About Us

The Acorn Foundation (established in 2003) is a Community Foundation encouraging people to leave a gift in their will or during their lifetime to benefit the Western Bay of Plenty region forever.  People leave money to the Acorn Foundation and some of the investment income from their fund is distributed to local charities and community groups, every year - forever.  People can specify a particular charity that they want their annual distributions to go to, or they can leave it to the Trustees to decide where their money is best needed. 

The Foundation originated when Bill Holland (Holland Beckett Solicitors) attended a Community Foundation conference in America in 2002 and brought the idea back to New Zealand.  Community Foundations are one of the fastest growing forms of philanthrophy and it is encouraging to see people who want to "give where they live". 

Acorn has recently celebrated the milestone of achieving its first one hundred donors and we are very grateful for their support.  This will enable Acorn to distribute $230,000 to the local community this year.

Give during your Lifetime

• You get the pleasure of seeing your money making a difference in the local community.
• Can claim a tax credit of up to 33.3% for your donations.
• The Acorn distribution committee will decide where the money is best needed, based on applications received.
• Any donation of $5000 or more will be tracked in the donor’s name. Once their giving reaches $50,000 Named Fund privileges apply:
  • Can specify charities to receive annual distributions from your fund. You can add to your personal fund at any stage.
  • Distributions from your personal fund will be made in perpetuity.

Give In Your Will

• Your lawyer can insert a simple clause in your will (or a memorandum of wishes in your trust deed) to provide for an endowment fund with Acorn.
• Annual distributions will be made from your fund, in perpetuity.

Trustees

Trustees are voluntary and appointed by the Mayors of Tauranga & Western Bay of Plenty District Councils, the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce and the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Law society.