The intense competition for a limited pool of grants and donations is prompting more organisations like our own to support their work and protect future services by generating revenue in the marketplace and by looking to develop their own endowment funds to honour each donor's gift in perpetuity.
Business ventures; once an alien concept in a "not for profit" sector; are now seen as a necessary means of generating supplementary funding. As examples I refer to our own 211 service, National Depression Initiative, Gambling Helpline and our LivingWorks service - all these businesses generate profits that are poured back into our core "charity" services - 24 hour line, Mensline, Chineseline, 0800 Kidsline and our Face to Face services.
But there is a fine balancing act....with each new business venture we find ways to combine commercial success with our mission of creating positive social outcomes whilst always being mindful of our commitment that a “commercial” operation shall not distract LifeLine Auckland from our core vision - that of an emotionally healthy community.
This strategy was central to the establishment of the "LifeLine Charitable Foundation" which was created to "provide a home" for LifeLine Auckland thus freeing the operational arm of our organisation from the concerns of property management.
By using our assets wisely, including our brand, expertise and developed systems, LifeLine Auckland can assist in creating funds sufficient to retain independence and improve services in depth, quality and reach.
The road to achieving this goal of independence is not straight or a gentle downward gradient. We need to find ways of protecting a service that is more often needed when times are tough and when we ourselves can least afford to be weak.
We see the need to protect the future and honour the past by seeking advice and support to develop an endowment fund to ensure that gifted sums are invested and remain in perpetuity - supporting an annual distribution in times of need without "eating into" the value of the original gift.
We ask for your continuing support of human talent, freely gifted by our volunteers and the donations offered by our wide network of supporters.
Bryan Wilshire