KIRSTEN KILLIAN-TAYLOR
Our guest at Tuesday’s luncheon meeting welcomed by Brian McMath was Kirsten Killian-Taylor, Perpetual Guardian Foundation Philanthropy Manager.Kirsten gave members present a background on Perpetual Guardian whose origins date back 135 years to the late 1880’s. In doing so she noted that the governing legislation for trustee companies is roughly of similar vintage with only minimal change over the years.
Perpetual Guardian makes wills for its personal clients, it helps people with trusts and philanthropic giving.
Kirsten noted that charitable grants total some $45 million per annum from about 600 charitable trusts Perpetual Guardian manages. This is, Kirsten told us, the largest portfolio of charitable entities in NZ. Perpetual Guardian provides investment assistance, an investment fund for charities, advice on grant policies and processes for review of the effectiveness of charitable grants.
Kirsten noted that charitable grants total some $45 million per annum from about 600 charitable trusts Perpetual Guardian manages. This is, Kirsten told us, the largest portfolio of charitable entities in NZ. Perpetual Guardian provides investment assistance, an investment fund for charities, advice on grant policies and processes for review of the effectiveness of charitable grants.Kirsten noted that recent addition to the portfolio, is “Give a Little” which is a crowd funding platform which enables donations and fundraising for causes and charities online. Kirsten also noted that the oldest endowment that Perpetual Guardian manages was created about 105 years ago with an initial capital of 5,000 pounds. Presently that endowment fund has capital of about 4 million.
Kirsten gave us an idea of the process of setting up a charitable or philanthropic trust which can be summarized as understanding the individual/donors intentions or wishes regarding the funds being advanced to the proposed trust, Constructing a trust deed to give effect to and reflect the donors wishes, understanding the impact sought and then determine the style of operation that best suits the trust.
From time to time Perpetual Guardian has assisted charities to refocus their purposes when what may have been a sound charitable purpose at an entities inception over time becomes unsupportable.An example of intention is whether the trust is to be for the maintenance of services that is to say keeping good things going, or for building institutions or funding policy change. Another way of looking at the intentions whether the trust aims are charitable for example providing some-one with a blanket or philanthropic taking the person out of their current situation and putting them in an improved one.
Kirsten mentioned that ethical investing is becoming important in the philanthropic sector. Ethically sound investment is preferred and investing in nasties is to be avoided.
We were taken through the funding options at Perpetual Guardian. It has an online funding hub where people seeking funding can apply to relevant entities.
That Kirstens address was well received by members which was clearly apparent from the questions that followed. In particular she was asked about Perpetual Guardian’s four day week policy. We were told that the policy works for some staff really well but for others it doesn’t. Much the same point can be made about remote working. Some people like it and some don’t. For some remote work creates a sense of isolation from the workplace which affects productivity.
Kirsten was thanked by Martin McGahan.