Rata Foundation

General information

Rātā Foundation (formerly The Canterbury Community Trust) has been supporting its four funding regions of Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands by providing grants for the past 29 years.
Rātā Foundation was formed in 1988 with money received after the de-regulation of the banking sector and the sale of the Canterbury Savings Bank. It receives no money from other funders, endowments or gaming trusts which differentiates it from other funders in the community. The money realised from the sale of the bank has been invested for the community, and is administered by the Foundation, on behalf of the community.
At inception the starting capital base of Rātā Foundation was $32 million or equivalent to $57 for every man, women and child throughout our four funding regions of Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands. Today, that capital base is more than $542 million or equivalent to $867 for every man, woman and child.
Our community lives at the heart of Rātā Foundation and all we strive to achieve. We were established for the community and our ownership clearly lies with communities of Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands.
We continually work to engage with the community to support and be a catalyst for a strong, creative, enlightened, healthy, caring and sustainable community.
We are already more than just a distributor of funds. We offer support to the sectors we fund through evidence-based grant processes. We are committed to bringing real improvements to communities and the lives of people most in need by working in partnership with other funders and organisations to make the money go further and deliver more impact.

Through the lens of its strategic vision Rātā Foundation is engaging across the City and its communities and forming strategic partnerships which will deliver more return and provide a touchstone for community growth in the future.

The work of Rātā Foundation is split into two distinct areas – investment strategy and grant making. While both are separate they are inextricably linked. To continually achieve its grants budget year on year the Foundation must ensure it is making investments that deliver consistent returns.

Visit www.ratafoundation.org.nz to find out more about Rātā Foundation's history and how it can support your organisation through its funding programme. To check our our Facebook Content Disclaimer visit: http://www.ratafoundation.org.nz/terms-and-conditions/facebook-comment-disclaimer