The Nikau Foundation shares the Kāpiti Coast community’s shock at the announcement of the liquidation of Youthquest Kāpiti.
However according to Liz Koh, Deputy Chair of Nikau Foundation, this closure could have been avoided with more charitable funding from within the Kāpiti community.
“We are all aware of the many charities across the District that are doing great work but are struggling with funding” says Liz. “By comparison with other areas in New Zealand, Kāpiti has a low level of community funding available to help local charities. In response to this, Nikau Foundation is growing a dedicated pot of funds specifically for Kāpiti that can make grants every year to local charities to assist with hard-to-find operating costs.”
Nikau Foundation is the community foundation for the Wellington Region and support generous members of the community who want to “give where they live”. The Foundation operates on an endowment model which pools donations and distributes the interest on the investment every year to a wide range of causes according to the donors’ wishes.
Annual community fundraising efforts put a huge strain on the Coast’s charities who really need to focus their efforts on their mission providing critical services to youth, disability, aged care amongst others. It also puts pressure on local individuals and businesses who are continually asked for help from a range of community groups. Nikau Foundation’s Kāpiti Fund is a solution for both sides of the coin.
Liz added “If everyone in the Kāpiti community helped grow the Kāpiti Fund over the next 2 years, we could ensure that exceptional charities like Youthquest would have the help they need to secure a sustainable future and never be in this situation again.”
To make a contribution to the Nikau Kāpiti Fund through a one-off donation, payroll giving or a gift-in-will please contact the Foundation on 04 381 2224 or visit the website at www.nikaufoundation.org.nz.
