FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

What is the Mt Aspiring College Foundation?

The MAC Foundation is a charitable organisation dedicated to supporting Mt Aspiring College by funding initiatives that promote equity, excellence, and wellbeing for all students.

We provide funding to projects and resources that benefit students directly, aligning with our core pillars: Equity, Excellence, and Wellbeing. This can include paying for expert staff, scholarships, wellbeing programs, academic resources and more.

Anyone who believes in our mission is welcome to contribute. Donations from parents, alumni, local businesses and community members make a real difference in our students’ lives.

Donations go toward projects and programs that directly impact students, including financial support for students in need, provision of expert staff, enhancement of school facilities, and programs that foster student wellbeing and success.

Yes, donations to the MAC Foundation are tax-deductible, as we are a registered charity.

In addition to donating, there are many ways to get involved, including volunteering with the Friends of MAC, attending our fundraising events and spreading the word about our mission. Head to our Contact page

We work closely with school leadership to identify high-impact initiatives that align with our core pillars and make a meaningful difference in the lives of students.

Absolutely! Recurring donations are a great way to support our work consistently. You can set up a monthly or yearly contribution through our donation platform. Learn more here

No, the MAC Foundation is a separate charitable entity (CC220447), with a separate board and accounts from the school. The Principal of MAC sits as an advisory trustee on the Foundation board, ensuring a unified approach. This allows us to keep our funds separate from the Ministry of Education, which protects them for our charitable purpose:

To further the education of students at Mount Aspiring College. This will be achieved via the provision of financial assistance, clothing, books, equipment, facilities or use of facilities (including buildings), services, goods, and any other appropriate assistance that will assist the Board of Trustees of the School to achieve its mission statement.

No, but we are all in this together!

The school runs on funding from:

  • The Ministry of Education, on a per student basis
  • Annual school donation from attendant families
  • The Friends of MAC – fundraising towards a school improvement/asset, a single project at a time.
  • The MAC Foundation – fundraising through our various platforms for a significant annual cash donation to the school

The Friends of MAC are volunteers who fundraise towards a singular project through selling second hand uniforms, sausage sizzles and occasionally events. The current project (as of Dec 2024) is an adventure playground. Once completed they will select another project. All funding runs through the school accounts. 

The MAC Foundation is a separate charitable entity, allowing us to keep our funds separate from the Ministry of Education. This protects them for our charitable purpose; supporting equity, excellence & wellbeing at the school. 

The Ministry of Education provides funding on a per capita basis, plus a small portion of additional funding based on the Equity System (formerly the Decile System). Whilst this covers the basics of providing a rounded education, the extra funding the Foundation provides allows MAC to support equity, excellence & wellbeing for our students and deliver them a World-Class School Experience.

Get in touch! Our list of current funding goals is created based on the current identified needs of the school, however if you have a great idea for something you’d like to support at MAC, lets talk!

Either email hello@macfoundation.co.nz or contact one of our trustees directly.

You can reach us via our contact page, where you can also sign up for updates and information on upcoming projects.

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