The Catalytic Foundation works with a large network of businesses across Aotearoa who striving to improve their corporate social responsibility.

We help these businesses understand what is important to their staff and their company, and then develop a roadmap for them on how to achieve their social responsibility goals.

We are always working to involve more businesses in engaging with their community.

In 2024, we are guiding the following businesses and more toward their social responsibility goals:

We would love your organisation to join us. Find out more about what we offer in For Businesses.

The Catalytic Foundation supports over 100 community charities throughout Aotearoa each year. Over 100 of these charities receive financial aid and many more receive goods their community needs like schools supplies for children, warm blankets and clothing, and Christmas gifts.

In addition to this, charities have the option of working alongside the Catalytic Foundation's skills staff to learn how to build their charity's capability and capacity so they are better equipped to help their community. 

In the first quarter of 2024, over 70 volunteers across Aotearoa helped us select the Catalytic Foundation's endorsed charities for the year. This selection process involves an in-depth review of:

• Who the charity helps
• How they help their community
• The charity's reporting procedures
• The charity's finances.

In 2024 we will be supporting the following charities and more:

In October, November and December, we focus on ensuring children living in hardship receive a Christmas gift.

During this campaign we:

• Seek donations of NEW toys, activity books, colouring pens and pencils, children's clothing, personal hygiene items, and other trinkets that children love
• Work with volunteers to assemble and wrap the boxes
• Liaise with our charities to determine the need for the boxes

Our charity partners nominate children living in hardship whose parents and caregivers are unable to provide Christmas gifts. By working with individuals, community groups, and businesses, we are able to deliver Christmas gifts to these children. In 2023 we provided over 2900 Christmas boxes to families in need.  

"Nga mihi nui kia koutou o Catalytic Foundation. On behalf of Whare Timatatanga Hou Ora, we would like to express our upmost graditute to the team for providing us with the opportunity to provide presents to our whanau accessing our services. To be able to see the happiness and joy on the faces of these tamariki is truly a gift in itself, so we thank you for enabling us to do this." 
Waimaria Veza, Whare Timatatanga Hou Ora Inc.

Some of the community charities we helped with Christmas gifts in 2023 include:

• Heart Kids (Nationwide)
• Women’s Refuges (Nationwide)
• The Cancer Society (Nationwide, Invercargill, Otago and Northland)
• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (Nationwide)
• English Language Partners New immigrant support (Nationwide)
• Te Rarawa Family Services (Kaitaia)
• Whare Timatatanga Hou Ora (Kaitaia Women’s Refuge)
• Habitat for Humanity (South Auckland, Northland)
• Budgeting and Family Support Services (South Auckland)
• De Paul House (Transitional housing and family support in Auckland, Rodney)
• Kindred Services Family support services (Helensville Auckland)
• Island Child (transitional housing for families in Auckland)
• Kidz need Dadz (Wellington and Manawatu)
• Otara Health (South Auckland)
• Hakeke Street Community Centre (Whanganui)
• Lyttleton Community House
• Love Soup Food bank/community support (Auckland/Bay of Plenty/Waikato/Rotorua/Tokoroa)
• Birthright Canterbury Supporting single parents and their children
• Corstorphine Community Hub Community and whānau support (South Dunedin)

Catalytic Philanthropy

The Catalytic Foundation has over 46 years of helping individuals, businesses and philanthropists with their social impact.  We connect our donors with our extensive network of endorsed community charities throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Our business partners sponsor our quarterly community campaigns, Hearts@Work mentoring, community needs research and corporate volunteering.  

Through investing in Catalytic Philanthropy our donors collectively make a social impact and create transformational change.

About the Catalytic Foundation

The Catalytic Foundation (formerly United Way NZ) has over 45 years of providing a social impact by connecting individuals, businesses and philanthropists with communities in need, in Aotearoa.

The Catalytic Foundation annually endorses over one hundred community charities, and supports their work by providing donations, resources, mentoring and corporate volunteers.

