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 community benefit.

The recipient of the 2025 funding, as voted by the donors, is to be Waka Eastern Bay Community Transport who will receive $40,000 and Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support who will receive $5,600

Waka Eastern Bay – Wāhine on the Move Project will be using the funding to enable local women, some of whom may have disabilities, to come together for social outings and assist with transport to appointments. Making transport accessible and connecting communities across the Eastern Bay.

The Funding to be given to Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support service will be used to facilitate workshops for women after they have received the crisis sexual harm counselling and will focus on rebuilding, healing and living as a survivor of sexual harm.

Trustee Viv Barr says, “We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone of approaching $200,000 in local impact. Our giving circle is about more than just the money; it's about women coming together, having fun, and directly investing in the future of the Eastern Bay, by supporting projects that support local women and children. We are incredibly excited and look forward to seeing the impact that Waka Eastern Bay’s project will make.”

The Eastern Bay Women’s Impact Fund, managed by the Eastern Bay Community Foundation, is now open for the 2026 year and is seeking new and existing donors who wish to be part of this powerful giving circle. The Impact of this fund grows each year, making a difference in the lives of women and children in our community. There will be a launching lunch for the fund early next year, which will celebrate the fifth year of the Eastern Bay Women's Impact Fund.

Want to find out more? Go to www.ebcf.nz