People Inspired By Purpose - Purposely Podcast

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we are back with HelenHughes, Chief Executive of Sanctuary Mountain Mangatautari, on what she found when she lifted the bonnet on one of New Zealand's most remarkable conservation organisations, and what she did about it.

Helen was the seventh CE in twelve years when she arrived.Three months in, she started asking basic questions about how the place was funded, and the answers were not good. The sanctuary had been running at an operating loss of around $50,000 a month, masked by grant funding landing atirregular intervals. At its lowest p...

Welcoming back Tara Arnold, Head of Grant Making at ShareGift, to Purposely Podcast. 

Sharegift is a UK charity built around an idea most people have never heard of: collecting donated shareholdings that are too small to sell, pooling them together and distributing the proceeds to good causes. The model was created thirty years ago by founder Claire McIntosh, a stockbroker who noticed the waste sitting in small, unwanted share parcels. Today, a team of five has given away close to 70 million pounds, with all grants unrestricted and no impact reports required. When Tara rings a charity to l...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we are back with Gary Stannett, CEO of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, on the realities of setting up and running a charity attached to a famous name, and why getting it right matters far more than most people realise.

Gary is direct about something the sector doesn't always say out loud: putting a well-known name on a charity is a brave thing to do. Charities are more publicly exposed than most organisations. Anyone can look up the finances, the governance, the trustees. When the name above the door...

Welcoming Dan Leverington, founder of The Ocelli Group, to Purposely Podcast.

The Ocelli Group is a for-profit business built around a clear purpose: connecting organisations that need to do sustainability work with the right partners to deliver it. Dan sits in the middle, not as a consultant doing the work himself, but as a connector who understands both sides of the equation and knows how to bring them together. The name comes from the secondary visual system bees use to navigate by the sun. It is a fitting metaphor for a business built on...

Welcoming Kate Sclater, Head of Community Investment at Rātā Foundation, to Purposely Podcast.

Rātā Foundation is one of twelve community trusts acrossAotearoa New Zealand, formed following the deregulation of the banking sector in the late 1980s. With a fund of around $700 million, it operates in perpetuity across Canterbury, Nelson Marlborough and the Chatham Islands, striving for an equitable and sustainable society under the kaitiakitanga of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Its name comes from the Southern Rātā tree, a flowering native that lives within an ecosystem and lifts those around it.

Kat...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we’re back with NedWills, on an unexpected place his community engagement journey began, and what it taught him about ethics, incentives, and connecting elite sport to grassroots impact.

Ned’s eyes were first opened to community work through anunlikely route: working in the oil industry in the early 2000s. Large infrastructure projects in unstable parts of the world meant companies had to invest heavily before seeing any return, which made getting community relationsright a genuine commercial priority, not just good PR. That put Ned at an unusual intersection of sp...

Welcoming Liz Gibbs, CEO Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, to Purposely Podcast. Burnett Foundation is the organisation on a mission to get New Zealand to zero HIV transmission by 2030, while ensuring LGBTQ+ communities have the best possible health and wellbeing.

The conversation starts with the foundation's origin story. Formerly the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, it was set up 40 years ago by three men, including Bruce Burnett, a New Zealander who returned home from San Francisco with HIV and chose to travel the length of the country talking openly about the epidemic at a time when almost nobody else would...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we’re back with Rose Challies – founder and director of Terra Nova Foundation – on the uncomfortable truths about how philanthropy actually works, and what it would look like if funders finally put people at the centre.

Rose has a view that cuts through a lot of the noise in this space: we’re not funding projects. We’ve never been funding projects. We’re funding humans to do change making. The sooner philanthropy gets honest about that, the sooner we’ll start backing the right things in the right ways.

Welcoming Helen Hughes to Purposely Podcast, Chief Executive and Tai Oroni of Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, one of New Zealand's most remarkable conservation stories and the world's largest pest-proof fenced sanctuary, sitting in the Waikato near Cambridge.

3363 hectares of restored native forest. 47 kilometres of predator-proof fencing. Kiwi, kokako, giant weta and hundreds of native species finding their footing again in a forest that had lost its voice. The ecological work at Maungatautari is extraordinary. But this conversation is just as much about the human story behind it, and the very real challenge of keeping something this significant financially...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we’re back with Duncan Matthews – founder of Good Numbers – on funder reporting, the pain of being a volunteer treasurer, and why small charities deserve better tools.

Duncan opens with a familiar frustration: tier four charities – those under $140,000 in annual expenditure – are everywhere in Aotearoa (around 15,000 on the charities register alone), yet virtually no software has been built with them in mind. Small in money, perhaps. But not small in impact.

He talks about the reality of funder reporting – and how wildly it varies. Foundation North makes it simple.Gaming trust...

