What Ywca does

YWCA Aotearoa New Zealand is a registered charitable organization (CC34286 and related registrations) founded in 1885 that has operated for over 140 years supporting young women in New Zealand. It is part of the global World YWCA movement active in more than 100 countries. The organization runs five branches across Auckland, Waikato/Hamilton, Whangarei, Wellington, and Christchurch, and is governed by a National Board with co-presidents Aaminah Ghani and Charlotte Muggeridge. Its primary programs are the Y25 annual changemaker programme (launched 2020), the E Hine Fund grant programme (launched 2022, with ≥50% of funds reserved for wāhine Māori), and a series of Insights research publications covering body image, anxiety, disability, and period poverty. The organization also operates hostel accommodation — a 24-room communal hostel in Whangarei (opened 1970) and a hostel in Waikato — generating a small recurring revenue stream alongside donations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; funding is sourced through donations via the Keela donation platform, fundraising activities, grantmaking, and hostel fees. Distribution occurs through branch offices, self-serve online applications (E Hine Fund, Y25 nominations), and a multi-channel marketing mix spanning the ywca.org.nz website, email newsletter, Instagram, YouTube video content, and earned media in major New Zealand outlets. The organization does not operate a technology product, API, or mobile application, and its go-to-market is advocacy- and community-led rather than sales-led.

Name

Ywca

Legal name

YWCA Auckland

Website

https://ywca.org.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1885

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

YWCA Aotearoa New Zealand is a 140-year-old registered charity operating five branches across New Zealand, delivering the Y25 changemaker programme, the E Hine Fund grants, Insights research, and hostel accommodation to support young women and gender-diverse people.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Child and Youth Services (62411), Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (721310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Student & Youth Hostels (Youth Organization/HI-style) (THAGAGAH), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Women's advocacy
• Youth leadership
• Community services
• Hostel accommodation
• Grant funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: YWCA relies on voluntary donations from supporters to fund its programs supporting young women. The organization conducts fundraising activities and accepts both solicited and unsolicited donations. Donors have the option to have their name publicly associated with their donation, and the organization respects anonymity preferences.
2. E Hine Fund Grants: The E Hine Fund provides funding grants to young women pursuing aspirations or projects that positively impact young women and their communities in the Greater Wellington region. Applications are reviewed by an independent funding decision panel.
3. Hostel Accommodation Services: The Whangarei Hostel provides 24-room communal accommodation with shared bathrooms, lounges, kitchens, and laundry facilities. Open to women and men, located 5 minutes from city centre. Wifi available for $10 per week.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

YWCA is a New Zealand nonprofit organization that delivers youth leadership and empowerment programs for young women and gender-diverse people aged 12–30, administers community grants through the E Hine Fund, produces advocacy-focused Insights Reports, and operates residential hostel accommodation in Whangarei and Waikato. Its commercial activity is centered on hostel residency services, while all youth programming is delivered free of charge to participants and funded by donations, grants, and sponsorships.

Product overview

YWCA Aotearoa New Zealand is a feminist non-profit organization that has operated for over 140 years supporting women and girls. The organization offers a portfolio of community programmes including the Y25 leadership programme (celebrating 25 young changemakers annually), the E Hine Fund (grant programme for Wellington-region young women), Insights research publications, and hostel accommodation services in Whangarei and Waikato. The organization focuses on advocacy for gender equity, youth leadership development, and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Y25 Programme Youth leadership development program targeting young women and gender-diverse people aged 12–30 in New Zealand, delivered free of charge to participants and funded by donations, grants, and sponsorships.
• E Hine Fund Community grants fund administered by YWCA to provide funding support to young women and gender-diverse people and community initiatives aligned with the organization's mission.
• Insights Reports Research and policy publications produced by YWCA to inform advocacy on issues affecting young women and gender-diverse people in New Zealand.
• YWCA Whangarei Hostel Residential hostel accommodation in Whangarei, providing affordable housing for residents with ancillary services such as Wi-Fi ($2.50).
• YWCA Waikato Hostel Residential hostel accommodation in the Waikato region, providing affordable housing for residents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Y25 programme has celebrated hundreds of young women changemakers since 2020
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• World YWCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYWCA Aotearoa New Zealand is part of a global movement active in more than 100 countries, connected through World YWCA. The organization participates in World Council and contributes to international advocacy for women's rights and gender justice.
• New Zealand Policy Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership providing data and evidence for pay equity advocacy work. Referenced in pay equity policy statements.
• Ministry for WomencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment ministry providing research data on gender pay gaps. Referenced in pay equity advocacy publications.
• United Nations Commission on the Status of WomenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerYWCA Aotearoa New Zealand delegates (including Aleisha Amohia) have represented New Zealand at UNCSW sessions in New York, contributing to global gender justice discussions.
• National Council of Women's Wellington BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYWCA alumna Aleisha Amohia serves as President of the National Council of Women's Wellington Branch, an organization founded by Kate Sheppard, working on advocacy for women's health, pay gap, and climate change.
• Gender at Work CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Gender At Work initiatives, featured on YWCA website as current initiative.
• Victoria University Wellington - Women in Tech (VUWWIT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization founded by YWCA alumna Aleisha Amohia to improve representation and opportunities for women and gender-diverse folk in STEM.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• YWCA Canada: Direct global sister organization. Runs the YWCA movement in Canada with similar women's leadership, housing, and advocacy programmes and a comparable federated structure across provinces — a natural peer given shared movement affiliation.
• YWCA Australia: Direct Asia-Pacific sister YWCA organization with comparable programmes for women and girls, feminist advocacy focus, and operations in a neighbouring country with similar economic and policy conditions.
• Girls Inc. Direct peer organization with the same mission of inspiring and equipping girls and young women through leadership programmes, mentoring, and advocacy. Operates a federated affiliate network comparable to YWCA's branch model.
• YWCA USA: Direct global sister organization. Operates the same YWCA movement in the United States with overlapping programmes in housing, advocacy, leadership development for women and girls, and a federated branch structure analogous to YWCA Aotearoa NZ.
• Women's Refuge New Zealand: Direct NZ peer addressing gender-based violence, one of YWCA's stated focus areas. Operates a national network of shelters and advocacy services for women, serving a highly overlapping beneficiary base and competing for government social-service contracts.
• National Council of Women of New Zealand: Direct NZ-based women's advocacy organization. Already partnered with YWCA (Wellington Branch), addresses overlapping issues (pay equity, women's health, climate), and competes for the same donor and volunteer pool in New Zealand.

Broad incumbents

• Soroptimist International: Global service organization for women with NZ clubs. Addresses overlapping themes (women's empowerment, education, advocacy) but operates through professional women's club membership rather than direct youth programming.
• Zonta International: Broader service organization for women professionals with chapters in NZ. Competes for the same donor and volunteer audience but focuses more on service-club membership and scholarships than direct service delivery to young women.
• Plan International New Zealand: Larger international gender-equality NGO with NZ presence. Addresses overlapping themes (girls' rights, gender equality) but operates at greater scale globally and competes for the same institutional donor pool.

Others

• UN Women New Zealand: Adjacent NZ national committee supporting UN Women's global gender-equality mandate. Works alongside YWCA on parallel advocacy themes (CSW participation) and shares donors, but does not directly deliver services or programmes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZqKyglFhpaE
• Instagraminstagram.com/ywcawgtn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ywca-aotearoa-new-zealand

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Ywca