This website is managed by the Donate Charitable Trust which is an incorporated Charitable Trust and Charity registered under the Charities Commission No. CC35191.  It provides the ongoing online service here which allows people to connect resources with community organisations nationwide.  In addition to being able to accept these offers made by Donors, they can make wishes and promote their organisation to a community of people ready and willing to help out.  Read more about donating and receiving.

The aims of the Trust are two fold -

• The first  - we aim to help the environment by reducing the amount of waste going to landfill by encouraging re-use, recycling and a more sustainable way of living.
• The second - we aim to encourage community participation across the board by providing an easy-to-use, accessible online portal where community organisations and the public can interact to make meaningful exchanges.

The DonateNZ website was established in 2006 and has been a valuable community service ever since.  We have been recognised for this on a local and national level, the most notable of these include in 2007 winning “Best Government or Community Site” in the 2007 Netguide Awards and coming finalist in 2008.  Since the website began there have been over 20,000 items donated through the site, all finding homes in local community organisations around the country.  Read feedback about DonateNZ here.

DonateNZ is a world first - there is nothing like it in the world.  It utilises new technology to provide a platform which every Kiwi can use to live more sustainably as well, be responsible socially, as helping reduce the impact we as a society make to the environment.  It was started with no funding or government support – yet it managed to beat ARC & IRD for the Best Government and Community Site – organisations which have many people working on their website alone at any one time. DonateNZ only has one staff member as well as a very good website design company!

Initially, DonateNZ was run under a business structure and it cost money to join as a Recipient member.  Throughout this time, a great amount of funds were spent developing the site to the standard it is today, however, not many funds were earnt.  After much debate, the decision was made in 2008 to become a charity to enable this venture to continue and to allow us to deliver this amazing portal nationwide.  The Trust now seeks funds to continue the DonateNZ venture from local and national funders, in addition to searching for a corporate partner.  In line with this decision to become a charity, DonateNZ is pleased to announce its next amazing news...  As of the 1st of April 2009 it is now completely free to become a Recipient member on the website.  If this is how much the website has achieved with its roughly 250 community organisation members to date, imagine how much this venture is going to skyrocket once it opens its “doors” to in excess of 26,000 organisations. If you would like to find out more on how to become a Recipient member, please see here.

There are big plans in place for DonateNZ in the future.  In the near future, our focuses are to increase the membership number of the site and achieve corporate sponsorship.  Following on from that will be website development, then a nationwide marketing campaign to increase the Donor membership and achieve more donations for our Recipient users. 

Yes, the leadership of the organisation is unique.  You may say we’re small, but we sure pack a punch.  At the age of 21, Claire, the Chief Executive, came up with the DonateNZ concept and has driven its progress to date, in the face of amazing physical and financial challenges.  She has worked on DonateNZ for the last 3 years without receiving a wage.  Claire has also been recognized on a local and national level - as Actionista of the Year in the NZGirl Online Awards and as an Inspiring Young Entrepreneur in the Papakura District.  Anyone can change how they personally behave in order to help the environment … but Claire has thought bigger and wider, creating something which helps change a populations habits.

Overall, New Zealand should get in to support, recognise and reward this initiative.  With more ventures and people like this in the world we would be really on our way to fighting Climate Change and creating a sustainable way of living.

Like what we're doing? Why not consider becoming one of our sponsors.

View here for a list of ways you can help the DonateNZ venture or view a short video about DonateNZ made by MadeFromNewZealand.

Please contact us if you have any queries at all, we are happy to answer any questions or provide any additional information required.