Welcoming Ned Wills, CEO of Laureus Sport for Good, to Purposely Podcast - a global foundation that uses sport to end violence, discrimination and disadvantage, working with young people across 40 countries through more than 200 programmes, and chaired by All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick.

Laureus was born from Nelson Mandela's words - that sport has the power to change the world - and 25 years on, Ned makes a compelling case that the organisation is more relevant than ever. But this isn't a story about elite athletes and glitzy awards. It's about what actually makes a purpose-driven organisation endure...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we’re back with fundraising strategist Craig Pollard – and this time he’s asking a question that most of the sector is too busy to sit with: what is enough?

Craig opens by naming something that rarely makes it into funding conversations: wellbeing. He works alongside people carrying enormous weight – Afghan exiles, communities under pressure, leaders navigating impossible situations – and he’s clear that the sector often measures and incentives the wrong things. His reframe is: rather than being well-funded, be well and funded.

He shares a story...

Welcoming Gary Stannett MBE to Purposely Podcast, Chief Executive of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, the UK charity that uses sport and the creative arts to open up opportunities for young people in communities that have historically been overlooked and underinvested.

Gary came into this work through youth work and community sports development, not through a career plan. He built programmes from the ground up in South London, earned his qualifications alongside the work, and has spent nearly 30 years getting better at something he never expected to turn into a career. That experience shapes how he leads and...

Welcoming Steven Moe to Purposely Podcast — partner at Parry Field Lawyers, founder of the Seeds Podcast, author, event organiser, governance leader, and one of the more consistently active people in New Zealand's for-purpose sector.

Steven's career has had two distinct chapters. The first was corporate law - big firms, big transactions, time in Japan, London and Sydney. The second, starting about ten years ago when he returned to Aotearoa, has been something quite different: using the law as a tool to support charities, social enterprises and purpose-driven organisations, while building a body of work around education, connection an...

Welcoming Duncan Matthews, founder of Good Numbers, to Purposely Podcast - a purpose-driven fintech built to solve a problem Duncan couldn't stop thinking about after 15 years working in and around small charities in Aotearoa: why is it so hard for volunteer treasurers to do the basics?

Good Numbers is a bookkeeping and reporting tool designed specifically for tier four charities - organisations turning over under $140,000 a year. There are thousands of them in New Zealand, and virtually no software built with them in mind. Duncan is changing that.

In this episode, Duncan talks about the...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we’re back with fundraising strategist Craig Pollard – on mission creep, funding models, and why confidence might be the most underrated tool in the sector.

Craig opens with a candid look at mission creep – that drift that happens when organisations become a flag in the wind, chasing sustainability instead of staying anchored to purpose. It’s a pattern he sees often, and one that’s easy to rationalise in the moment but costly in the long run.

He makes a compelling case for discomfort. Nothing great happens when everyone is comfort...

In this episode of Purposely, Mark Longbottom sits down with Simon Bowden, Head of Philanthropic Services at Forsyth Barr.

Simon has spent more than 30 years across the for-purpose sector, including nearly two decades leading the Arts Foundation of New Zealand. Today, he works with charities and clients to help them think more clearly about giving, funding, and long-term impact.

A big part of the conversation is about how philanthropy is changing. More clients are asking better questions about where their money goes, what it actually does, and how to structure giving over time. That’s dr...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, Craig Pollard, Founder of Fundraising Radicals, cuts through the noise on fundraising and brings it back to basics.

He lays out a clear way to think about building funding partnerships. Start with your principles. Be clear on your purpose and values. Then get real about your platform, what you stand on as an individual and as an organisation, including your strengths, constraints, networks, and reputation.

From there, it is about people and pathways. Not cold outreach or chasing the same well-known funders as everyone else, but working through your...

Welcoming Jessica Zarzycki, Portfolio Manager at Nuveen and a leading voice in sustainable fixed income investing. In this conversation, she explains how fixed income, often seen as the steady part of a portfolio, can deliver reliable returns while also creating real social and environmental impact.

While the podcast is for everyone, the bond strategies Jessica manages are built for large institutional investors such as pension funds, endowments, and foundations, where scale really matters.

From green and social bonds to more innovative structures like wildlife conservation financing, Jessica shares how this capital is directed toward real...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from fundraising strategist Craig Pollard, looking at what it really takes to build meaningful, high-value partnerships in the social sector.

He challenges a common assumption in fundraising that money is the ultimate sign of impact. In reality, a lot of important work starts without funding and often continues that way. When organisations recognise their value beyond dollars, it changes how they show up and the kinds of relationships they build.

The conversation reframes fundraising as finding co-investors rather than chasing donors. When you acknowledge the time...

