#289 'Unlocking New Zealand's Giving Potential', Simon Bowden, Head of Philanthropic Services, Forsyth Barr

In this episode of Purposely, Mark Longbottom sits down with Simon Bowden, Head of Philanthropic Services at Forsyth Barr.Simon has spent more than 30 years across the for-purpose sector, including nearly two decades leading the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. Today, he works with charities and clients to help them think more clearly about giving, funding, and long-term impact.A big part of the conversation is about how philanthropy is changing. More clients are asking better questions about where their money goes, what it actually does, and how to structure giving over time. That’s driving firms like Forsyth Barr to take this more seriously and build it into their advice.Simon talks through what his role actually involves. On one side, working with charities on things like income diversification, governance, and funding strategy. On the other, helping individuals and families navigate giving, from first donations through to legacy planning.There’s also a broader discussion about the New Zealand context. We’re a generous country in some ways, but formal giving and legacy donations are still relatively low. Simon makes the point that how we talk about giving matters. If it feels transactional or repetitive, people switch off. If it feels relevant and connected to what they care about, they lean in.The episode also covers Simon’s path into this work. From music and running a national jazz festival, through to leading the Arts Foundation and launching Boosted, his career has consistently sat between creativity, funding, and building things from scratch.They also get into the relationship between commercial advice and purpose. Simon’s view is straightforward. Done properly, it works for everyone. Clients get better outcomes, and more money flows to where it can make a difference.The conversation wraps with a full-circle moment at a Philanthropy New Zealand conference, involving a banjo, a kazoo, and a reminder that bringing people together still matters.This episode is brought to you by Benevity and Trust Investments.

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, Craig Pollard, Founder of Fundraising Radicals, cuts through the noise on fundraising and brings it back to basics.He lays out a clear way to think about building funding partnerships. Start with your principles. Be clear on your purpose and values. Then get real about your platform, what you stand on as an individual and as an organisation, including your strengths, constraints, networks, and reputation.From there, it is about people and pathways. Not cold outreach or chasing the same well-known funders as everyone else, but working through your existing networks and focusing on those who already share your worldview.Craig is also honest about the realities. Power dynamics, bias, and access all shape who gets funded and who doesn’t. Ignoring that makes fundraising harder, not easier.A big theme in this conversation is trust. Craig draws on the idea that trust is built through authenticity, empathy, and logic. Strong partnerships move at the speed of trust, and they are built over time through real conversations, not polished proposals sent to strangers.He also challenges a common assumption. Funding partnerships are not sitting out there waiting to be found. They are grown. They take time, care, and a willingness to explore where shared goals overlap.This episode of Purposely is brought to you by Benevity, the all-in-one software solution that benefits employees, customers, nonprofits, and society.

Welcoming Jessica Zarzycki, Portfolio Manager at Nuveen and a leading voice in sustainable fixed income investing. In this conversation, she explains how fixed income, often seen as the steady part of a portfolio, can deliver reliable returns while also creating real social and environmental impact.While the podcast is for everyone, the bond strategies Jessica manages are built for large institutional investors such as pension funds, endowments, and foundations, where scale really matters.From green and social bonds to more innovative structures like wildlife conservation financing, Jessica shares how this capital is directed toward real world outcomes, from renewable energy and affordable housing through to clean water and biodiversity.At the heart of it is a simple idea. Fixed income can be the cornerstone of a portfolio, generating stable income over time, while also helping to fund solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges.Jessica also reflects on her journey into impact investing, the responsibility that comes with managing large pools of capital, and the discipline required to balance performance with purpose.With experience across global markets and a background that includes advising the International Capital Market Association on sustainable finance, she brings both technical depth and a clear sense of mission to her work.She explains how impact investing has evolved from avoiding harm to actively funding solutions, and why, when done well, it can lead to stronger and more resilient outcomes over the long term.The conversation also explores the growing role of blended finance, where philanthropy, governments, and private capital come together to scale impact faster.Ultimately, Jessica makes the case that investing for good is not a trade off, it is a smarter and more forward looking way to invest.

