Give Where You Live: Waimate Fund launches
A strong turnout filled Waimate’s historic Quinns Arcade on Tuesday evening as the community gathered to celebrate the launch of the Waimate District Fund, a new endowment initiative designed to support local projects for generations to come. The event, co-hosted by the Aoraki Foundation and the Waimate District Charitable Foundation (WDCF), highlighted a shared vision: empowering residents to build a lasting legacy for their district.
The fund operates as a permanent endowment, meaning all contributions—whether made during a donor’s lifetime or left as a bequest—are invested and grown, with annual returns distributed to community initiatives. Speakers including Mayor Craig Rowley, Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, and WDCF Chair Raewyn Francis emphasised the fund’s long-term impact, noting its potential to strengthen everything from youth programmes and local heritage projects to community facilities across the district.
Aoraki Foundation Chief Executive Richard Spackman spoke about the transformative impact such funds can have, sharing examples of similar community endowments that have grown substantially within two decades—creating meaningful and sustainable annual grant streams. He encouraged locals to see their contributions not as one-off donations, but as investments that will continue to benefit the district “well into the future.”
The launch also showcased the close partnership between the Aoraki Foundation, which manages and invests the fund, and the WDCF, whose local representatives will guide grantmaking to ensure funds reach the initiatives that matter most to Waimate residents. Their shared motto—“give where you live”—underscored the evening’s message that community-led philanthropy can create impact that endures across generations.
As the event concluded, guests left inspired by the possibilities ahead. With the Waimate District Fund now officially launched, locals have a powerful new avenue to support their community—today, and for decades to come.
To hear more about the fund launch, District Life has an excellent recap of the night.
You can learn more about the fund here - Waimate District Fund