The Tindall Foundation
The Tindall Foundation is a New Zealand family foundation (established 1994) endowed by The Warehouse Group shares, distributing $12-15 million annually through direct grants and 23 Local Donation Managers to 700+ community organisations across Aotearoa.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Tindall Foundation does
The Tindall Foundation (TTF) is an Aotearoa New Zealand philanthropic family foundation established in 1994 by Sir Stephen and Lady Margaret Tindall, endowed when Margaret gifted her shares in The Warehouse Group to the foundation at the group's public float. TTF has no traditional revenue-generating product and is not a technology company; its core offering is philanthropic capital deployed through four programmes — Direct Donations for larger grants with regional or national systems-change reach, a network of 23 Local Donation Managers distributing $500-$15,000 grassroots donations across NZ, Impact Investment Loans into Māori-led enterprise and regional economic development, and the independently managed Next Gen Fund (est. 2016) supporting rangatahi wellbeing through the arts. Capital flows from dividend income on The Warehouse shareholding, supplemented by an additional $160M+ in prepaid tax paid to the Government over the foundation's life.
The foundation operates with a lean 12-15-person team out of a converted home office in Takapuna, Auckland, and reaches 700+ organisations annually with cumulative donations of $244M since 1994. Its six focus areas — parents and young children, life's essentials (housing/food/energy), identity and social cohesion, resourced and resilient communities, rangatahi pathways, and climate resilience — are anchored in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and concentrated in three priority regions: Te Tai Tokerau, Tairāwhiti, and Horowhenua/Whanganui. Governance is family-led (with three family members on the trustee body, plus Māori and Pasifika representation) and increasingly multi-generational, with a third-generation family staff member onboarded in 2025.
The go-to-market is structured rather than sales-driven: the LDM channel provides nationwide grassroots coverage without scaling TTF headcount, while direct donations channel larger grants to scalable partners assessed by an internal donations team. The foundation co-funds with other funders, participates in sector events (e.g., Lifewise Big Sleep Out), and uses its website, email newsletters, social media, and annual reports as awareness channels. Notable outcomes include the founding support for the NZ Community Foundations network (now ~$750M AUM across 17 foundations), the establishment of NZ Housing Foundation for shared-equity housing, and the first donation in 1995.
The Tindall Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Tindall Foundation
- Legal name
- The Tindall Foundation
- Website
- https://tindall.org.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Tindall Foundation is a New Zealand family foundation (established 1994) endowed by The Warehouse Group shares, distributing $12-15 million annually through direct grants and 23 Local Donation Managers to 700+ community organisations across Aotearoa.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Tindall Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Charitable Foundation Services
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE), Grantmaking & Philanthropic Funds (Institutional Donors) (BPADAOAB), Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Philanthropic & Charitable Trust Services (FSAAANAI)
Keywords
Where The Tindall Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Tindall Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Dividends from Warehouse shares: Margaret Tindall gifted her shares in The Warehouse Group to the Foundation at the time of its 1994 public float. Annual dividends from those shares fund the majority of TTF's philanthropic work.
- Impact Investment Loans: Alongside donations, the Foundation proactively invests in initiatives that deliver strong, lasting outcomes for Aotearoa NZ, focusing on regional economic development, Māori-led enterprise, and the impact investment sector.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
The Tindall Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Tindall Foundation is a private philanthropic family foundation established in 1994 that distributes charitable grants and 0% interest impact investment loans to community organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand, primarily through a network of 23 Local Donation Managers (LDMs) and a centralized Direct Donations pathway. Total grants distributed since inception exceed $244 million to 700+ organisations, with annual grants of $12-15 million and a separate Impact Investment Loan portfolio of $66.5M+ deployed across 50 organisations through 0% interest loans up to $1M over up to 10-year terms.
