Shifting power, enabling community agency and the Indigenization of philanthropy were just some of the powerful themes at the Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand conference Empowering Communities – Te whakamana i ngā hapori , that took place in Ōtautahi Christchurch between 21-22 October 2024.

At the conference opening, Barry Knight from the Global Fund for Community Foundations, challenged Western-centric/top-down ways of thinking about ‘impact’, and their accompanying indicators (typically money), which can be lifeless and do not capture the crucial energy and empowerment of community-led change.

The following conference discussion made me reflect that shifting power in philanthropy means questioning the prevailing Western-centric narrative that philanthropic funding flows downwards towards communities according to strategic drops of those who hold power, because of their wealth and resources. Many people in our communities – including Indigenous te ao Māori perspectives and the rise of collective giving circles – see philanthropy very differently. These communities conceptualise philanthropy in a more horizontal manner, lifting all waka (or boats) on the rising tide, which shifts community agency and co-creates the future together.

What followed, with US-based Nick Deychakiwsky (Mott Foundation) and Larry McGill (Ambit 360 consulting) was an exploration into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to empower community foundations work. Across the world shifts in community foundations – from institutions to community, from social bankers to social change and from independent action to more coordinated impact – have been utilising the SDGs as a powerful driving framework for community led change.

For community foundations, this means developing a crucial shared understanding that coloniality – of power, of knowledge, of being – perpetuates inequities.

The depth of the experience of Ian Bird – formerly with Community Foundations of Canada and now CEO at Community Foundations Australia – helped the network to explore perspectives of how community philanthropy has evolved over time across the world. Ian’s central challenge was for us to intentionally manage the tensions present from being legacy organisations that must also find a way to be ‘future keepers’ and community leaders. It made me reflect that our moment in the sun puts the responsibility onto all of us to be good ancestors, to manage the conflicting time perspective of honouring donor legacies while creating the future for our communities. We must be armed with much more than good intentions and ensure that our work is rooted in shared community purpose.

The immense energy of Kate Cherrington and Kat Dawnier from the Centre for Social Impact NZ explored what ‘mana[1]-enhancing partnerships’ mean for community foundations, and what it means to shift authentically ‘From Santa to Service’ – which I thought was a brilliant catch cry for shifting perspectives. Exploring ‘who we are in service to’ means being clear on our values, how we are showing up for our communities and deeply considering how we can be both donor informed, and community led.

In the session I ran, which focused on how the practice of philanthropy advising can empower both donors and communities, we explored NZ’s nascent philanthropy advising ecosystem and community foundations’ unique place to act as agents of community-led change. This included a tour of community foundations narratives from across the world, and how they made us feel.

Empowered to be changemakers? Charity donations and money is the answer? Building community agency? Us vs them? It was an interesting exercise which exposed how community foundation narratives of a donor-centric nature can perpetuate the very injustices they exist to tackle. In contrast, the rousing energy that can resonate from change-making narratives can empower both donors and whole communities.

Finally, the conference ended with a powerful challenge and reverberating message from Dr Hana O’Regan, who challenged our communities to understand the long and jagged tail of colonisation which continues to disempower and marginalise tangata whenua, the indigenous people of this land.

For community foundations, this means developing a crucial shared understanding that coloniality – of power, of knowledge, of being – perpetuates inequities. We hold a vital role for driving togetherness as community, with a shared commitment to advancing equity and justice, in particular for Māori, disenfranchised and marginalised over the course of two centuries.

We certainly feel vibrancy and purpose growing in the community philanthropy field across Aotearoa New Zealand in the escalating of untagged future funds, in the rise of collective giving circles, in the variety of community events and partnerships that capture the spirit of community building. What we also felt at this year’s sector gathering was the immense energy, aroha, joy and commitment radiating from the community of people involved in this work, building a thriving community philanthropy ecosystem empowering communities from within – te whakamana i ngā hapori.

[1] ‘Mana’ defined – “prestige, authority, control, power, influence, status, spiritual power, charisma – mana is a supernatural force in a person, place or object” – Te Aka Māori dictionary – https://maoridictionary.co.nz/

Eleanor Cater is the Philanthropy and Membership Services Director at the Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand.