Building Capacity and Capability

Through our Centre for Social Impact (CSI), established in 2014 as our commitment to strengthening the capacity and capability of the community sector and to amplifying impact, we continued to respond to needs identified in the National COVID survey. A further Kia Whiti Tonu (to shine brightly) series of seven free virtual workshops were hosted. Drawing on a range of expertise from the CSI network of specialist associates and partner organisations, topics ranged from “Working with the news media”, “Niho Taniwha - Embedding evaluation in your mahi” to governance, collaboration, and “An innovative approach to strategy”. There was also a focus on wellbeing, with a session developed to coincide with Matariki, “Kua haehae ngā hihi o Matariki (The rays of Matariki are spread)”, offering guidance on taking time to reset, set goals and nurture personal growth. The 2021 Kia Whiti Tonu series attracted over 400 participants. Digital recordings of the workshops, and associated material, continue to be available and regularly accessed via CSI’s website. A new series of online workshops, Te Pūaha Talks, has now been launched.

As well as funding CSI’s universal offerings, Foundation North has also enabled CSI to provide individualised support, such as to long-standing grantee I Have A Dream to update their Theory of Change. CSI also continued to play a ‘backbone’ role for the Community Governance workstreams, which include a knowledge hub (housing resources such as the Chairing the Board video series, Board Talks webinar series), mentoring programmes and the development of a good governance code.

Support across the rohe also been enabled through others, such as Ākina’s work with social enterprises, and ANCAD’s Community Accounting Programme offering support to non-profit organisations to strengthen their accounting practice.

Having prioritising funding aligned to our Regenerative Environment focus area to initiatives led by Tangata Whenua or those demonstrating a Te Tiriti partnership approach, Foundation North identified that not all Tangata Tiriti had the tools to be ‘engagement ready’ and this had negative implications for Tangata Whenua. As a good understanding of Te Tiriti is one tool to assist groups on this journey, a Te Tiriti wānanga was prototyped to support conservation organisations develop or strengthen their relationships with Tangata Whenua, through understanding their obligations under Te Tiriti. Pivoting to an online event, the wānanga was well appreciated, with one participant stating: “The workshop has definitely had a profound impact on me personally. I am eager to discuss the topics raised with the rest of my team and explore what tangible things we could do as an organisation to apply our Te Tiriti commitments to our work”.

Also contributing to strengthening a partnership approach was a further Mauri Wānanga series presented virtually by Te Kaa to deepen GIFT grantees appreciation and understanding of mauri and Te Ao Māori. The four sessions, including a panel with three respected leaders who whakapapa to Tīkapa Moana Te Moananui-ā-To, informed and inspired participants to work together in different ways to regenerate the mauri of the Hauraki Gulf.