Product overview
The Tindall Foundation is a family philanthropic foundation established in 1994, offering a portfolio of charitable giving programs rather than a traditional product suite. The core offering includes the foundation's main donation programs, supplemented by the Next Gen Fund (a sub-fund established in 2016 focused on rangatahi wellbeing through arts and creativity), a network of 23 Local Donation Managers for distributing grassroots donations, Direct Donations for larger-scale regional/national initiatives, and Impact Investment Loans for social enterprises. The foundation's work focuses on intergenerational wellbeing across six focus areas: parents/caregivers and young children, life's essential needs, identity and social cohesion, resourced communities, rangatahi empowerment, and climate resilience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Next Gen Fund: A proactive fund established in 2016 by the second generation (Liz, Rob, Kate, Jem, and Ben) to support rangatahi wellbeing through arts and creative programmes.
Products and services
- Local Donation Managers (LDM) Network Decentralised regional grant-making programme placing 23 Local Donation Managers across Aotearoa New Zealand to identify, evaluate, and grant funds to local community organisations. Each LDM holds a discretionary budget and builds long-term relationships with community groups in their region, with reports aggregated every quarter.
- Direct Donations Pathway Centralised grants programme managed directly by the Foundation's head office in Takapuna for larger or strategic community initiatives that fall outside the LDM geographic framework. Applications can be submitted online via the Foundation website.
- Impact Investment Loans 0% interest loans of up to $1 million over up to 10-year terms, available to qualifying community organisations for property or capital purchases. Approximately 50 active investments, with $66.5M+ total deployed across 50 organisations to date.
- The Next Gen Fund Grant programme specifically supporting young people aged 14-24 years old across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Quantifiable outcome
- $244 million donated since 1994
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use The Tindall Foundation
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
The Tindall Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Tindall Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Top of the South Community FoundationcoreA longstanding partnership since 2015, strengthened in 2025 when Top of the South Community Foundation transitioned from an advisory committee to a Local Donation Manager (LDM), distributing TTF funds to applicants in Marlborough, Nelson, and Tasman.
- Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ (CFNZ)coreThe Tindall Foundation committed $2 million in 2002 to support the creation of Community Foundations across Aotearoa. It was a founding partner of CFNZ and donates approximately $1 million per year through the Community Foundation model, including the Milestone Development Programme that seeds new Community Foundations.
- WWF New ZealandcoreWWF New Zealand serves as The Tindall Foundation's Environmental Local Donation Manager. As part of a global conservation network, WWF distributes funds to local environmental education initiatives and community conservation projects across Aotearoa NZ through the WWF-New Zealand Community Conservation Fund.
- New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF)coreIn 2001, TTF brought together a governance group that established the charitable trust now known as the New Zealand Housing Foundation, to pilot shared equity home ownership models for working whānau.
- The Cause CollectivecoreTTF's first donation to The Cause Collective was made in 2024, supporting the South Auckland Creative & Tech Hub (SATCH) that provides rangatahi with hands-on technology and creative experience. The partnership focuses on backing locally led solutions creating high-value opportunities for rangatahi.
- Acorn FoundationcoreEstablished in 2003 with seed funding from The Tindall Foundation and Craigs Investment Partners. Today self-sufficient with a $60m+ investment portfolio and $520m+ in bequest pipeline. One of 17 Community Foundations across NZ.
- Acorn FoundationminorOne of 17 Community Foundations covering almost all of New Zealand, with combined investments of over $700m.
- Nikau FoundationminorEstablished as one of the first Community Foundations in NZ (similar foundation in Wellington, now Nikau Foundation). Part of the 17-foundation national network.
- Lifewise / Merge CafécoreThe Tindall Foundation has a longstanding relationship with Lifewise and Merge Café, supporting their critical role in housing, connection, and community support for people experiencing homelessness in Auckland.
- Auckland Teacher's CollegeminorRecipient of the first Tindall Foundation donation of $2,326 in February 1995.
- Craigs Investment PartnerscoreProvided seed funding alongside TTF for the establishment of Acorn Foundation in 2003. Also channels corporate Christmas giving through the Community Foundations network.
