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Impact100 Whakatipu

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The overall mission of 45South Community Foundation is to grow local philanthropy. The Impact100 model fits perfectly within that mission. As a giving circle with collective decision making, Impact100 is designed to empower women to see themselves as philanthropists and overcome the barriers women have historically faced in this arena. The grants are designed for transformational grant-making within local communities, with a minimum grant size of $100,000.

Founded in 2000, Impact100 Whakatipu has now donated over $1,100,000 to our local community, enabling lasting change.


Focus Areas


This model provides nonprofit organizations with grants in increments of $100,000 across five main focus areas:

  • Arts & Culture

  • Lifewide Learning

  • Community Recreation

  • Community Health and Wellbeing

  • Heritage and Environment

How it Works


Impact100 Whakatipu seeks to benefit communities of the Whakatipu Basin by annually awarding at least one high-impact grant to fund innovative, meaningful projects. The concept is simple:

  • The annual $1,000 donations of Impact100 Whakatipu supporters fund the grants. The number and size of grants given is dependent on the number of supporters. The goal is to give incremental grants of $100,000 each year to a non-profit organisation serving the Whakatipu Basin.

  • All women over the age of 16 are eligible to become supporters and can and renew annually.

  • Non-profits are eligible to apply for a grant in one of our five focus areas. The project must predominantly serve the Whakatipu Basin.

  • Supporters of Impact100 Whakatipu may choose to volunteer to serve on committees that evaluate the grants and select a finalist in each area.

  • Finalists are chosen and a representative of each of the finalists gives a brief presentation of the agency’s proposal at the annual meeting of Impact100 Whakatipu. All the Impact100 Whakatipu supporters vote to select the grant recipient(s).

  • Recipient charities are given 24 months to complete their projects. Funds are disbursed as programs are implemented.

Our Impact

Within 6 years, over $1 million has been raised through Impact100 and donated to local organisations.


Our major $100,000 grant recipients inlcude Living Options, Pivotal Point Charitable Trust, Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust, The Order of St John Wakatipu, Kiwi Harvest, The Lakes District Museum, Southern Lakes Sanctuary, Whakatipu Rowing Club, Salvation Army Queenstown Ministries, Sir John Kirwan Foundation - MITEY programme. 


Smaller grants have been made to many local charities in the Whakatipu. 


Impact100 is now taking registrations and donations for its 2026 grant cycle until 30th April 2026.

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