That’s because women’s philanthropic organisation, Impact100 Whakatipu, last night revealed their five finalists for this year’s grants pool totalling $209,000 — collected from 209 members each donating $1000 — of whom two will each receive $100k.
The finalists are Queenstown Citizens Advice Bureau, which wants to set up a free immigration advice service; Sir John Kirwan Foundation, for a mental health education programme for schools called ‘Mitey’; Te Atamira, for an extra team member to strengthen its curatorial and community outreach programme; Salvation Army Queenstown, for its ‘Under One Roof’ project to relocate its foodbank service to its Remarkables Park premises; and Wakatipu High School Foundation, for a wellbeing programme to support the school’s growing diversity of ethnicities.
Impact100 members will now learn more about each organisation before next month’s annual awards gala.
There they’ll vote for two organisations to receive $100,000 with the $9000 balance distributed among the three runners-up.
Grant committee chair Tess Wethey says all their applicants are doing "incredible mahi in the Whakatipu".
"Choosing our finalists is never easy, but it’s what makes Impact100 so powerful.
"Together, our members will decide where these transformational grants will go, ensuring it makes the biggest possible impact for our community."
Next month’s awards ceremony means $1.1 million will have been granted to local charities since Impact100 Whakatipu was set up in 2020.
The organisation’s parent charity is 45South Foundation — formerly Wakatipu Community Foundation.