- 23 Local Donation Managerscore23 Local Donation Managers (LDMs) include: Acorn Foundation, Advance Ashburton, Auckland Foundation, Catalytic Foundation, Community Waikato, Geyser Community Foundation, Hawke's Bay Foundation, Northland Community Foundation, Nikau Foundation, Sunrise Foundation, Tararua and Wairarapa REAP, Taranaki Foundation, Te Tau Ihu - Top of the South Community Foundation, West Coast and Buller REAP, Baptist Churches of NZ, ADRA NZ, Methodist Alliance, The Salvation Army, Presbyterian Support NZ, Anglican Care Network, Catholic Caring Foundation Auckland, Common Good Foundation Waikato, Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North, Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington, Catholic Diocese of Dunedin.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Tindall Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Acorn Foundation: A community foundation in Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty, established in 2003 with seed funding from TTF and Craigs Investment Partners. Now self-sufficient with $60M+ in investments and $520M+ in bequest pipeline — effectively a TTF-incubated model of community philanthropy.
- Foundation North: One of New Zealand's largest community trusts (formerly ASB Community Trust), distributing significant grants across the Northland/Auckland region. Cyril Howard, TTF's Regional Manager, previously served as Māori Strategy Manager at Foundation North, highlighting direct operational and philosophical overlap.
- Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFNZ): The national umbrella body for New Zealand's 17 community foundations, founded with $2M in TTF support. CFNZ and TTF share donor-recipient and ecosystem-builder roles in NZ community philanthropy.
- J R McKenzie Trust: A New Zealand family foundation established from the McKenzie retail chain (similar to TTF's Warehouse origin), focused on equity, Māori-led solutions, and community wellbeing. Direct peer in family-foundation structure, NZ focus, and Te Tiriti-aligned grantmaking.
- Trust Waikato: A regional community trust in the Waikato distributing grants across community, education, and environment focus areas. Comparable in mission, geographic scope, and grantmaking model to TTF.
- NEXT Foundation: A New Zealand family foundation established by the Burt family focused on environmental and community outcomes. Comparable as a privately-funded NZ philanthropic foundation with multi-generational ambitions and grantmaking focus.
Others
- Philanthropy New Zealand: The national peak body for the NZ philanthropic sector. TTF trustee Jennifer Casey is a board member, indicating close sector collaboration. Relevant as the infrastructure organization that connects and represents NZ's philanthropic foundations.
Broad incumbents
- Lion Foundation: A large NZ charitable trust distributing grants nationwide from gaming and investment income. A broader incumbent in NZ community grantmaking with substantially larger annual distributions than TTF.
- Pub Charity: A major NZ gaming-funded charitable trust distributing community grants nationwide. Operates in the same overall community grantmaking space as TTF but with different funding sources and broader scope.
Emerging players
- Foundation For Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR): An Australian rural-focused community foundation and grantmaker. Comparable in mission to TTF's 'Resourced Communities' focus area and in deploying networks of local partners, but operates trans-Tasman and at smaller scale in rural Australia.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Tindall Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Tindall Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Tindall Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
The Tindall Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Tindall Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments3 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Tindall Foundation
What does The Tindall Foundation do?
The Tindall Foundation is a private philanthropic family foundation established in 1994 that distributes charitable grants and 0% interest impact investment loans to community organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand, primarily through a network of 23 Local Donation Managers (LDMs) and a centralized Direct Donations pathway. Total grants distributed since inception exceed $244 million to 700+ organisations, with annual grants of $12-15 million and a separate Impact Investment Loan portfolio of $66.5M+ deployed across 50 organisations through 0% interest loans up to $1M over up to 10-year terms.
Is The Tindall Foundation a public or private company?
The Tindall Foundation is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was The Tindall Foundation founded?
The Tindall Foundation was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Tindall Foundation based?
The Tindall Foundation is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does The Tindall Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Dividends from Warehouse shares are the primary driver. The others are impact Investment Loans.
Who are The Tindall Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Acorn Foundation, Foundation North, Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFNZ), J R McKenzie Trust, Trust Waikato and NEXT Foundation. Philanthropy New Zealand is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Lion Foundation and Pub Charity. Foundation For Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Tindall Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Tindall Foundation.
What industry is The Tindall Foundation in?
The Tindall Foundation's product category is Charitable Foundation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.