Our business partners sponsor our quarterly community campaigns, Hearts@Work mentoring and provide volunteers to support community initiative.

Through investing in catalytic philanthropy our donors collectively make a social impact and create transformational change.

https://vimeo.com/726903997

The Catalytic Foundation Hearts@Work programme provides mentoring and capacity building support for community charities in specialist areas of need. 

For the last 46 years, charities throughout New Zealand have applied to us for grant funding. Through this process we have identified key stresses on community organisations that can prevent or take them away from their core community work. We are often told about the need for mentoring and specialist fundraising services, so we have decided to help through our skilled staff and Hearts@Work programme. 

We are grateful to the charities we support, who put their hearts on the line for their local communities. The collective effort of volunteering, donating and giving back time and resources is vital for our communities wellbeing. We are keen to facilitate this support. 

We are currently looking for sponsors for Hearts@Work projects in 2024.  

Please contact me for further information. 

Teresa Moore
Catalytic Foundation - CEO

The Catalytic Foundation are proud to be the official NZ partner for the CSR platform Catalyser. This partnership allows us to elevate our offering to corporate donors to maximise their social impact in their local communities and throughout Aotearoa. 

Catalyser is an intuitive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and HR integrated platform, providing solutions for: volunteering, communications, employee engagement with individual staff logins, community campaigns, payroll giving with accredited charities and real time impact reporting for employees and businesses.

Together, Catalyser and the Catalytic Foundation provide the technology and community services to better connect workplaces with community needs across Aotearoa. We ensure donations and volunteer time go to where they are needed most. 

“Catalyser is a true collaborator. Their solution-driven mindset helped us work through the complexities of our needs to ultimately grow our impact.” Gerry Wilde, Director, Responsible Business, Deloitte 

On the Catalyser Platform Companies can work with existing charities they currently support and are invited to also consider supporting Catalytic's four major campaigns in 2022:

1. Education resources for children 
2. Sustainable Environments and Housing 
3. Mental Health and Supporting Youth 
4. Supporting Families in Need 

For further information please fill out the form below and see how you can be empowered to change the world from your workplace

Catalytic Foundation Community Grant Applications Open again on 1st October, 2024 

Who we fund: The Catalytic Community Grants fund small to medium sized, community-based organisations, who do not have large inhouse marketing or fundraising resources and are providing direct social services to whanau/families and individuals.  Organisations that have received a Catalytic Grant in the previous year, will need to have completed an online accountability report before applying again. Please click here for a preview of the questions that will be asked in the 2024/25. application.

2024 Regions: We invite applications from organisations in Auckland, Manawatu/Horowhenua, Whanganui, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland regions. A separate grant application is required for each region and amounts granted are subject to funds available. 

Applications are considered for: Project costs, social services, purchases under $3,000 and operating expenses including: rent, utilities, salaries/wages. If your organisation has received a Catalytic Foundation (formerly United Way NZ) grant in the last three consecutive years, you may not be eligible in 2024/25.  

Priority Areas

• Whanau/Family
• Early years support
• Youth development
• Accommodation/housing
• Food security
• Community services
• Maori and Pacifica communities
• Refugee, migrant and multi-cultural communities
• Skill development / financial literacy

Prerequisites

• You are a community organisation, Iwi, registered charity and/or incorporated society
• Have been in operation for a minimum of two years
• Confirmation of bank account
• Performance report for the previous financial year
• Letters of support 

Preferences

• Meeting the highest priority in community needs
• A high level of positive change through measured outcomes
• Encouraging a high level of volunteer involvement
• Promoting independence and self-sufficiency
  

We Do Not Fund: Schools, core early childhood education programmes, government agencies, art organisations, sport organisations, animal charities, fixed assets or purchases over $3,000, capital projects, sports equipment, overseas travel, medical treatment or individuals, and health related organisations (except in Otago).

