What Springboard Trust does

Springboard Trust (DBA Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust) is a New Zealand charitable trust founded in 2006 and headquartered at Level 1, Raphoe House, 8 Gloucester Park Road, Onehunga, Auckland. Operating as a non-profit with approximately 15 staff, the organisation delivers strategic leadership development programmes to school principals and leadership teams across New Zealand, having supported over 400 principals since its first SLPP cohort in 2007 and impacting more than 200,000 learners cumulatively. Its 2025 reach covered 159 principals, 183 senior and middle leaders, and 179 cross-sector volunteers across 150+ schools nationwide, with regional delivery spanning Auckland, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Bay of Plenty, Wairarapa, Canterbury, Whanganui, Nelson/Marlborough, and South Canterbury.

The core platform is the cross-sector model, which pairs school principals with strategic experts drawn from corporate, finance, public, and philanthropic partner organisations (Westpac, ASB, KPMG, Russell McVeagh, NZCER) who serve as Capacity Partners and coaches. Programmes are delivered through a combination of in-person workshops, Canvas LMS-based virtual engagement, and direct application work over 10-month cohorts. The proprietary curriculum is adapted from McKinsey's strategic planning model for the Aotearoa school context and includes the flagship Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme (SLPP) at $3,950 + GST, the SLRTP variant for rural teaching principals, Strategic Measurement for Schools (Balanced Scorecard) at $2,500 + GST, Springboard Coaching for Leadership at $1,500 + GST per participant, and High Performing Leadership Teams at $4,500 + GST per team, supplemented by skills workshops and resources including the Voices in the Room podcast.

Revenue is generated through three streams: fee-for-service programme payments from participating schools, philanthropic contributions and multi-year partnerships from corporate sponsors (Westpac, ASB, KPMG) and foundations (Fletcher Trust, Next Foundation, Rātā Foundation, Toi Foundation, EPIT), and contracts as an accredited Ministry of Education PLD provider — including the newly awarded 2026-2028 Beginning Principal Programme delivered jointly with Evaluation Associates. Distribution is sales-led, running on Expression of Interest applications, direct engagement with Boards of Trustees, and referrals through partner organisations and the Ministry of Education. Recent strategic moves include a three-year Westpac partnership (February 2026) that funds the first expansion into Australia via ABCN, the joint Beginning Principal Programme contract, and a CEO transition from Dale Bailey to Ellie Sutton at the end of August 2026.

Name

Springboard Trust

Legal name

Springboard Trust

Website

https://springboardtrust.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Springboard Trust is a New Zealand charitable trust that delivers strategic leadership development programmes to school principals and leadership teams, pairing educators with cross-sector business experts to build strategic planning, measurement, and change leadership capability across 150+ schools nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Leadership Development

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Educational Support Services (61171), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Leadership Assessment, 360 Feedback & Development Planning (EDABAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams) (EDABANAF), Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA), C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA)

Keywords

• School leadership development
• Principal training programmes
• Educational leadership coaching
• Professional learning development
• Nonprofit education services

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Programme Fees: Fee-for-service model where participating schools pay programme fees. SLPP and SLRTP programmes cost $3950 + GST, Strategic Measurement for Schools costs $2500 + GST, Springboard Coaching costs $1500 + GST per participant, and High Performing Leadership Teams costs $4500 + GST.
2. Philanthropic Funding and Donations: As a charitable trust, Springboard receives funding and donations from strategic partners including major banks (Westpac, ASB), trusts (Fletcher Trust, Next Foundation, Rātā Foundation, Toi Foundation), and corporate partners (KPMG). No direct government funding for core programmes.
3. Ministry of Education PLD Funding: Accredited PLD provider delivering programmes funded through Ministry of Education professional learning and development budgets to schools and Kāhui Ako

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Springboard Trust delivers fee-for-service strategic leadership development programmes that connect Aotearoa New Zealand school principals and leadership teams with cross-sector strategic experts (drawn from business, finance, public, and philanthropic sectors) as dedicated Capacity Partners. Its core programmes include the 10-month Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme (SLPP), the Strategic Leadership for Rural Teaching Principals Programme (SLRTP), Strategic Measurement for Schools using the Balanced Scorecard framework, Springboard Coaching for Leadership with 360-degree feedback, and High Performing Leadership Teams, complemented by Ministry of Education-accredited Professional Learning and Development, skills workshops, and the joint Beginning Principal Programme with Evaluation Associates.

