What Graeme Dingle Foundation does

The Graeme Dingle Foundation is a New Zealand-registered charitable trust founded in 1995 by explorer Sir Graeme Dingle and Jo-anne Wilkinson to deliver evidence-based youth development programmes to children and young people aged 5 to 18. Its core offering is a connected five-programme continuum covering primary and secondary school stages: Kiwi Can (Kiwi Kaha) for ages 5-12 focusing on values and life skills, Stars (Ngā Whetū) for Year 9 transition through peer mentoring, Project K (Mauri tū, mauri tau) for Year 10 students at risk of disengagement, Career Navigator (Kaiwhakatere Mahi) for secondary school career readiness, and Kiwi Tahi as an additional positive youth development offering. Programmes are delivered free to students directly in schools by foundation staff and trained facilitators, with Kiwi Can also delivered through licensed community partners; the foundation reports supporting over 400,000 tamariki and rangatahi across 100+ schools nationwide since inception, and an independent evaluation cites a $10.50 social return for every $1 invested.

The foundation operates across seven regional hubs (Auckland, Canterbury, Rotorua, Waikato, Western Bay of Plenty, Hawke's Bay, Northland) and is governed by a Board chaired by Mike Hendriksen with Dame Patsy Reddy as Special Adviser. Its revenue model is a diversified non-profit mix spanning individual donations (including regular giving and matched campaigns such as Kathmandu's dollar-for-dollar Move Mountains match up to $20,000), corporate partnerships (Lion as platinum anchor plus AIG, Bidfood, Colliers, ITW, Kathmandu, Sanitarium, SAP, Schneider Electric, Stride, and Sport NZ), trust and foundation grants (NZCT, Lion Foundation, Wright Family Foundation, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Kayne Foundation, Awhero Nui, and others), government funding from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development, bequests, and event-based fundraising including the annual Drop Your Boss Sky Tower challenge and Move Mountains campaign. The foundation does not develop proprietary technology and has no disclosed AI capabilities; its defensibility rests on three decades of programme IP, a national mentor and school network, and independent impact evidence rather than on technology.

Name

Graeme Dingle Foundation

Legal name

Graeme Dingle Foundation

Website

https://dinglefoundation.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Graeme Dingle Foundation is a New Zealand youth development charity founded in 1995 that delivers a connected continuum of five evidence-based programmes — Kiwi Can, Stars, Project K, Career Navigator, and Kiwi Tahi — to over 400,000 children and young people in schools and communities nationwide, funded through corporate partnerships, trust and foundation grants, government contracts, and individual donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: The foundation relies on individual donations from supporters, including regular giving programmes, one-time donations, and text-to-donate campaigns ($3 per text). Donation campaigns such as 'Move Mountains for Youth' and matching donor programmes (e.g., Kathmandu matching donations dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000) are used to drive contributions.
2. Corporate Partnerships: Business partnerships with companies including AIG, Bidfood, Colliers, ITW, Kathmandu, Lion, Sanitarium, SAP, Schneider Electric, Stride, and Sport NZ. Partners receive recognition, social return on investment reporting, and involvement in foundation activities. Platinum partners like Lion have multi-year relationships.
3. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from trusts and foundations including Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Awhero Nui Charitable Trust, Kayne Foundation, NZCT, Lion Foundation, Potter Masonic Trust, Wright Family Foundation, and numerous others. Each year Hawke's Bay region raises over $500,000 through these sources.
4. Government Funding: Partnerships with government agencies including Ministry of Education and Ministry of Social Development provide operational funding for programme delivery in schools.
5. Bequests and Estate Giving: The foundation encourages supporters to leave gifts in their wills, offering planned giving options for long-term sustainable support.
6. Event-Based Fundraising: Events such as the annual Move Mountains campaign, Drop Your Boss Sky Tower challenge, and National Excellence Awards generate both funds and awareness. The foundation also benefits from payroll giving programmes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

No source content was provided in the input for this extraction call, so the core offering cannot be described.

