Partners in the funding long-game

The question: What’s the best way for a significant bequest to have real long-term impact?  

The answer: Partner with Nikau Foundation to establish a fund generating support for some of Wellington’s most iconic sites.  

A new direction  

Extraordinary, beautiful and challenging art, cultural and science experiences can be found all around the capital, and Experience Wellington is there to make sure Wellingtonians and visitors get to enjoy it all.  

The 24-year-old organisation runs visitor experiences including Wellington Museum, Space Place at Carter Observatory and City Gallery. This year, income from the sale of a painting bequeathed to City Gallery by renowned New Zealand ballet dancer Sir Alexander Grant was used to establish the Experience Wellington Fund.  

“It was a step in the right direction,” says Experience Wellington Chief Executive Pat Stuart, and one taken very carefully. 

 “We had a very long debate about whether we would spend the bequest, display it or invest it and use its proceeds for activities at the City Gallery. Eventually, we decided that’s what we wanted to do.”  

Then, says Pat, came the matter of how to invest.  

“We discussed managing the funds ourselves or whether it was better to go with an organisation like Nikau and get value from the fact that it is managing funds, therefore generating more revenue. That was what we decided to do.”  

Like-minded partners  

“Establishing the fund with a like-minded organisation was important,” says Pat.  

“Nikau is community-focused. It was a perfect fit for what we wanted to achieve. Partnering with Nikau enables us to leverage their connectedness, and build a network of relationships with organisations across the community that hold similar values and aspirations. The relationship between Experience Wellington and the Foundation is an important one, and we certainly want to make sure it grows and strengthens over time.” 

Artist in Residence, Julian Priest
Thomas King Observatory, Weight of Information

A gift to the city  

In honour of Sir Alexander’s passion for nurturing Wellington’s cultural richness, income will support City Gallery in bringing international exhibitions and lecture series to the capital. It will also provide forever funding for the wider arts, culture and science institutions managed by Experience Wellington.  

Gallery visitors experiencing 'Earthworks' from 'Semiconductor The Technological Sublime', City Gallery Wellington

While supporting City Gallery, the fund has been structured so future donors have options. They can support children’s and young people’s participation in the arts, or they could say “I’m really fascinated with space science, and I want the money to go there.”  

Ambitious plans  

Experience Wellington receives generous support from Wellington City Council, but there is still a lot of fundraising to do, says Pat. “We’re aiming to raise at least 35–40% of the revenue we need to operate, which is a significant proportion.”  

It’s a big job. A lot of work is focused on strengthening Experience Wellington’s fundraising strategy, and Pat thinks partnering with Nikau Foundation has real profile-raising potential.  

“They are out there talking with people and promoting funds and offering opportunities. It means we’ve got Nikau working on our behalf.”  

National Arts Festival 2019
Image credit Stephen A'Court, The Eel and Sina Auckland Theatre Company

The long game  

The decision to work with the Foundation means Experience Wellington is taking a long-game approach with donations to the fund. Pat says this gives a permanency to the original bequest at the heart of the Experience Wellington Fund and future donations.  

“I would hope that, within 50 years’ time, the fund will have grown significantly. In turn, the income that it is generating would have also increased, meaning people can see the benefit of having the fund.”  

Pat believes the idea of a forever fund will appeal to Wellingtonians wanting to leave meaningful bequests that have an impact well into the future.  

“The point about this is that pledges are future-focused – it’s a long-game opportunity.” 

Help us secure these cultural sites for future generations by making a donation to the Experience Wellington Fund.