We welcome your feedback in 2023

If you are part of a community organisation we invite you to complete this 4 minute survey as a check on your organisation's well-being and your community needs in 2023.  

In our four previous community needs surveys since the Covid-19 pandemic started, we have gathered important feedback about the effect of the pandemic and cost of living crisis on community organisations around Aotearoa.  The results of the surveys are collated by the Catalytic Foundation to help us advocate for your organisation and community with philanthropists, employers, government and donors. 

Click here to fill out the 2023 Community Needs survey

Topline Findings from our previous Community Needs Research from September 2022:   

• 85.37% of charities continued to be impacted by the pandemic and cost of living increases in the last year.
• 81.71% of community charities have seen an increase in demand in the previous year.
• 57.82% of charities needed additional support for operational costs and expenses
• 55% of charities require laptops to support their services.
• 35% of charities needed professional volunteer skills such as legal, IT and accounting to help them with their services.

Anecdotal themes emerging

• Demand for community services have increased, however, charities are commenting that if additional funding isn't found they may have to reduce services.              
• Many charities comment increased anxiety levels among the community.
• Additional staff are required and burn out is an issue.
• Donations of money and basic requirements for clients, such as food and quality linen/clothing, are appreciated.

We had an awesome day volunteering with the Pitney Bowes NZ team volunteering at Love Soup Hibiscus Coast Community garden and food storage. A volunteering opportunity inspired by Pitney Bowes dedication to food security and food security. 

In the last 3 years the Catalytic Foundation have conducted online research with our community partners to monitor the effect of Covid and the cost-of-living crisis on communities. Our findings are:

• 72% of charities have had an increase in demand - Food banks, mental health charities and those supporting youth and the elderly experienced the most pronounced spikes in demand for services

Financial poverty and inability to access food and basics was in the top 3 commonly stated needs that our charities noted.  Food security is essential for children and young people to be happy and healthy, learning and developing. Children living in food insecure households are less likely to consume nutritionally balanced diets essential for optimal growth and development, and this can have immediate and long-term negative consequences for their health and education. Household food insecurity has been associated with a wide range of child health and development problems from infancy through to adolescence.

In NZ one in five children are living in households where food can run out, and one in three are living in unaffordable housing, according to the latest child poverty indicators report.

Thank you to the Pitney Bowes NZ team for caring about education and food security in our communities

Over the last year the Catalytic Foundation has supported the following 7 community charities in the Auckland region with financial support.

This has been made possible by our Payday Donors who pay a small sum each payday, so collectively we can support important work being done in our community. 

Letter of thanks from Love Soup – The Hibiscus Coast Team

" Many of our families already experience financial hardship, then on top of that, the additional stress of damage to their homes and personal items during the floods.  It was such a blessing to be able to pass on a backpack filled with essential school items to help restore some normality for the children so they can get back to focusing on their education."

From Tracey

Congratulations to the following 9 frontline community charities who received $51,267 worth of grants from Catalytic Donors and The Tindall Foundation, to support their necessary social services. Thank you for the important work you do for people and whanau in Whanganui. Photo curtesy of English Language Partners in Whanganui.

An email of thanks we received from Liz Hoskin @ Life to the Max

“Kia ora kōrua

Thank you so much for once again endorsing and funding LTTM with a grant from the Catalytic Foundation. It is grants like these that ensure that LTTM can keep doing what's it's doing especially in these extra hard times!!! Our Board of Trustees especially send their thanks and we so look forward to continuing our relationship with you as we provide very much needed social support to vulnerable families in Whanganui.

Once again thank you so very much!!!!”

Congratulations to the 7 charities in Southland we recently endorsed with certificates, letters of support and donated $38,456 in financial grants to.

• Thank you to our Catalytic Ambassadors in Southland for assessing these charities for grants.
• Thank you to the Tindall Foundation and local donors for supporting our Southland community grants.

Thank you to the amazing team of volunteers from Deloitte who spent their day making up backpacks with educational supplies including: pens, pencils, sharpeners, highlighter, educational books, writing pads, felt tip pens, coloured pencils, pencil cases, lunchboxes and drink bottles.

The backpacks are for children in families affected by the floods, Cyclone Gabrielle and/or the cost of living crisis.

Thank you to Deloitte for also donating new laptop bags and digital charging units, these are currently being distributed to community charities around the country who know of individuals and families in need of these items. 

Deloitte people draw on our collective experience and ingenuity to make an impact that matters for our colleagues, Deloitte clients and society. Deloitte 2022 Global Impact Report

Catalytic Community Fund raises $185,553 to donated to 38 frontline community organisations in Otago. 

Congratulations to the community charities from the Otago Region who received a Catalytic Foundation Grant in 2023. Thank you to Otago Polytechnic and the Dunedin City Council for hosting the awards event. It was wonderful to see all the charities together networking and sharing their experiences.

Thank you to The Tindall Foundation, Mercy Hospital, Otago Polytechnic Charity House and our payday donors who contribute to this very important community fund.

All charities who have received Catalytic Grant funding in the last 2 years also receive a Catalytic endorsement and a letter of support, to help them apply for further funding.

“I would like to pass on the thanks of our client, volunteers, board members and myself for the generous donation we received from Catalytic at last night's presentation. It was a great opportunity to make connections with other groups in our community and also catch up with some old friends. It is also good to find out some of the stories behind groups working around Otago.
The funds given make it possible for us to continue operating and being able to offer an affordable service to our clients”. Jennie Archer, Dunedin Community Transport Trust 

Catalytic Community Fund raised $159,337 and donated to 39 outstanding frontline community organisations in the Canterbury region. Congratulations to the community charities from Canterbury and South Canterbury who received a Catalytic Foundation Grant in 2023.

Thank you to the Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury for hosting the award event in Timaru. It was encouraging to hear the stories about the work these frontline charities are doing in the Timaru and Waimate regions. 

Thank you to Cavell Leitch for hosting the awards event in Christchurch to the charities listed below. It was wonderful to see all the charities together networking and sharing their experiences. All charities who have received Catalytic Grant funding in the last 2 years also receive a Catalytic endorsement and a letter of support, to help with further funding applications. 

Thank you to The Tindall Foundation, Drummond Trust and Catalytic payday donors who contribute to this very important regional fund.

The Dunedin Night Shelter goes above and beyond for their clients!

Through the Catalytic Foundation Community Fund, which is supported by payday donors and donor organisations, we were able to provide a financial grant to the Dunedin Night Shelter in 2023. We are thankful to our donors for supporting the fund and ensuring outstanding frontline charities such at Dunedin Night Shelter receive necessary support. 

The following are social stories about the important work they do. 

Over $115,000 donated to hardworking charities from the Manawatu, Horowhenua and Whanganui regions.

Congratulations to the community charities from Manawatu/Horowhenua and Whanganui districts who received a Catalytic Foundation Grant this week. Thank you to Mayor Grant Smith and the Palmerston North City Council for hosting the awards event. It was wonderful to see all the charities together networking and sharing their experiences.

Thank you to The Tindall Foundation and our payday donors who contribute to this very important community fund.

"As a payroll donator myself, it was great to see where the funds go.
The Palmerston North City Council was very happy to host the ‘regional event’
for the Catalytic Foundation" Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith

The community charities who received Catalytic Foundation endorsement awards are:

Congratulations to these hardworking charities who support people in need in our communities.