The IVHQ Fund is an International Volunteer HQ backed initiative that invests thousands every year into important social and environmental projects. As a certified B Corp, we believe that every organisation has an active role to play in supporting the community in which they operate.
Our head office has been based in the Taranaki region of New Zealand since IVHQ began, and we established the IVHQ Fund in 2008 to invest directly in the social and environmental initiatives that make this community thrive. To date, the IVHQ Fund has invested more than $200,000 into locally-run clubs, organisations and social enterprises that address important social or environmental needs. The Fund has the following goals:
- Enhancing environmental education
- Improving skills and enterprise development in young people
- Inspiring participation in sport and supporting the volunteers that make grassroots sport possible
- Improving social inclusion for people with disabilities
- Enhancing the sustainability of organisations that support people in need
We are long-term sponsors of the environmental education program, Enviroschools, which is focused on supporting children and young people in New Zealand to understand and implement sustainability practices within their communities. In addition to the sponsorship which IVHQ provides EnviroSchools, our team engages in volunteering days within rural schools to work alongside students, supporting initiatives like tree planting, sustainable vegetable gardening and constructing worm farms.
We sponsor volunteer-driven organisations within our local community, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Hospice New Zealand, Taranaki Cancer Society and the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter Trust. In collaboration with the Taranaki Rugby Union, we also support a program which recognises and celebrates the volunteers who give back to the sport of rugby within the Taranaki community.
Our Athletes In Schools program gives young people in schools around our region the opportunity to engage with an Olympic medalist and learn about the dedication and focus that it takes to perform at the highest level.
As a social enterprise, inspiring the next generation of social innovators is also important to us, and we introduced a Social Innovation Award as part of the New Zealand Young Enterprise Scheme in Taranaki. The aim of the award is to encourage the aspiring young business leaders in our community to actively consider how they can develop businesses concepts to deliver sustainable positive impacts.
