16 Oct 2025
Two local charities have been named as the 2025 recipients of the Impact100 Whakatipu $100,000 grants, each receiving transformational funding for their vital work in the community.
Two local charities have been named as the 2025 recipients of the Impact100 Whakatipu $100,000 grants, each receiving transformational funding for their vital work in the community.
The winners were announced at the annual Impact100 Whakatipu Grants Gala, which wrapped up another milestone year for the collective giving movement that brings local women together to make a lasting impact in the Whakatipu Basin.
The inspiring evening highlighted both the often-unseen challenges facing the Whakatipu community and the dedicated charitable organisations working to address them.
This year’s recipients, Salvation Army Queenstown and the Sir John Kirwan Foundation Mitey programme, were selected from an impressive group of finalists, each doing inspiring work to strengthen our community.
The Salvation Army “Under one Roof” project will develop a social supermarket in Queenstown at the Frankton site. Jade Zeina, Regional Relationships Manager, was delighted. “This is going to completely change and transform how we serve this community, our food bank is going to be a social supermarket which will leave a legacy for decades to come.”
Mitey is a mental health programme to be run in primary schools in the Whakatipu.
“This was an incredible process to be part of” said Sarah Manley, CE, of Sir John Kirwan Foundation. “Educating our children about mental health is critical in reducing the rates of youth suicide in our community, and we are grateful to have the opportunity to bring this programme to the Whakatipu.”
Since its founding in 2020, Impact100 Whakatipu has now granted over $1.1 million to local charitable organisations.
Impact100 Chair, Clare Irons, said the announcement was a proud moment for everyone involved. “Every year, I’m amazed by the calibre of organisations serving our community. These two charities truly reflect the heart of Impact100. Addressing critical needs, building resilience, and creating lasting change. To be able to gift $100,000 to each of them, thanks to the generosity of our supporters, is an extraordinary privilege.”
This year, the three runners-up each received a donation of $3,000, which was generously matched by the MacTodd Community Charitable Trust, meaning each of the three were awarded $6,000 to support their work.
“Coming together as a community of women, sponsors, and our parent charity 45South, to build a thriving community is what we're all about. As a result this year we are able to invest $218,000 into our community, to help it thrive.”
Looking ahead, the next call for applications from local charities will open in May 2026. Impact100 Whakatipu is open to all women and if you are interested in joining their collective, you can register your interest online now for 2026. Their scholarship programme ‘Impactships’ will again be open next March for women keen to apply.
To sign up, or for more information www.impact100whakatipu or follow Impact100 Whakatipu on social media.