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Verna's Legacy of Giving

The story of Verna McDonnell's enduring gift to Ōpōtiki - As published in our 2026 Annual Impact Report...

New environmental scholarship launched

Monkey Puzzle Tree is a weird name isn't it?The generous donor who established this fund spend time marveling at a Monkey Puzzle Tree in Glasgow, Scotland, wanted to name the scholarship something enduring and interesting.Having seen first-hand the need to consider our environment, this scholarship has been set-up to support local students from Whakatāne High School and Trident High School who are graduating and pursuing tertiary study in environmental science or related disciplines.The Mo...

Applications open for 2026 Tertiary Scholarships

The Eastern Bay Community Foundation is delighted to announce that applications for four local scholarship funds will open on 1 August 2026.Established through the generosity of local families and donors who are passionate about giving back, these scholarships aim to support our region’s talent, ease the financial burden of tertiary study, and encourage the next generation of Eastern Bay leaders to excel across a wide range of fields.If you or someone you know is pursuing tertiary education or...

Women's Impact Fund Reaches Record $56,000

Published in the Whakatāne Beacon on 17 July 2026....

New Grants Hit the Right Note

Published in the Whakatāne Beacon 15 July 2026....

Ōhope Beach Golf Links Development Fund Launches

Staff and trustees of the Foundation met with Ōhope Beach Golf Links club members this week to showcase a new development fund.The Ōhope Beach Golf Links Development Fund has been launched to preserve the legacy of the Club, which has been a centrepoint of the Ōhope community for over 5o years. The new Development Fund has been established with the dual purpose of financially supporting specific projects, while also providing long-term sustainable funding for the Golf Club - ensuring the com...

New Funding Opportunities Target Key Needs

Published in the Whakatāne Beacon - 10 June 2026...

How to Complete a Grant Application

Having trouble with your grant application? Here's a step by step guide to using our online portal....

Giving back to the community you grew up in and love

The Eastern Bay of Plenty has a way of staying with people. Its uniqueness, its people, and even when life leads elsewhere, that sense of belonging doesn’t disappear.For Ross, and his wife Josephine, Opotiki is an inseparable part of their story.From growing up in Opotiki, Ross grew a feeling of gratitude for the experiences the region has provided him.This inspired a commitment to give back and make a positive change to the town and the creation of the Riverside Endowment Fund.This fund is do...

Celebrating the Next Generation of Rural Leaders

Published in the Whakatāne Beacon - 13 May 2026...

Ōpōtiki Kiwifruit Growers supporting opportunities on the water

Weekly on the awa, you’ll find them training. Rain or shine, the members of the Kura ki Tai Waka Ama Club are out on the water, honing their skills in one of New Zealand’s fastest-growing sports.This past season, the club set its sights on the national stage, with intense training sessions leading up to major events at Blue Lake (Tikitapu) in Rotorua and Lake Karapiro.Waka ama (outrigger canoeing) is more than just a competitive water sport; it is a vital part of New Zealand’s cultural ide...

A new opportunity for Tarawera High School students

We are thrilled to announce the establishment of a new Scholarship Endowment Fund with the Eastern Bay Community Foundation. This legacy has been created by a family with deep roots in Kawerau, having lived in the community during the 1970s and 80s. Though their professional journeys eventually took them to Auckland and Wellington, their connection to the town where their children attended school remains strong.The primary goal of this scholarship is to provide a "hand up" to Tarawera High Schoo...

Women's Impact Fund launches 2026 funding cycle

Published in The Beacon - 18 March 2026...

Local Giving Partnership Tees Off for Junior Golfers

There is an exciting momentum building across the Eastern Bay of Plenty. It’s a spirit of "local helping local," where businesses and residents are increasingly looking for ways to be part of our local communities and give back. Most recently, this spirit has found its home on the greens of the Whakatāne Golf Club.For many, golf is more than just a sport, it’s a lesson in patience, discipline, and community. The Whakatāne Golf Club has long been a hub for these values, particularly through...

Small acts with big impact, local Starfish Fund supports Ōpōtiki St John Health Shuttle

The Ōpōtiki St John Health Shuttle is a lifeline for our community, with dedicated volunteers ensuring residents can reach vital health appointments in Whakatāne and Tauranga. Whether it’s a specialist visit, a skin clinic, or essential cancer treatments, the shuttle removes the stress of transport for those who need it most.While the service runs on a koha (donation) basis, the reality is that some patients struggle to meet this cost. To ensure no one is left behind, the Eastern Bay C...