Product overview

The Graeme Dingle Foundation offers a portfolio of five distinct youth development programmes designed as a connected journey supporting children and young people from early childhood through to young adulthood. The programmes are: Kiwi Can (primary school, ages 5-12), Stars (high school transition), Project K (Year 10 re-engagement), Career Navigator (secondary school career guidance), and Kiwi Tahi. These evidence-based programmes are delivered in schools and communities across New Zealand to help tamariki and rangatahi build confidence, resilience, life skills, and a sense of purpose.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Move Mountains: A fundraising initiative launched to drive support for the foundation's work, translating Sir Graeme Dingle's climbing achievements into kilometre challenges for supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of Career Navigator participants report increased confidence
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KathmanducoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate partner that matched donations dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000 during the Move Mountains for Youth campaign. Active supporter of foundation fundraising initiatives.
• LioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing platinum partner of the Graeme Dingle Foundation. Lion NZ finance director Linda Waddington-Miller serves on the foundation board. Partnership includes employee engagement and Drop Your Boss sponsorship.
• AIGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Stars peer mentor awards. Active supporter of foundation programmes and recognition events.
• BidfoodcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Sir Edmund Hillary Achievement Award. Active supporter of foundation programmes in Hawke's Bay and nationally.
• StridecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Outstanding Secondary School Award at National Excellence Awards. Property and infrastructure partner supporting foundation operations.
• SAPminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing technology and business solutions support to the foundation.
• Schneider ElectricminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting foundation programmes and operations.
• Sport NZcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment sport agency partner supporting foundation's youth development through physical activity and outdoor challenges.
• ColliersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and supporter of foundation operations.
• ITWminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor supporting foundation programmes.
• SanitariumcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-term partner providing support for foundation programmes and health-focused initiatives.
• Ministry of EducationcoreOthersGovernment partner providing funding and institutional support for programme delivery in schools across New Zealand.
• Ministry of Social DevelopmentcoreOthersGovernment agency partner providing funding and support for youth development initiatives.
• Te Uri o HaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMāori iwi organisation partnering with the foundation in the Kaipara region for programme delivery and community engagement.
• THL (Tourism Holdings Limited)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism company supporting the Northland Roadie initiative with Sir Graeme Dingle, providing motorhome transport for community visits.
• BrightstarminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIn-kind partner providing services supporting foundation volunteer awards and operations.
• Chapman TrippminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal services partner providing pro bono support to foundation operations.
• MyHRminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHR technology partner providing in-kind support for human resources management.
• Hillary OutdoorscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormerly the Outdoor Pursuits Centre founded by Sir Graeme Dingle. Provides wilderness challenge facilities and programmes for Project K students, including the 19-day wilderness component.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IHC New Zealand: One of NZ's largest disability support charities supporting people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Comparable in scale, governance structure, multi-regional operations, and broad corporate/trust/government funding mix.
• Youthtown: NZ youth development organisation providing programmes for young people in schools and communities. Directly comparable in mission (positive youth development), age group served, and school-based delivery approach.
• Auckland City Mission: Major Auckland-based social services charity addressing poverty, food insecurity, and family support. Comparable in mission (community welfare), Auckland regional headquarters, and reliance on government contracts, donations, and corporate partnerships.
• Barnardo's New Zealand: NZ arm of an international children's charity delivering youth and family services across the country. Comparable in mission (supporting vulnerable children), funding model (donations, government contracts), and school/community delivery.
• Big Brothers Big Sisters New Zealand: NZ mentoring charity pairing adult volunteers with young people for one-to-one support. Most directly comparable in the mentoring component of the foundation's Stars and Project K programmes, with a similar volunteer-led model and donation funding base.
• Life Education Trust: NZ-based charitable trust delivering health and wellbeing education programmes to school children. Highly comparable as it operates the same in-school delivery model targeting similar primary-age segments with a mission-driven, donation-funded structure.
• KidsCan: NZ charity providing food, clothing, and health support to children in low-decile schools. Closely comparable target beneficiary (school-aged Kiwi kids from disadvantaged backgrounds), funding model (corporate partnerships, donations), and national distribution through schools.

Regional players

• Spectrum Care: Auckland-based disability support provider for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as an Auckland-headquartered NZ non-profit with government contracts, but operates primarily in the disability support niche rather than mainstream youth development.

Broad incumbents

• New Zealand Red Cross: Large, established NZ humanitarian charity with youth education and migration support programmes. Comparable in scale, multi-regional presence, and diversified donation/government funding model, though with a broader humanitarian mandate.

Emerging players

• Inspiring Stories Trust: NZ charity focused on youth leadership and social entrepreneurship programmes. Comparable in the youth empowerment space and life-skills development mission, though smaller and more focused on leadership than the foundation's developmental journey model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC14-ssl9EJ2iDRKYSWIwzxQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/dinglefoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dingle-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/dinglefoundation
• Xx.com/dingle_fdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Graeme Dingle Foundation