$50,000 Raised by Women’s Impact Fund to Support Eastern Bay Women and Children

The Eastern Bay Women’s Impact Fund proudly announced that $50,000 has been donated at its annual luncheon held on Sunday, 29 June, which aims to support initiatives that benefit women and children in the Eastern Bay of Plenty region.

The event featured an engaging panel discussion with four influential local women: Judith Quinlan-Logan, Rosemary Sloman, Cherie Stevenson, and Lou Hunt. The panelists shared personal experiences and discussed the importance of community giving, the inspiration behind their involvement, and their vision for the future of women-led philanthropy.

Now in its fourth year, the Women’s Impact Fund will have distributed more than $180,000 to local causes since its launch in 2022. The fund was introduced to the region by Viv Barr and Robyn Woolsey, Trustees of the Eastern Bay Community Foundation, after learning about the model at a national conference.

The EBWIF brings together women who donate $1,000—either individually or as a group—to form a collective giving circle. Donors pool their contributions and then vote on which local project receives funding each year. This pass-through fund ensures that all donations are distributed within the same year to local charities or initiatives that directly support women and children. It’s not too late to come on board as a donor for 2025, and all donations are eligible for a 33.3% tax rebate.

Angela Jackson, Manager of the Eastern Bay Community Foundation, said:
“The Women’s Impact Fund is a wonderful way for women to come together and pool funds to support women and children in our district. We feel it creates a network of philanthropic women who give back to our community in a way that creates a real impact.”

The Eastern Bay Community Foundation administers the fund and is currently calling for applications for the 2025 funding round.

Previous recipients include:

• Whānau Āwhina Plunket

• Riding for the Disabled

• SOZO Lymphedema machine project at Whakatāne Hospital

• Mums4Mums

• Whakatāne Financial Mentoring

• Local cancer support trust

• Kiwi English Classes

Applications are open from Tuesday, 1 July to Friday, 15 August 2025. Eligible charities, organisations, and community initiatives are encouraged to apply here

Do you know of a project supporting women and children in the Eastern Bay of Plenty that could benefit from a funding boost for an impactful project? Now is the time to apply.