It’s easy to give and get (your tax) back

All around the world, tax rebates - or sometimes government funding that matches your donations[1] - are used to encourage people to donate more to charities and causes. It’s a powerful way to inspire generosity and shows that private donations are truly valued in helping to build strong, vibrant communities....

Scholarships making a difference in the Eastern Bay

Article supplied by Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and printed in The Whakatāne Beacon on 7 January 2026....

New Te Puke Community Fund to support local projects for generations

A new endowment fund has been established that supports the Te Puke community.The Te Puke Community Charitable Trust is pleased to announce that it has re-settled its funds to establish the Te Puke Community Fund in partnership with the Eastern Bay Community Foundation. As a dedicated legacy fund this initiative ensures long-term support for the Te Puke community while protecting the capital gifted by donors.The Trust has held $45,000 in residual funds from the Te Puke Centre project, which will...

Giving Tuesday - Beyond the spend fest

You may have noticed the growing phenomenon of Black Friday which encourages us all to spend, spend, spend in the lead up to Christmas. The Black Friday frenzy originated in the USA, evolving as a chaotic day, directly after Thanksgiving, when crowds of shoppers descend to scoop up bargains. Cyber Monday soon followed, encouraging the shopping frenzy to continue, online.In contrast, Giving Tuesday was a deliberate response to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Launched in 2012, th...

Eastern Bay Women’s Impact Fund reaches $190,000 in Giving - Announces local recipients for their 2025 Fund.

The Eastern Bay Women’s Impact Fund is a dedicated giving circle focused on empowering women, children, and families in our region and has distributed almost $190,000 to vital local initiatives, since its inception, four years ago.The impact fund recently completed its 2025 grant cycle, with 35 donors gathering at a luncheon last month, to cast their vote for the latest recipients. This giving circle, where local women pool their resources and democratically select projects, ensures maximum co...

2025 Scholarship Awards

At the recent Eastern Bay Community Foundation Annual Dinner and at the recent Ōpōtiki College Prizegiving we had the pleasure of celebrating and announcing some of the 2025 Scholarship recipients.2025 Rod McPherson Memorial Rural Scholarship2025 Dick Anstis STEM Scholarship2025 Jean Smithson Nursing Scholarship2025 Bridger Family Fund - Trades Scholarship (Ōpōtiki College)2025 Ōpōtiki College Alumni Fund - Tu Kahikitea ScholarshipŌpōtiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund - Outward Bound ...

Eastern Bay Women's Impact Fund hits $190,000 in giving, announces 2025 recipient

The Eastern Bay Women’s Impact Fund is a dedicated giving circle focused on empowering women, children, and families in our region, and will soon have distributed nearly $190,000 to vital local initiatives since its inception four years ago.The impact fund recently completed its 2025 grant cycle, with 35 donors gathering at a luncheon last week to cast their vote for the latest recipient. This giving circle, where women pool their resources and democratically select projects, ensures maximum c...

Why bequests matter more than ever

Many New Zealanders give generously during their lifetime, but far fewer think about the impact they can have by including a gift in their will. With $1.6 trillion expected to transfer between generations by 2050, the scale of this opportunity is immense.Yet only 6% of New Zealanders with a will currently include a charitable gift, compared with nearly 14% in the UK. Closing that gap could unlock billions of dollars for causes that shape our communities today, and into the future....

Kiwifruit Growers Fund launched for Whakatāne District

Inspired by the success of the Ōpōtiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund, which was established in 2019 a group of Kiwifruit Growers in the Rangitāiki Plains have launched a Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund that covers the Whakatāne District.By pooling small donations of $0.01 to $0.02 per tray of picked fruit, they hope to make a significant impact on local initiatives, helping the community, responding to community needs and focusing on youth development.This newly created fund would b...

The importance of having a will

The importance of having a will A will is the expression of a person’s wishes concerning the transfer of property on their death. It is very important that we make one so that our loved ones and dependents are looked after when we pass away.In support of Community Foundations of New Zealand Wills Month Craigs Investment Partners have partnered with Dentons to explain the importance of having a will.As lawyers involved in preserving and enhancing family wealth we regularly meet w...