About us
The Catholic Caring Foundation provides funding for care and support of families/whānau and communities affected by poverty and hardship.
Together, with our caring donors, we support and strengthen families and communities.
Our services
Focus on poverty
Our focus is to care for those in poverty and hardship through wrap-around support, food, transitional housing and domestic violence refuges.
Working in partnership
We partner with over 60 agencies that provide grass-roots support for our families and communities in need.
Guided by the gospel
Our actions are guided by gospel values and by Christ’s message "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did to me". (Matthew 25:40)
Our mission
To fulfill Jesus's commandment "to love one's neighbour".
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Our vision
To have a society where everyone is treated with dignity and mana, and no-one is left behind.
We want everyone to get the right care and support, at the right time so that they can live their life to their potential.
Our values
We follow the values of the gospel and follow Christ's word in our mission.
Manaakitanga
In answer to Christ's call, to deeply care for people (Luke 10 25-27)
Kaitiakitanga
To care for our common home (Laudauto Si').
Tika
Integrity and honesty (Proverbs 21:3).
Whakapono
Wisdom/truth - transparency in communications and collaboration for the common good (Catholic Social Teaching - The Common Good)
Aroha
Care, compassion and love (1 Corinthians 13)
Our story
Seeing the growing need for more support for those experiencing hardship and poverty, Bishop Dennis Browne, the Bishop of Auckland at the time, set up the Catholic Caring Foundation in 1988.
The Foundation has continued to grow to meet those ever-increasing needs throughout the greater Auckland area and Te Tai Tokerau.
Our partners
Tindall Foundation
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Kumeu River
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Foundation North
The Holzer (Len) Family Trust
Our board
Treacy Bell is a seasoned leader who has operated in a commercial environment for 40 years. She was raised as a Catholic and has a strong commitment to social justice and the need to make a positive and sustainable impact in the broader community by supporting the most vulnerable.
Loraine Elliott is Māori of Ngati Porou, Whanau Apanui, Nga Puhi and Ngati Hine descent. She is the Vicar for Social Impact and Communications at the Catholic Diocese of Auckland. Prior to this Loraine held executive management positions in both the public services sector as well as the private sector.
Bishop Steve Lowe is the Patron of the Caring Foundation. He was appointed the Bishop of Auckland in December 2021, succeeding Bishop Patrick Dunn. Bishop Steve is a proud West-Coaster, having grown up in Hokitika.
Dame Lyndsay Freer was a journalist and broadcaster, and became communications officer and media spokesperson for the Church for many years. In this role, she witnessed first-hand the needs of the most vulnerable in our community and the work of the Church's caring ministries to support them. She values the Caring Foundation's mission and the opportunity to contribute to its work.
Monsignor Bernard Kiely is the Vicar General for the Catholic Diocese of Auckland and a priest for over 30 years. He comes from a family who have supported and participated in not-for-profit activities for many years. He strives to assist those who struggle with the many challenges that life puts before them.
Matheus supports the Bishop of Auckland's Caring Foundation with his commercial experience across a wide range of businesses in roles including sales, marketing, and operations, as well as governance in a number of Catholic schools. Matheus's early family life was based in Taumarunui and Mongonui. His whakapapa connects him to family and tipuna from Rongomaiwahine in Mahia. This lived experience of rural life, assists Matheus with understanding the needs for the regions remote from Auckland city.
Our patron
Bishop Steve Lowe
Bishop Stephen Lowe is the 12th Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland and the Patron of the Catholic Caring Foundation.
He was born and educated in Hokitika, and worked in forestry before entering Holy Cross Seminary, Mosgiel in 1990. His final year was completed at St Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia during 1994 - 1995. He was ordained in 1996.
He served as assistant priest in Mairehau, Ashburton and Greymouth before being appointed parish priest of Timaru North. He completed a Licence in Spiritual Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 2007 and in the following year was appointed to Holy Cross Seminary as Formation Director until the end of 2014.
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Frequently asked questions
If you are a first-time supporter, please email the office info@caringfoundation.org.nz to advise of your donation. Then you will receive a confirmation email with your new supporter number.
Yes, donations made via the donate button will be receipted automatically. For online banking, we will receipt your donation as soon as we process your donation.
Yes, all donations over $5 are tax deductible. Up to 33% of your gift may be claimed back as a tax rebate.
You can sign up to Supergenerous who will guide you through the simple process of donating your tax rebate to help the mission of the Caring Foundation.
Typically, grants are for sums up to $15,000.
The foundation's coverage extends across the Auckland Catholic diocese, spanning from Kaitaia to Pukekohe, Tuakau, and Waiuku in the South, as well as across to Thames and the Coromandel, which includes Tairua, Pauanui, Whitianga, and the Hauraki Plains.
The Catholic Caring Foundation provides funding for care and support of families/ whanau and communities affected by poverty and hardship. We support Catholic and local social services to strengthen and support their communities. We give grants to agencies within the geographical area of the Auckland Catholic Diocese (from the Far-North to Pukekohe, Tuakau and Waiuku in the South and across to Thames and Whitianga.)
Please email the office info@caringfoundation.org.nz with your supporter number to advise that you would like to receive an annual receipt. Annual receipts will be sent out in April.
Please contact our office at any-time by email or phone, and we'll send you information on how to leave an impactful gift to the Foundation in your Will. (09) 360 3045 or info@caringfoundation.org.nz
Or for a confidential chat, please contact Ann-Marie Parker (Manager) on (09) 360 3012.
Please use your supporter number as "reference", and let us know if you want to be receipted annually. (Click here an Automatic Payment Form).
If you need to be sent an AP form or need help, please call (09) 360 3045 or email info@caringfoundation.org.nz If you have set up an automatic payment through your online banking, please let us know by email.