Product overview

Springboard Trust operates as a platform-plus-modules organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational leadership development programmes and services. The core offerings include the Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme (SLPP), Strategic Leadership for Rural Teaching Principals Programme (SLRTP), Strategic Measurement for Schools, Springboard Coaching for Leadership, and High Performing Leadership Teams. These are complemented by skills workshops (Annual Planning, Refresh Your Strategy, Kickstart Your Strategy, Leading Change, Coaching for Results, Talent Management), Learning Events, Professional Learning and Development services, and the Beginning Principal Programme (delivered in partnership with Evaluation Associates). The organization also produces resources including the Voices in the Room podcast and Leading Through A Crisis materials. All offerings are designed around a unique cross-sector model connecting school leaders with experts from outside the education sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Strategic Leadership for Principals Programme (SLPP) A 10-month leadership development programme that connects Aotearoa New Zealand school principals (typically in their third year or beyond) with strategic experts from outside the education sector to develop strategic planning capability and three-to-five-year strategic plans for their schools.
• Strategic Leadership for Rural Teaching Principals Programme (SLRTP) A 10-month programme adapted for rural teaching principals in Aotearoa New Zealand, addressing the unique challenges of dual teacher-principal roles, geographic isolation, and limited access to professional development opportunities. Delivered via online workshops, face-to-face sessions, Impact Coach support, and Canvas LMS access.
• Strategic Measurement for Schools A six-month online programme using the Balanced Scorecard framework to help school leaders identify holistic, long-term performance objectives and measures, and develop skills to communicate evidence-based progress on strategic goals.
• Springboard Coaching for Leadership A two-term coaching programme for principals and school leaders that uses a 360-degree feedback framework developed for the Aotearoa school context, paired with expert coaching to help leaders understand and leverage their strengths in current or future roles.
• High Performing Leadership Teams A three-workshop programme helping school leadership teams understand their role as leaders of change, work effectively together, and focus on achieving demonstrable results through shared goals and improved group dynamics.
• Skills Workshops A suite of one-day skills workshops for principals and their leadership teams covering Annual Planning, Refresh Your Strategy, Kickstart Your Strategy, Leading Change, Coaching for Results, and Talent Management.
• Professional Learning and Development (MoE-accredited) Government-accredited professional learning and development services delivered as an accredited PLD provider with the Ministry of Education, offering custom versions of leadership programmes aligned to MoE priorities for schools and Kāhui Ako.
• Learning Events Annual, half-day or full-day networking events giving principals and their lead teams opportunities to hear from speakers from inside and outside the education sector.
• Beginning Principal Programme Ministry of Education programme delivered jointly with Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga from 2026-2028, supporting principals in their first two years of principalship across Aotearoa.
• Rising Team An experimental approach to team development being trialled by Te Uru Amokura | Springboard Trust.
• Voices in the Room Podcast A podcast series bringing indigenous perspectives on education and COVID-19 to the fore, working with Māori academic Te Tuhi Robust.
• Leading Through A Crisis A series of webinars and resources developed to help principals lead during times of challenge and significant change, including the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Quantifiable outcome

• 400+ principals supported since 2007, impacting 200,000+ students
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, major and supporting.

• Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura MātaurangastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Joint delivery of Ministry of Education's Beginning Principal Programme 2026-2028. Partnership combines Springboard's cross-sector volunteer network with Evaluation Associates' expertise in educational leadership development, supporting principals in their first two years of principalship across Aotearoa.
• Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN)strategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2026Westpac's Australian partner enabling programme delivery in Victoria and Queensland, marking first expansion into Australia. Through this connection, principals in Australia can participate in SLPP-style programmes built on Springboard's proven model.
• WestpacstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew three-year partnership announced February 2026 that will significantly strengthen support for school leaders and extend impact into Australia for the first time through Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN). Westpac's commitment enhances SLPP delivery and growth, with skilled volunteering contributions from Westpac team leaders.
• ASB BankstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner supporting Springboard Trust's cross-sector model and organisational structure.
• Education Partnership & Innovation Trust (EPIT)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner supporting organisational structure, stability and growth.
• The Fletcher Trust & Aotearoa FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic trust supporting Springboard's work and transformational impact in schools.
• KPMGmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner providing both funding and volunteer expertise through Capacity Partners for SLPP and other programmes.
• Next FoundationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilanthropic foundation supporting Springboard's organisational growth and school transformation work.
• New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor partner contributing research expertise and evaluation capabilities to Springboard's impact measurement.
• Rātā FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional foundation supporting day-to-day operations and local school transformation.
• Toi FoundationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner helping transform local schools and develop cross-sector collaboration.
• NZ Rugby Players Association (NZRPA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting partner contributing to leadership development discussions and community engagement.
• Russell McVeaghsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal services partner providing pro bono legal support and documentation for innovative capacity building frameworks.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Teach For All: Global network of independent organizations developing leaders in education. Comparable in mission of building education-sector leadership, though focused more on teacher/leader pipelines rather than serving sitting principals.
• Education Review Office (ERO): NZ government body that reviews and evaluates schools and early childhood services. Adjacent to Springboard through Dale Bailey's former role there, but operates as a regulator/evaluator rather than developer; defines the broader context for principal development in NZ.
• New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER): NZ's national educational research organisation, listed as a major partner of Springboard. Operates broadly in the same education research and policy space, providing evaluation and research capacity rather than direct leadership training.

Direct peers

• Evaluation Associates | Te Huinga Kākākura Mātauranga: NZ-based educational leadership consultancy that has just partnered with Springboard to deliver the MoE Beginning Principal Programme 2026-2028. Directly comparable in offering leadership development to NZ school principals, making it the closest peer in the market.
• Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN): Australian non-profit running cross-sector mentoring and leadership programmes for school leaders through corporate volunteers. Directly comparable cross-sector model used to extend Springboard's programmes into Australia via Westpac.

Others

• KIPP Foundation: US charter school network with an emphasis on leadership development for school leaders. Tangentially comparable as an education leadership pipeline, though operating model is school operation rather than cross-sector professional development.

Emerging players

• New Leaders: US-based non-profit focused on developing school leaders and leadership teams. Comparable function (principal leadership development) but operates in a different geography and education system.
• Leadership NZ: NZ-based non-profit leadership development programme for emerging leaders across sectors. Comparable in mission and 360/leadership development methodology but targets a broader audience than school principals.

Regional players

• Kāhui Ako (Communities of Learning): Ministry of Education-supported groupings of NZ schools collaborating on shared educational goals. Operates as a public-sector channel through which Springboard delivers PLD and is identified as a customer segment, not a direct competitor.
• Village Aid / Leadership Matters (NZ education leadership community): Community-based leadership organisations comparable in mission of developing leaders in underserved or geographically dispersed contexts, similar to how SLRTP targets rural teaching principals in NZ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Springboard_NZ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpringboardTrustNZ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/springboardtrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Springboard Trust