Determining eligibility for funding: Is at the discretion of our staff, regional volunteer ambassadors and the Catalytic Foundation Board of Trustees. If unsure whether your organisation qualifies, contact us before completing the application form. 

Grant allocation: The Catalytic Community Grants are a donation and GST exclusive. Most Grants are between $2,000 and $10,000. Unsuccessful applicants will be advised by February 2025. Donations will be paid to successful applicants in March 2025. We concentrate funding where it is most needed and where it will make the greatest impact.

Thank you to the following donors who contribute to this important community funding... 

The Tindall Foundation have chosen the Catalytic Foundation as their donation manager in: Manawatu/Horowhenua, Whanganui, Canterbury, South Canterbury, Otago and Southland, for the last 25 years.

Otago Polytechnic - Charity House Project

Mercy Hospital - Community outreach in Dunedin

Individual donors, Trusts and the Catalytic Pay It Forward donors who donate every pay to help their communities. 

Corporate Volunteering and Team Building

We simplify corporate volunteering, so all you need to do is turn up!

Our events are a fun and unforgettable day out for the team, and impactful way for your business to show that you care for the wider community. 

Team building days are suitable for groups of between 5-500 people, and are perfect for corporate teams, conference delegates, and groups from government organisations and educational institutions.

Brought to you by the Catalytic Foundation - experts at connecting donations, volunteer time and resources with the New Zealand charities that need them.

Choose your campaign

With four research-backed quarterly campaigns to choose from, your company can support the community year-round, or participate in campaigns that align best with your values or corporate social responsibility goals.

There are two hour, half-day and full-day options available to suit your needs.

The investment starts from $50 per person, which includes event management from Catalytic and a donation to your host charity partner(s).

Optional add-ons include catering, an increased number of attendees, professional photography or videography, workshop, or social events such as mini-golf.

We get it...

Planning a team building day isn’t easy. Matching your workforce to the right cause can be challenging. And meeting impact targets can be even trickier. More than just matchmaking, we’ll plan your bespoke volunteering day so you can just turn up and jump in.

We will…

• Do your research and link you up with a charity or charities in your chosen area, in New Zealand.
• Connect you with the campaigns or causes that meet your team’s needs or corporate social responsibility goals.
• Ensure charities are matched with the right number of volunteers for their capacity.
• Have a staff member coordinate your entire day, brief the volunteer activities, and cover health and safety requirements.
• Provide you with photos and an impact data.

Download our Corporate Volunteering flyer.

Get in touch to discuss your needs by filling in the enquiry form below.

By donating to the Catalytic Foundation, you will support New Zealanders in their time of need. 

We invite you to nominate a region and/or cause you would like to donate to via the Catalytic Community Funds. We conduct research, assessments and endorse community charities, to ensure donations go to where they are most needed. 

We help donors by:

• Assessing and allocating funds in the community.
• Ensuring that your donation goes towards causes you care about.
• Keeping you updated about the impact your donation has provided.

We award grants to more than 100 charities/year nationwide.

• Each charity who receives a financial grant is awarded a Catalytic Foundation Endorsement.
• Endorsement includes year-round support through Catalytic quarterly campaigns and mentoring.
  

Donation processes:

• Tax eligible in NZ: you can receive a 33% NZ charitable giving tax credit on donations over $5.00. All donors receive a tax receipt and E-newsletters about their social impact.

• To avoid credit card fees you can donate directly to the Catalytic Foundation bank account: 12-3067-0187344-00. Please reference the cause and region you would like to support.

• Catalytic Foundation donations are securely processed by Stripe, a secure e-commerce platform.

The Catalytic Foundation aims to maximise the value out of every dollar, resource or skill donated to ensure the greatest social impact for the community partners we work with. We would love to hear from you to see how you can help...

Catalytic Foundation - National Office

PO Box 596, Orewa, Auckland 0946, New Zealand         

Phone: 64 (09) 377 2544