Provider makes donations based on feedback from its members
Non-profit KiwiSaver provider Simplicity, which gives 15% of fees to the Simplicity Charitable Trust, announced what it called its “biggest donations” to date.
In a statement, Simplicity said that over $250,000 has been donated to five organisations across New Zealand doing work for young people and the environment.
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This includes $50,000 to Lifewise Charitable Trust to support its youth housing programme in Auckland; $50,000 to Kiwis for Kiwis Foundation for their kiwi creche in Napier, raising young kiwi for release in a sanctuary on Mahia Peninsula; $70,000 to Recreate to set up a new hub in Wellington providing development opportunities for young people with disabilities; $50,000 to The Loft, a “one-stop-shop” in Christchurch which helps connect families in need to the right social services; and $36,000 to Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust for managing traps to protect native birds in the Routeburn and Dart valleys.
“This round of funding is going to some great kiwi charities,” said Sam Stubbs, managing director at Simplicity. “They were selected for their track record of making an impact.”
According to Simplicity, the trust makes donations based on feedback from its members.
“We survey members regularly,” said Stubbs. “They have consistently identified a number of key issues for the Trust to prioritise, including environment, youth and homelessness.”
The trust has made over $700,000 in donations this year so far. This includes over $100,000 of donations to support charities helping kiwis during the COVID-19 lockdown and the start of a long-term tree planting programme, which saw 15,000 native trees planted by Trees that Count.
“Simplicity is growing fast, so the donations are too,” said Stubbs. “We’re now giving a million dollars annually, which will grow as we do.”
Simplicity has over 48,000 members and $2.1 billion of assets under management.