Welcoming Marc Leckie, who leads one of the UK’s most prominent football club foundations - part of the wider Premier League network of community charities. In this conversation, he explains how the Foundation uses the power of the club’s brand to deliver programmes that improve wellbeing, build skills, and create real pathways into work.

From safe spaces and mental health support to apprenticeships and stadium-based jobs fairs, the focus is on long-term impact - not one-off projects.

Marc also speaks candidly about his own lived experience, the pressures of leadership, and how to sust...

What if philanthropy wasn’t an add-on to business, but built into its DNA?

In this episode of Purposely, we welcome Rebecca Roberts, Head of the Simplicity Foundation, to explore how one corporate foundation has embedded giving into its core model in a way that grows alongside the business.

Established alongside Simplicity NZ Ltd in 2016, the Foundation receives 15% of KiwiSaver and Investment Fund management fees. As Simplicity has grown to manage more than $10 billion, the Foundation’s giving has expanded too, now distributing around $3 million in grants each year to charities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Welcome Rosie Challies to the Purposely Podcast.

Rosie is the Founder of the Terra Nova Foundation, which is focused on environmental action and being a catalyst for positive change for people and planet here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Rose brings more than 20 years of international experience working across Europe on complex social and environmental challenges. Rosie has partnered with governments, major funders, NGOs, not for profits and businesses to design and deliver change at scale. Her work has included shaping national policy and legislation, building cross sector strategies and leading large collaborative initiatives.

...

In this episode of Purposely, I’m joined by Craig Pollard, Founder and CEO of Fundraising Radicals, to talk about what it really takes to build high value funding partnerships that actually last.

Craig brings three decades of experience working alongside civil society organisations and funders in more than 100 countries. He’s seen what works, what fails, and where organisations quietly undermine themselves in the pursuit of money.

We talk about why high value fundraising is not about slick pitches or chasing the next grant round. It’s deliberate. It’s strategic. And it starts with bei...

People connect with people, not causes. In this episode of Purposely, filmmaker and social entrepreneur Kiran Patel shares what charities and community organisations can learn from good storytelling and why authenticity matters more than polished campaigns.

Kiran explains how strong stories give people agency, build trust, and help audiences see themselves in the work, rather than being talked at or asked to care from a distance. Drawing on his experience as a documentary filmmaker, he reflects on why human stories cut through, especially in a world saturated with content.

The conversation traces Kiran’s journey fr...

In this episode of Purposely Podcast, we’re joined by Eleanor Cater, CEO of Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand, to explore how local giving can become one of the most powerful forces for long-term community change.

Eleanor is deeply passionate about philanthropy, not as a lofty idea, but as something practical and grounded in place. From growing up in Porirua to now leading the national body for community foundations, she has been a witness to what empowered communities can achieve.

Community foundations sit quietly behind the scenes of some remarkable outcomes across the country. Th...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from a past guest working at the intersection of financial advice, ethics, and values-led investing.

She reflects on the decision to formally position her firm as an ethical investor, not because clients demanded it, but because it reflected who they already were. What surprised her most was how many clients moved quickly once the option was clearly explained. Many assumed investing was value-neutral and didn’t realise they were allowed to ask for more alignment between their money and their beliefs.

The conversation explores what ethical in...

In this episode of Purposely, Mark Longbottom sits down with Tilda Bostwick, founder of Fundraising Talent, to unpack what fundraising really looks like as a profession. How getting the right people into the right roles matters more than ever for charities. Tilda lifts the lid on how fundraising has evolved in New Zealand. While many people still picture fundraising as street appeals or bucket collections, she explains how modern charities rely on highly specialised teams. From data and donor care to major gifts and strategy, fundraising today is complex, skilled work and it needs to be treated that way...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from Kirsten Kilian-Taylor, Head of Philanthropy at Perpetual Guardian.

Kirsten reflects on how giving in New Zealand is evolving, from traditional, tightly controlled models of trusteeship to approaches that allow more experimentation, partnership, and trust. Using the growth of Give A Little as an example, she explores peer-to-peer giving, donor choice, and what it really takes to back new ideas while still protecting donor intent.

The conversation also digs into what funders look for in strong applications: clarity of purpose, honesty about need, evidence of impact...

This episode of Purposely is a little different.

Instead of hosting the conversation, Purposely host Mark Longbottom is the one being interviewed — joining Azoora Ali on her podcast Care Beyond Profits. It’s a generous, wide-ranging conversation that gives listeners a chance to hear more about the story behind Purposely, the experiences that shaped Mark’s work, and the values that continue to guide him.

Azoora takes Mark back to his early years growing up on Auckland’s North Shore, his long stint in the UK charity sector, and the journey that eventually led to the crea...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from Samuel Richards, exploring the role capital plays in creating social and environmental outcomes.