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from fundraising strategist Craig Pollard, looking at what it really takes to build meaningful, high-value partnerships in the social sector.He challenges a common assumption in fundraising that money is the ultimate sign of impact. In reality, a lot of important work starts without funding and often continues that way. When organisations recognise their value beyond dollars, it changes how they show up and the kinds of relationships they build.The conversation reframes fundraising as finding co-investors rather than chasing donors. When you acknowledge the time, energy and commitment already being put in by communities and organisations, partnerships start to feel more balanced and more genuine.Craig also questions the traditional “ask” approach that many fundraisers are taught. In some contexts it can feel transactional and uncomfortable, and it often misses the bigger picture. He shares examples of philanthropists who are looking for alignment and shared purpose, not just a number.A clear theme is confidence. When organisations understand their role and the value they bring, they are in a much stronger position to build real partnerships that go beyond funding.The episode finishes with a look at collaboration across the sector. Moving away from competition for limited funding and towards a more connected, cooperative approach where everyone is contributing to the same outcome.This episode of Purposely is brought to you by Benevity and Trust Investments.

Welcoming Marc Leckie, who leads one of the UK’s most prominent football club foundations - part of the wider Premier League network of community charities. In this conversation, he explains how the Foundation uses the power of the club’s brand to deliver programmes that improve wellbeing, build skills, and create real pathways into work.From safe spaces and mental health support to apprenticeships and stadium-based jobs fairs, the focus is on long-term impact - not one-off projects.Marc also speaks candidly about his own lived experience, the pressures of leadership, and how to sustain yourself in purpose-driven roles.A veteran in sport-for-good, Marc brings around 25 years of experience across community foundations and youth development. Before joining Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, he was CEO of the Harlequins Foundation and spent 17 years at Charlton Athletic Community Trust, leading programmes focused on inclusion, education, and young people.At the heart of his work is a simple idea: sport can create opportunity, belonging, and lasting social change.Marc explains that a major football club’s identity provides a trusted gateway for people who might hesitate to engage with formal institutions. The badge opens doors - not just to participation, but to career possibilities across areas such as STEM, media, heritage, operations, and community work.

What if philanthropy wasn’t an add-on to business, but built into its DNA?In this episode of Purposely, we welcome Rebecca Roberts, Head of the Simplicity Foundation, to explore how one corporate foundation has embedded giving into its core model in a way that grows alongside the business.Established alongside Simplicity NZ Ltd in 2016, the Foundation receives 15% of KiwiSaver and Investment Fund management fees. As Simplicity has grown to manage more than $10 billion, the Foundation’s giving has expanded too, now distributing around $3 million in grants each year to charities across Aotearoa New Zealand.Rebecca shares how this structure works in practice, what it means to embed impact into a commercial model, and why long-term thinking matters in philanthropy.Why Simplicity chose to hardwire giving into its business model from day oneThe Foundation’s three pillars: Thriving Te Taiao (Environment), Thriving Rangatahi (Young People), and Thriving Hapori (Communities)The value of medium and long-term partnerships over one-off grantsWhy co-funding and collaboration with other foundations can strengthen outcomesWhat sustainable, impact-focused philanthropy looks like in actionFrom planting more than 200,000 native trees to supporting youth pathways into employment and addressing housing and food insecurity, this conversation highlights philanthropy designed for measurable, community-level impact.Rebecca also reflects on the responsibility that comes with scale, the discipline required in funding decisions, and how foundations can balance responsiveness with strategic focus.A valuable listen for anyone involved in corporate foundations, philanthropy, impact investing, or charity leadership.

Welcome Rosie Challies to the Purposely Podcast.Rosie is the Founder of the Terra Nova Foundation, which is focused on environmental action and being a catalyst for positive change for people and planet here in Aotearoa New Zealand.Rose brings more than 20 years of international experience working across Europe on complex social and environmental challenges. Rosie has partnered with governments, major funders, NGOs, not for profits and businesses to design and deliver change at scale. Her work has included shaping national policy and legislation, building cross sector strategies and leading large collaborative initiatives.Since returning home to New Zealand in 2019 as a NEXT Foundation Fellow, Rosie has focused on accelerating environmental progress through Terra Nova Foundation. Her experience spans systems change, strategic philanthropy and impact measurement, along with advising boards, political leaders, nonprofit leaders and philanthropists on how to achieve meaningful and measurable impact.In this conversation, we explore what it really takes to create lasting change, the role philanthropy can play in environmental progress, and why long term thinking matters more than ever.This episode is for anyone working in environmental action, philanthropy or systems change, and for those who want their work to make a genuine and lasting difference.

