WWF-New Zealand is our Environmental Funding Manager. We have worked together for 16 years and it has been a very successful partnership. We sincerely value the work WWF does to distribute our funds all over New Zealand to conservation and environmental projects on our behalf.

Here we talk to Michele Frank, Head of New Zealand Conservation Projects and Becky Wilson, Community Conservation Coordinator about the role of Funding Manager.

 

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

We feel privileged to have been Tindall Funding Managers for 16 years – Since 2000.

 

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

Administering grants to communities and schools carrying out conservation projects and environmental education.

Over the last sixteen years as a Tindall Foundation Funding Managers we’ve been fortunate to be able to support hundreds of groups with funds, training and advice.

WWF has always regarded community-led conservation as a critically important part of improving environmental and social conditions in New Zealand, and the Funding Manager role allows us to put this into action.

 

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

We work closely with The Tindall Foundation; they forward requests to fund conservation projects to WWF-New Zealand.  We tag The Tindall Foundation in our success stories posted on social media.

WWF-New Zealand has strong connections with community conservation groups throughout New Zealand.  We attend and participate in many forums to ensure we are up to date with the challenges and needs of community conservation groups.

 

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

The Tindall Foundation’s values are very strongly aligned with WWF’s. WWF’s mission is a future where people live in harmony with nature, and the Foundation’s vision of stronger, sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand so families, communities and our natural environment thrive now and in the future, are very complementary.

The Foundation’s culture of trust, generosity and willingness to take risks allows us as Funding Managers to be completely honest about what is going well, what hasn’t gone well, where we’ve succeeded and where we’ve made mistakes, what the challenges are and where extra help could make a real difference.

WWF’s relationship with the Foundation has allowed us to support communities to take action for conservation at a scale that would not have been possible otherwise. Most importantly of all, the Foundation’s approach means we are free to support communities in ways that are truly responsive to their needs, and that will best help them go on to do great work for biodiversity conservation.

 

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

 

 

  1. How much money approximately does this equate to each year?
  1. What is the maximum amount you would give to an organisation from this fund?

 

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

The people we work with, both within WWF and wider networks all share similar values of generosity, kindness and collaboration.

 

  1. What do you enjoy about your role?

We both are passionate about making a positive difference to the environment. It is great to know that every day we are supporting grass roots conservation.

 

10.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?

We love the interaction with the amazing people who are doing the hard work on the ground.  We are constantly inspired by the energy and commitment of young people who want a better future for our planet