Whanganui Community Foundation Incorporated

Annual Report 2013

It has been another positive year at the Whanganui Community Foundation and we are proud to continue to work in such a rich and diverse community. On behalf of the Trustees, I am pleased to present the annual report for the year ended 31 March 2013.

At the Whanganui Community Foundation, we believe that our purpose is to promote community well-being and connectedness, and this means providing assistance through good times and bad. Throughout the financial crisis the Foundation has maintained its support to a large number of community organisations. Grants and community support approved during the year amounted to slightly over $780,000.

The financial markets have made a hesitant recovery and this financial year the Foundation made a profit of $2.26 million. While there has been some improvement in the equity markets, on-going financial uncertainty means that the Trustees are likely to continue to take a conservative approach to grant-making.

As part of the work we do, we encourage community organisations to review their directions, their approaches to their own issues, and the way in which they operate. We encourage best practice in all organisations. As a result of our commitment to best practice, the Board is keen to ensure that the Whanganui Community Foundation is operating as effectively as possible, and that our communities are getting the best value for their money. To this end, Trustees engaged an external consultant to review the direction and the activities of the Foundation, and we are currently considering the findings and recommendations outlined in the report.

Meanwhile our programme of capacity building for community organisations has continued. In the past year we have held workshops focusing on the areas of building partnerships and social media. A conference was also held at which a range of stimulating and provocative speakers interacted with those present. These activities have been well received and positive feedback indicates that they are contributing to the effectiveness of community organisations.

In an effort to streamline our application process, we introduced a facility which enables community organisations to make applications online. A substantial proportion of applicants have taken advantage of this facility.

Trustees Graham Adams and Graham Wood retired from the Board. Both brought a level of knowledge and understanding of the community as well as their own judgment and commitment to social improvement. We thank them very much for their respective contributions, and we wish them well.

We welcomed new Trustees Sharlene Tapa-Mosen and Sheena Maru. It is already apparent that both Shar and Sheena are independent thinkers, and that their fresh and thoughtful contributions to Board issues and responsibilities broaden the Board’s perspectives, and are valuable to the wide ranging discussions which occur at the Board table.

Judith and Jane continue to work hard in keeping the Foundation functioning effectively. While it’s sometimes easy to diminish (or even forget) the value of sector and institutional knowledge, we are very grateful for the thinking and the effort which happens ‘behind the scenes’. We have been well served by both Judith and Jane over many years.

The Foundation remains committed to improving the quality of life and social well being in our communities. It is a privilege and responsibility Trustees take very seriously. The Foundation welcomes any feedback or suggestions that could help us to do our work more effectively.

Prue Anderson
Chair