Meet Glenda Stokes, Executive Officer at The Sunrise Foundation, Gisborne. Here she talks about what she loves about her job and her passion for giving back to the local community. She says she is astounded by the generosity and support The Sunrise Foundation has received from the people of Gisborne. The Foundation has raised $1.5m in donations and $7m in bequests since it launched in October 2015. 

  1. How long has your organisation been working in this role as Tindall Foundation funding manager?

Sunrise has just recently been appointed as The Tindall Foundation Funding Manager in the Gisborne District.  Prior to that I chaired a grants committee on behalf of The Tindall Foundation for two years.

 

  1. What is involved in your role of Tindall Foundation Funding Manager?

The Tindall Foundation funding will be distributed through the Sunrise annual funding round, which will enable us to focus more on the community/social sector where there are huge needs in our region.

 

  1. How do you work with The Tindall Foundation and the wider community in this role?

The Tindall Foundation will benefit from the strong governance and varied experience that the Sunrise Board offers. Our Grants Committee are well-respected members of our community with a wealth of experience across many sectors. We believe that our knowledge and networks within our community will help to promote The Tindall Foundation’s funding opportunities to a wide cross section of our community.

 

  1. How would you describe your organisation’s relationship with The Tindall Foundation?

The Foundation supports Sunrise with guidance, encouragement and sharing of resources.

 

We appreciate the strong ties we have with The Tindall Foundation and the opportunity to leverage our brand off a strong philanthropic name such as Tindall, which is very valuable for a young organisation such as ours.

5. Approximately, now many organisations would you support a year using Tindall Foundation funds?

Up to six organisations

 

  1. How much money approximately does this equate to each year?

Approximately $25,000

 

  1. What is the maximum amount you would give to an organisation from this fund?

$5,000

 

  1. In your role you must work with charities and philanthropic organisations, what do you enjoy about working in this sector?

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my work is being out in our community meeting new people, particularly the hardworking people who run our charities and the army of volunteers who are the backbone of many charities and indeed the charitable sector.  There are so many people quietly giving their time and energy to a huge variety of good causes, usually with little or no fanfare.

 

  1. Community Foundations are quite unique, what do you enjoy about your role?

Meeting donors and helping them realise their wish to give back to our community has been very fulfilling. I’ve been astounded by the generosity and support we’ve received from our small community.  We’ve raised over $1.5m in donations and $7m in bequests since we launched in October 2015.

As such a young organisation fundraising has obviously been a big focus for us, but our reason for being is to support local charities and organisations.

Through the generosity of our donors we were in a position to grant funding to 25 causes in the Gisborne District last year.  It is truly gratifying to be able to help so many different people in our community.

 

  1. You are in a job where giving back to the community is central to what you do, what do you get out of the job personally?

I’m a mother of three and have recently become a grandmother (three and counting!).  This has definitely shaped my thinking towards looking after what we have for future generations.  I’m confident that Sunrise will make a significant difference to the people of the Gisborne District and particularly like the concept of “giving that lasts forever”.

I’m passionate about giving back to my community and in addition to my role at Sunrise, I am the chairperson of the Hospice Tairawhiti board.

It’s important to me that I believe in what I’m doing.

Manutuke School children enjoy swimming lessons