Thames Future Fund

The Thames Future Fund is one of six Coromandel Future Funds, the others are the Mercury Bay Future Fund, the Coromandel & Colville Future Fund, the Tairua & Pāuanui Future Fund and the Whangamatā Future Fund, plus the Coromandel Peninsula Future Fund, which covers the entire district.

April Chang is a volunteer 'Fund Champion' for the Thames Future Fund, she writes…

I’d only ever lived in cities before I moved to Thames. It’s been an excellent choice, offering a relaxed lifestyle when we raised our family, and now amenities and attractions as my husband and I approach retirement.

We’re part of the greying demographic shift that’s already posing challenges for Thames. But our local history is rich with rising to adversity – from the boom and bust of the gold mine years, to floods, fires, and epic storms.

I’ve watched Thames pull together time after time, whether sand-bagging or fund-raising or just a fun community gathering.

Thames is known as the gateway to the Coromandel; we’ve got diversity and nature on our doorstep but it’s a lot for locals to look after. The Thames Future Fund is a way to meet the kaitiakitanga – the caretaking – of our people and special places.

Run for locals, by locals.

I believe in harnessing the collective good - and contributing to the Thames Future Fund is a great way to build a stable source of support for the times and generations to come.

Thames Future Fund explained.

The Thames Future Fund provides residents and visitors with the opportunity to donate and bequest to a philanthropic investment fund that is, and always will be, focused on the prosperity, wellbeing, sustainability and vibrancy of the Thames community.

It is a ‘place based’ endowment fund led and driven by committed locals and professionally managed by the Momentum Waikato Community Foundation. The Fund’s committee is made up of three local ‘fund champions’ and two representatives from Momentum.

This community-based funding instrument will grow through both the donations and gifts-in-Wills (bequests) it receives, AND its investment income, which is secured and amplified by the scale of Momentum Waikato’s regional endowment fund.

When the Fund reaches a base balance of $50,000, the committee will start annual distributions of a majority portion of its investment income via grants to projects and programs benefiting Thames, with the rest of the income being re-invested to continue its growth.

One-off and ongoing donations and bequests to the Fund are invited from anyone and everyone who wishes to provide positive long-term support to Thames.

DOWNLOAD Thames Future Fund pamphlet.

Contact Thames Future Fund Champion April Chang or Momentum Waikato to find out more.