People Inspired By Purpose - Purposely Podcast

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 being clear about your purpose and the role you want to play in the wider ecosystem.
Craig shares his thinking on trust, alignment, and why the best partnerships are built on shared values rather than financial need. We explore what it means to design for long term value instead of short term wins, and why uncomfortable conversations are often part of building something stronger.
There’s also a challenge here for leaders and trustees. Are you clear on what “enough” looks like? Are you building partnerships, or just securing income?
If you care about moving beyond transactional fundraising and building relationships that genuinely resource impact, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

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 from growing up between countries to building creative projects that bring people together. His family’s long connection to Auckland’s Dominion Road shaped that path, from running one of the area’s early Indian restaurants to creating Move Space, a community hub for art, ideas, and social impact.
We talk about Kiran’s decision to step away from a traditional film school path to focus on real-world storytelling, and how that led to projects like Humans Are Awesome, a series that shines a light on everyday people quietly making a difference.
Kiran also shares the thinking behind Deeper Questions, the card game designed to move conversations beyond small talk. Inspired by years of interviewing people, it’s a simple tool for building trust, connection, and more meaningful dialogue, whether in homes, teams, or community spaces.
A big thank you to our sponsors Benevity and Trust Investments.

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. They connect donors with local priorities, steward funds across generations, and help turn generosity into action. In New Zealand, the movement has grown steadily from 12 community foundations to 18 today, collectively managing more than $315 million in community assets. But as Eleanor explains, the real value isn’t just the capital, it’s the trust.
Trust is the engine of community philanthropy. Donors need confidence that their giving will be respected, well governed, and still relevant long after they’re gone. Community foundations offer an alternative to setting up standalone trusts, providing professional governance, local insight, and the flexibility to respond as communities change. It’s a model built for permanence, without the administrative burden.
We talk about what this looks like in practice. From regionally funded theatres and adventure playgrounds, to the quieter work of backing grassroots organisations and bringing people together around shared priorities. In places like Taranaki, Eleanor describes a genuine sense of local ownership, where communities don’t just benefit from philanthropy, they actively shape it.
Eleanor also makes a compelling case for better philanthropy advice. Giving well takes intention, clarity, and context. Drawing on her academic work, including a Winston Churchill Fellowship and a Master’s in Philanthropy, she explains why donors are most fulfilled when their giving aligns both with their values and with clearly articulated community need.
We also unpack the word philanthropy itself. Often misunderstood, sometimes off-putting, and wrongly associated only with extreme wealth. Eleanor reframes it simply as private giving for public good, something all New Zealanders already participate in, whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing skills.
Looking ahead, Eleanor’s ambition is clear. Community foundations should be seen not as places where money sits, but as active builders of community. With significant intergenerational wealth transfer on the horizon, she believes New Zealand has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to embed generosity into the fabric of every region.

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 investing looks like in practice, from screening for human rights issues to using simple tools that help clients express what they do and don’t want in their portfolios. One clear theme emerges: people are far more aligned on values than the industry often assumes.
She also shares the firm’s unexpected journey to B Corp certification, discovering they were already operating well beyond the required standard thanks to years of careful governance, systems, and culture.
The episode closes with practical advice for advisors and professionals wanting to bring values into their work, including where to start, how to build confidence, and why conversations about ethics don’t need to be complicated to be effective.
This episode of Purposely is brought to you by Benevity and Trust Investments.

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. Tilda shares her own path into the sector, starting with volunteering and grant writing, before moving into senior fundraising roles and eventually spotting a major gap. Charities were struggling to recruit well, often because fundraising roles were misunderstood or poorly defined. That challenge is what led her to launch Fundraising Talent.
Starting a recruitment business just before COVID was not ideal timing. Tilda talks openly about the pressure that put on charities and on recruitment itself, and why many organisations later realised that not hiring, or hiring the wrong person, often costs more in the long run.
A big part of the conversation focuses on expectations. Tilda regularly sees fundraisers hired with unrealistic KPIs, limited support, and the hope they will somehow “fix” income overnight. She explains why this leads to burnout and high turnover, and what charities can do differently. Clear roles, realistic targets, strong leadership, and a culture that values fundraising all make a difference.
Tilda also shares what she looks for in top fundraisers. It is not just about personality or passion. Track record matters, as does strategic thinking, the ability to work with others, and staying power in roles. She also calls out common hiring mistakes like underpaying, vague job descriptions, and failing to invest in professional development.
The episode touches on the changing shape of the sector, including more men entering fundraising roles, growing professionalism, and the use of AI tools in areas like grant writing. Tilda is clear that while technology can help, relationships and good storytelling are still at the heart of successful fundraising.
For people considering a move from the corporate world into fundraising, Tilda offers practical advice on transferable skills, but also a reality check. Fundraising is rewarding work, but it demands resilience, commitment to purpose, and an understanding of the pressures charities operate under.
The conversation closes with Tilda reflecting on why she stays in the sector. For her, it is about the people, the causes, and seeing what becomes possible when charities are properly resourced with the right talent.