In this episode of Purposely, I’m joined by Craig Pollard, Founder and CEO of Fundraising Radicals, to talk about what it really takes to build high value funding partnerships that actually last.Craig brings three decades of experience working alongside civil society organisations and funders in more than 100 countries. He’s seen what works, what fails, and where organisations quietly undermine themselves in the pursuit of money.We talk about why high value fundraising is not about slick pitches or chasing the next grant round. It’s deliberate. It’s strategic. And it starts with being clear about your purpose and the role you want to play in the wider ecosystem.Craig shares his thinking on trust, alignment, and why the best partnerships are built on shared values rather than financial need. We explore what it means to design for long term value instead of short term wins, and why uncomfortable conversations are often part of building something stronger.There’s also a challenge here for leaders and trustees. Are you clear on what “enough” looks like? Are you building partnerships, or just securing income?If you care about moving beyond transactional fundraising and building relationships that genuinely resource impact, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

People connect with people, not causes. In this episode of Purposely, filmmaker and social entrepreneur Kiran Patel shares what charities and community organisations can learn from good storytelling and why authenticity matters more than polished campaigns.Kiran explains how strong stories give people agency, build trust, and help audiences see themselves in the work, rather than being talked at or asked to care from a distance. Drawing on his experience as a documentary filmmaker, he reflects on why human stories cut through, especially in a world saturated with content.The conversation traces Kiran’s journey from growing up between countries to building creative projects that bring people together. His family’s long connection to Auckland’s Dominion Road shaped that path, from running one of the area’s early Indian restaurants to creating Move Space, a community hub for art, ideas, and social impact.We talk about Kiran’s decision to step away from a traditional film school path to focus on real-world storytelling, and how that led to projects like Humans Are Awesome, a series that shines a light on everyday people quietly making a difference.Kiran also shares the thinking behind Deeper Questions, the card game designed to move conversations beyond small talk. Inspired by years of interviewing people, it’s a simple tool for building trust, connection, and more meaningful dialogue, whether in homes, teams, or community spaces.A big thank you to our sponsors Benevity and Trust Investments.

In this episode of Purposely Podcast, we’re joined by Eleanor Cater, CEO of Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand, to explore how local giving can become one of the most powerful forces for long-term community change.Eleanor is deeply passionate about philanthropy, not as a lofty idea, but as something practical and grounded in place. From growing up in Porirua to now leading the national body for community foundations, she has been a witness to what empowered communities can achieve.Community foundations sit quietly behind the scenes of some remarkable outcomes across the country. They connect donors with local priorities, steward funds across generations, and help turn generosity into action. In New Zealand, the movement has grown steadily from 12 community foundations to 18 today, collectively managing more than $315 million in community assets. But as Eleanor explains, the real value isn’t just the capital, it’s the trust.Trust is the engine of community philanthropy. Donors need confidence that their giving will be respected, well governed, and still relevant long after they’re gone. Community foundations offer an alternative to setting up standalone trusts, providing professional governance, local insight, and the flexibility to respond as communities change. It’s a model built for permanence, without the administrative burden.We talk about what this looks like in practice. From regionally funded theatres and adventure playgrounds, to the quieter work of backing grassroots organisations and bringing people together around shared priorities. In places like Taranaki, Eleanor describes a genuine sense of local ownership, where communities don’t just benefit from philanthropy, they actively shape it.Eleanor also makes a compelling case for better philanthropy advice. Giving well takes intention, clarity, and context. Drawing on her academic work, including a Winston Churchill Fellowship and a Master’s in Philanthropy, she explains why donors are most fulfilled when their giving aligns both with their values and with clearly articulated community need.We also unpack the word philanthropy itself. Often misunderstood, sometimes off-putting, and wrongly associated only with extreme wealth. Eleanor reframes it simply as private giving for public good, something all New Zealanders already participate in, whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing skills.Looking ahead, Eleanor’s ambition is clear. Community foundations should be seen not as places where money sits, but as active builders of community. With significant intergenerational wealth transfer on the horizon, she believes New Zealand has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to embed generosity into the fabric of every region.