A different way to give through the Acorn Foundation
Giving through an Acorn Fund is simple, and designed to make your generosity go further.
Rather than creating your own fund, you can contribute to an existing one that reflects the causes or communities you care about. Each fund has a clear purpose, whether it’s supporting a local place, backing a specific cause, or helping respond to the region’s most pressing needs. It’s an easy way to give with intention, knowing your support is part of something meaningful.
When you give, your donation is pooled with others and professionally invested through Acorn. This approach helps grow the fund over time, while also generating funding that is distributed each year to support local organisations and initiatives across the Western Bay of Plenty. Because the capital is protected and invested for the long term, your gift continues to give back well beyond the initial donation. It becomes part of a sustainable source of funding that supports our region year after year.
It’s a simple way to get involved, a flexible way to give, and a powerful way to create lasting local impact, both now and into the future.
Funding for everyday people with good ideas
Local Impact Funds support grassroots projects - the kind of ideas that come from people who live there and see what's needed. Locally-led projects from neighbours, local volunteer groups, and even individuals who want to make their community better.
We have five funds across the Western Bay covering from Waihī Beach through Tauranga, to Pukehina.
How these funds work:
When a donation is made to a community's local impact fund, the Acorn Foundation combines it with other donations, and invests it. The original donation stays protected and untouched. The investment generates a return each year, creating a pool of funding that is granted to local grassroots community projects. That means the gift keeps working for the community it was donated to, year after year, for generations.
Each Local Impact Fund has a Giving Committee made up of volunteers from your community. These local volunteers review applications and decide which projects receive funding. Because they are members of your local community, they bring valuable local knowledge to help guide funding decisions each year.
Local Impact Funds
Support the place you live, work, and care about. Our Local Impact Funds provide funding support for grassroots projects in specific Western Bay of Plenty communities, helping neighbourhoods thrive from a local level.
When Maketū locals David and Susan shared their idea to create a fund dedicated to local needs, they couldn’t have imagined how far their vision would go. Their spark of inspiration has now led to the creation of five Local Impact Funds through Acorn Foundation. In this interview, David and Susan reflect on what motivated them to take action, how they hope to inspire others to contribute to their local communities through these Impact Funds.
Community Impact Funds
Community Impact Funds are created for specific groups or causes, giving you the chance to back what matters most to you. From arts and culture, to the environment, health, and youth development, your donation directly supports the kaupapa you care about.
WBOP Women's Fund
Your contribution will be pooled with other members' donations. Each year, you can help to choose where the pooled funds are donated.
Te Manawataki o Te Papa Fund
We have partnered with Tauranga City Council to manage the Te Manawataki o Te Papa Fund. Your Contribution will go towards revitalising the heart of our city centre.
Vital Impact Fund
The Vital Impact Fund responds to the most pressing needs in our region, guided by Acorn’s Vital Signs research. By donating here, you’re ensuring support goes to the areas that need it most, from housing and health, to education, the environment, and bey
