ASB Community Trust Centre for Social Impact launched

A new centre to support innovative responses to complex social issues was launched by the ASB Community Trust on 15 May 2014.

The ASB Community Trust's Centre for Social Impact was founded to support major social investments by philanthropic trusts, government and local government agencies, community organisations and corporates. The centre aims to increase the capacity and effectiveness of community organisations by providing programme design, capacity development, leadership development and evaluation services. 

As well as drawing on ASB Community Trust's expertise and experience, the centre is support by partners KPMG, Vodafone, Kinnect Group, Spirited Leadership, and a range of national and international specialists.

ASB Community Trust Chief Executive Jennifer Gill said "The ASB Community Trust has seen the benefits of providing both multi-year funding and organisational support to community organisations working to explore solutions to some of the most difficult issues in our region. This combination of funding and organisational support draws on a venture capital model to build the capacity of organisations to grow successfully and achieve their goals."

Ms Gill said the Trust was now dedicating several million dollars each year of the $35 to $40 million it distributes across Auckland and Northland to venture philanthropy.

The Centre currently supports four organisations; Lifewise, Manurewa Marae, Springboard Community Works and Whangarei Youth Space, under the ASB Community Trusts 'Catalysts for Change' programme.

For more information on philanthropy and research in New Zealand, see the recent report Grantmaking in New Zealand: Giving that Works by the University of Otago which explores New Zealand philanthropic grantmaking practice.

Media

New Centre for Social Impact launched in Auckland, Community Research, 09.06.2014

National centre to support philanthropic investments, Scoop, 16.05.2014