NEXT Foundation
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersAuckland, New Zealand
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
NEXT Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- NEXT Foundation
- Legal name
- NEXT Foundation
- Website
- https://nextfoundation.org.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
NEXT Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Environmental Philanthropy and Conservation Grants
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Biodiversity, Conservation & Natural Capital Funds (FSANAJAG)
Keywords
Where NEXT Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Auckland
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Markets served
NEXT Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
NEXT Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
NEXT Foundation is a strategic philanthropy fund that makes multi-year cash grants and provides strategic support to transformational environmental conservation projects across New Zealand. It does not sell products or services; instead it identifies, funds, and partners with iwi, government agencies, businesses, communities, and other philanthropists to restore native species, eliminate invasive predators, revive marine ecosystems, and ultimately position New Zealand as the world's first Nature Positive country.
Product overview
NEXT Foundation is a strategic philanthropy fund (not a product company) that applies business rigour to environmental giving. The organization operates as a limited-life foundation with two main funding phases: an initial $100 million fund (2014-2024) and a new $150 million fund (2025 onwards) entirely focused on environmental conservation. NEXT Foundation's work is structured around funding transformational environmental projects and partnerships, including initiatives like Predator Free South Westland, Te Manahuna Aoraki, Hauraki Gulf Restoration, and The Native Carbon Initiative. The organization also co-founded Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) for developing predator control technology, and established The Tomorrow Accord for ensuring long-term sustainability of conservation projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Predator Free South Westland An ambitious project eliminating possums, rats and stoats from a 113,000 hectare area bounded by the Whataroa and Waiau (Waiho) Rivers, the Southern Alps and Tasman Sea, currently more than 90% complete in its predator-control work.
- Te Manahuna Aoraki A large-scale conservation project focused on restoring natural landscapes and threatened species across 310,000 hectares of the upper Mackenzie Basin and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, supporting population recovery of species such as the kaki (black stilt).
- Taranaki Mounga A collaborative partnership restoring the ecological vitality of Taranaki's mountain, ranges and islands across more than 34,000 hectares, successfully removing goats and introducing predator control across the landscape.
- Predator Free Wellington An initiative aiming to make Wellington the first predator-free capital city in the world by eradicating all rats, mustelids and possums across the urban and surrounding landscape.
- Predator Free Rakiura A collaborative project through Zero Invasive Predators aiming to remove rats, possums, feral cats and hedgehogs from Stewart Island to protect taonga species.
- Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP) A research and development entity co-founded by NEXT and DOC to develop AI, trail cameras, and advanced tools for removing rats, stoats, and possums from mainland New Zealand and detecting reinvasion before new populations develop.
- Project Janszoon A project restoring and preserving the Abel Tasman National Park's biodiversity by eradicating pests and weeds, bringing back native birds (kākā, whio, pāteke), and inspiring a culture of care for the park; $21 million invested over 14 years.
- The Tomorrow Accord A groundbreaking legal agreement between NEXT and the New Zealand government that ensures long-term sustainability of environmental projects by requiring government to take over maintenance and funding in perpetuity once restoration targets are met.
- Rotoroa Island A predator-free public conservation park and wildlife sanctuary in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, established through a 99-year lease from The Salvation Army, serving as a creche for endangered species such as kiwi and takahē.
- Hauraki Gulf Restoration A collaborative project with iwi, the University of Auckland, and the Department of Conservation to revive marine life in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf, creating jobs and strengthening connections between people and place.
- The Native Carbon Initiative An initiative investigating whether native forest regrowth where predators have been removed is sequestering more carbon, with potential economic opportunities through carbon credit trading to fund future conservation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Predator Free South Westland project is 90%+ complete, targeting elimination of possums, rats and stoats from 113,000 hectares
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use NEXT Foundation
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
NEXT Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
NEXT Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Zero Invasive Predators (ZIP)coreZero Invasive Predators was co-founded by NEXT and the Department of Conservation in 2014 to develop tools and technology to remove rats, stoats and possums from mainland Aotearoa. ZIP develops advanced, scalable methods to remove predators from vast mainland areas and keep them predator-free. The organization applies AI and cutting-edge technology for detection and maintenance of predator-free zones.
- Department of Conservation (DOC)corePartnering with the government through DOC is vital to delivering transformational environmental projects. NEXT collaborates with DOC on most of its investments to accelerate and complement its work. Both support the ambitious goal of a Predator Free New Zealand and jointly set up Zero Invasive Predators.
- Tomorrow AccordcoreThe Tomorrow Accord is a groundbreaking legal agreement conceived by NEXT which gives long term sustainability to environmental projects funded by philanthropy. Signed in 2014, it ensures that when specific restoration targets are met, the government takes over maintenance including funding in perpetuity.
- Te Rūnanga o MakaawhiocoreTangata whenua of South Westland, partnered with Predator Free South Westland project alongside NEXT, DOC, and the people of South Westland.
- University of AucklandsupportingPartner in the Hauraki Gulf Restoration project, contributing research expertise alongside iwi, NEXT, and DOC.
