Each year the Acorn Foundation distributes funding to local charities and organisations in the Western Bay of Plenty.

This year over 123 charities and organisations will receive $933,670 in the annual distribution.

This year's is the largest funding to date and brings Acorn's total distributions to the community more than $5.5 million since its inception in 2003.

Acorn Foundation General Manager Lori Luke says this year's funding comes from 77 estates or living giving donors, with distributions coming from 29 more funds than in 2017.

'It is thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors that we can make these distributions to the community.”

'We recognise that this money will make a significant difference to the charities and organisations that receive it, and it will enable them to better focus on the amazing work they do every day in our region.”

Over $170,000 of the total goes out in scholarships and awards throughout the year, and Lori says that for many of their donors, it allows them to contribute to a range of causes.

'Our donors are more than happy to support those in the community who need a helping hand, while they also love to reward those who excel at their chosen activity.”

Lori says as the Acorn Foundation community fund continues to grow, the annual distributions are becoming more and more substantial.

'For the first time, Acorn will donate over $50,000 to a single charity in one year. Eight donors have combined to contribute a tremendous $50,811 to Waipuna Hospice in 2018.”

'Also the contributions of five generous donors are providing over $39,000 to The Salvation Army-Tauranga this year.”

Lori Luke says community foundations are playing an ever-increasing role across New Zealand in delivering sustainable funding to community groups and organisations and to major community projects.

'It's exciting to see the Acorn Foundation's fund continue to grow, as it has just passed $23 million in size.

'What is also exciting is the range of ways donors are contributing to the community.”

'Whilst Acorn originally focused primarily on bequest giving, more and more of our donors are also opting to ‘give while they live'. Other people are setting up ‘Giving Circles' which are a social way to get involved in the community giving with like-minded friends, and we will soon be presenting ‘workplace giving' as an option for businesses in the region.”

'The benefit for donors of giving during their lifetime is that they can see the impact of their support, and that's often a profoundly rewarding experience for them.”