Samuel makes a clear distinction between what we do with money and why we do it. Rather than seeing investors, philanthropy, and government as separate or competing forces, he frames them as parts of the same marketplace, each with a role to play.

He talks about the importance of aligning capital with purpose and values, not just chasing labels like “impact”, “ethical”, or “sustainable”, which can distract from the real work. At its best, ca...

This episode is a little different.

I recorded it while away at the beach with my family, fitting it in between swims, time with the kids, and the usual holiday chaos. Instead of the usual interview, this is just me taking a moment to reflect on the past year of Purposely Podcast and some of the themes that kept coming up.

2025 was a big year for the podcast. We recorded 49 episodes and are closing in on 300 in total since Purposely began in 2020. This episode is a pause rather than a performance. A chance to share...

Revisiting the Story of Benevity with Founder Bryan de Lottinville

In this revisited episode of Purposely Podcast, Mark Longbottom returns to a 2021 conversation with Bryan de Lottinville, founder of Benevity.

Bryan is a purpose-led founder whose work has had a significant influence on how companies think about employee engagement, giving, and corporate responsibility. In this conversation, Bryan reflects on the ideas that led to the creation of Benevity, the decisions that shaped its growth, and the belief that business can play a meaningful role in enabling social good.

Benevity went on to scale...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we revisit insights from Simon Fulford, Executive Director of Parrott Creek Child & Family Services, based in Portland, Oregon.

Simon explains why rebuilding self-esteem and identity sits at the heart of working with young people who have experienced trauma, and why care can’t stop at programmes and therapy alone. If the physical environment, daily routines, and adult behaviours send the opposite message, the work can be undermined.

He shares how Parrott Creek takes a holistic approach. From unconditional positive regard and mindfulness, to staff self-awareness, food, learning, and intentionally be...

Revisited Episode (Recorded April 2021)
A Tribute to Lea Milligan

This revisited episode of Purposely is shared as a tribute to Lea Milligan, who passed away unexpectedly in April 2024.

From Purposely host Mark Longbottom

Before returning to this conversation, I wanted to pause and honour someone truly special. I first met Lea in London in 2016 when he was working at Mercy Ships UK, and I was at the St James’s Place Foundation. He reached out in a fundraising role, but it quickly became clear that Lea was far more th...

This episode of Purposely was recorded live at a CEO roundtable in Auckland, bringing together leaders from across Aotearoa’s charity and for-purpose sector to explore one of the biggest questions facing organisations right now: how to use AI well, without losing the human heart of the work.

Hosts Dr Kirsty Agar-Jacomb and Mark Longbottom is joined by Dr Megan Blakely from the University of Canterbury, whose research focuses on human-centred AI. Rather than talking about technology for its own sake, Megan challenges leaders to think about AI as a tool for augmentation, not automation, and to st...

In this SHORT episode of Purposely, we hear from Seumas Fantham, Executive Director of the Todd Foundation, on what happens when a funder realises their well-intentioned model is actually holding communities and charities back.

Seumas explains how the foundation used to fund 60–70 groups a year, which meant most staff time went into processing the 89% who didn’t receive funding. It wasn’t strategic, and it unintentionally encouraged competition between community groups rather than collaboration.

So they changed course.

Instead of spreading funding thin, the foundation stepped back, listened, and focused on a smaller number...

In this episode of Purposely Podcast, Mark Longbottom talks with Georgina Camp, co-founder of Huber Social, and Michelle McCaskill, the organisation’s CEO in Aotearoa. Both are leading voices in the move toward social impact measurement that actually helps communities instead of adding more admin.

Georgina starts by explaining Huber Social’s purpose: to help people live well, and to support organisations to understand what truly makes a difference. Instead of counting outputs or filling in forms for the sake of it, their work focuses on listening to people’s experiences and keeping wellbeing at the centre. Good m...

A really warm welcome to Purposely SHORT, - short as in not long - a weekly episode featuring one of our past guests and their expertise on a certain topic. The aim is to give you a useful insight that you can action, helping you to deliver on your charitable mission. Enjoy.

Geneva Loftus, who works with funders and grassroots organisations around the world. Geneva breaks down one of the biggest shifts happening in philanthropy right now: moving decision-making power closer to communities.

She explains why donors must let go of the instinct to design...

We’re revisiting one of the early Purposely episodes, a conversation with Steve Wickham, founder of The Giving Department (which is till going strong) and a long-time leader in philanthropy, corporate responsibility, and social impact.

Steve has spent more than two decades helping companies and philanthropists connect their resources with the people and organisations that need them most. Before launching The Giving Department in 2010, he held senior roles at Macmillan Cancer Support and The King's Trust (then the Prince’s Trust), shaping programmes that enabled businesses and donors to support young people and communities across the UK.