- Taranaki Mounga Partners (Shell NZ, TSB Community Trust, Jasmine Social Investments, Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua)coreTaranaki Mounga Project is a collaborative partnership between Taranaki iwi, Department of Conservation, NEXT Foundation and founding sponsors Shell NZ, TSB Community Trust, Jasmine Social Investments and Landcare Research/Manaaki Whenua, together with the wider community.
- Wellington City CouncilcorePartner in Predator Free Wellington initiative, working towards becoming the first predator-free capital city in the world.
- Greater Wellington Regional CouncilcorePartner in Predator Free Wellington alongside Wellington City Council, NEXT, Taranaki Whānui ki Te Upoko o Te Ika, DOC, and the wider community.
- Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Te Rūnanga o Waihao, Te Rūnanga o MoerakicoreFounding partners of Te Manahuna Aoraki project, partnered with NEXT Foundation, DOC, high country landowners, and other investors including Aotearoa Foundation, Jasmine Social Investments, and Global Wildlife Conservation.
- Abel Tasman Birdsong TrustsupportingPartner in Project Janszoon alongside iwi, DOC, tourism operators and the community to restore and preserve Abel Tasman National Park's wildlife.
- The Salvation ArmysupportingOwners of Rotoroa Island who granted a 99-year lease to Neal and Annette Plowman in 2007, enabling the island's transformation into a wildlife sanctuary and public conservation park.
- Iwi (Māori Communities)coreRespecting and working alongside iwi is fundamental to all environmental projects NEXT invests in. Iwi are the original kaitiaki (guardians) of the land, and NEXT learns from their tikanga (customary values), mātauranga (knowledge), and aligns with their intergenerational philosophy of caring for nature.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
NEXT Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Global Wildlife Conservation: International wildlife conservation organization that co-invested with NEXT in Te Manahuna Aoraki. Both focus on species protection and landscape-scale conservation, with overlapping target geographies and partnership models.
- Jasmine Social Investments: NZ impact investor that co-funds NEXT projects including Te Manahuna Aoraki and Taranaki Mounga. Uses a venture philanthropy approach to environmental and social outcomes, making it a directly comparable model to NEXT.
- Aotearoa Foundation: New Zealand-based philanthropic foundation co-investing in NEXT-led conservation projects such as Te Manahuna Aoraki. Operates with a similar strategic philanthropy model and shared focus on environmental and cultural outcomes in Aotearoa.
Others
- Department of Conservation (DOC): New Zealand government agency that is NEXT's most important implementation partner and co-founder of ZIP. Functionally adjacent rather than competitive, but comparable in mission focus on landscape-scale conservation and predator control.
- Predator Free 2050: New Zealand government initiative aiming to eliminate invasive predators by 2050. NEXT is a key implementation partner through Predator Free South Westland, Predator Free Wellington, and Predator Free Rakiura — comparable as a co-funder of conservation outcomes rather than a competitor.
Broad incumbents
- Wellcome Trust: Large strategic philanthropy foundation with programmes intersecting environment, health, and biodiversity. Comparable in its scale of deployment and rigorous, evidence-based approach to long-horizon philanthropic investment.
- Rockefeller Foundation: Historic strategic philanthropy foundation applying business rigour to systemic social and environmental challenges. Comparable as a large, founder-funded foundation with a focus on transformational, multi-decade impact investing.
- The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits, applying business and scientific rigour to conservation globally. While US-headquartered and far larger, it is a comparable peer in mission, methodology, and landscape-scale project approach.
- Bezos Earth Fund: Large-scale environmental philanthropy deploying billions for nature-based climate solutions, species protection, and landscape restoration. Comparable in its scale ambition and strategic philanthropy approach to environmental causes.
Emerging players
- Centre for Strategic Philanthropy: Founded by NEXT's former founding CEO Bill Kermode to help philanthropists make a greater impact through strategic philanthropy practices. Directly spins out of NEXT's model and represents a closely related emerging peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
NEXT Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceNEXT Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
NEXT Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
NEXT Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
NEXT Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about NEXT Foundation
What does NEXT Foundation do?
NEXT Foundation is a strategic philanthropy fund that makes multi-year cash grants and provides strategic support to transformational environmental conservation projects across New Zealand. It does not sell products or services; instead it identifies, funds, and partners with iwi, government agencies, businesses, communities, and other philanthropists to restore native species, eliminate invasive predators, revive marine ecosystems, and ultimately position New Zealand as the world's first Nature Positive country.
Is NEXT Foundation a public or private company?
NEXT Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was NEXT Foundation founded?
NEXT Foundation was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is NEXT Foundation based?
NEXT Foundation is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
Who are NEXT Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Global Wildlife Conservation, Jasmine Social Investments and Aotearoa Foundation. Others are Department of Conservation (DOC) and Predator Free 2050. Broad incumbents are Wellcome Trust, Rockefeller Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and Bezos Earth Fund. Centre for Strategic Philanthropy is listed as an emerging player.
Does NEXT Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for NEXT Foundation.
What industry is NEXT Foundation in?
NEXT Foundation's product category is Environmental Philanthropy and Conservation Grants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.