for your generosity,” she said.

Momentum Waikato is proud of the support it provides to young people building their futures.

Which is why the framework for the ‘Momentum Waikato Education Fund’ is currently being developed, with the intent that people from all walks of life will be able to donate or bequeath any amount towards education, rather than having to contribute the sum needed to set up a personal or organisational endowment fund.

If you also recognise the importance of supporting quality and access in education, we are looking for a founding donor for this new Momentum Waikato Education Fund.

This will be a great opportunity to be involved in establishing and shaping the priorities of a funding vehicle that will be helping children and young people for many decades to come.

Contact Momentum Waikato to find out more.