If you visit Volunteer Wellington’s recent PledgeMe campaign for Te Aka Tūao, you'll see a neat green tick and the word “successful.” Technically, that’s true, and we are thankful for the generosity of those who gave.

But for those of us in the engine room in Te Awa Kairangi (Volunteer Hutt) and throughout our organisation, that green tick doesn't tell the whole story. And in the current funding environment, those hidden stories matter.

Crowdfunding is often positioned as a democratic and accessible way to fund good kaupapa. And it can be. But it is also intensive, emotionally taxing, and far more complex than the final number suggests.

Te Aka Tūao (TAT) is a regular gathering for people working and volunteering in nonprofit organisations across Te Awa Kairangi. It’s a space to connect, share stories, learn together, and build real relationships across the community sector. While TAT could be described as a networking event, that doesn’t fully capture what it is. These hui are about community weaving. Led by the team at Volunteer Hutt, TAT is grounded in kaupapa Māori values of manaakitanga and whanaungatanga, creating a space where people feel welcomed, respected, and supported to show up as their whole selves.

There is a well-known whakataukī: “Kāore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna reka” - the kūmara does not speak of its own sweetness. In many ways, this sits at the heart of our tension with crowdfunding.

Our mahi at Volunteer Wellington is grounded in values of Tautoko (service), Manaakitanga (caring), Te Waka Hauora (collective impact), and Whakawhanake (innovation). Yet crowdfunding requires something different. It asks our kaimahi to step into the role of salesperson - constantly promoting, justifying, and asking. Behind the campaign were long stretches of hitting the refresh button, reaching out to whānau and personal networks, and navigating the quiet discomfort of asking people, many already under pressure, to give again.

The Mathematics of “Success”

To be transparent, here is what sat behind our $5,000 goal to run another year of TAT:

• Final campaign total: $5,010
• Less platform fees (5%): $4,759.50
• Less internal organisational pledge: $2,685
• External funds raised: $2,074.50

We reached our goal because our Board made the decision, in the final hours, to pledge internal pūtea so that we wouldn't lose everything under an 'all-or-nothing' model. This kind of internal pledging is not unusual. It can help create momentum and urgency. But momentum is not the same as sustainability. In reality, we raised less than half of what the programme requires to run. We can cover the venue costs and kai, and TAT will go ahead, but the costs of our kaimahi aren’t directly covered.

The Heart is Full, but the Tank is Empty

What makes this experience complex is that the goodwill is undeniable.

Our pledgers told us:

• “You do so much with so little.”
• “Creating a third space for those doing the mahi is vital.”
• “Keep up the awesome mahi.”

There is belief in Te Aka Tūao.
There is pride in what is being built.
There is clear evidence of impact.

And still - there is exhaustion.

Across our organisation, this experience has resonated deeply. It reflects what many in the sector are currently navigating: the pressure, the emotional toll, and the constant balancing between values and viability.

A Reality We Need to Share

There is another whakataukī that feels important here: “Ka puta te kōrero, ka ora te iwi” - when the truth is spoken, the people will flourish. This is why we are sharing this, as an honest reflection of the gap between the value of community-led mahi and the mechanisms available to resource it. While the numbers tell one story, the impact of this kaupapa - and the strength of the relationships around it - tell another. Both are true. And both matter.

Looking Forward

This isn't a story of failure, and it isn't about casting blame. It is a real-time look at a sector that is being asked to be "resilient" and "creative" until we are breathless. We will continue to deliver Te Aka Tūao because the mahi is worth it. But we also believe that honesty is part of the work. Crowdfunding is hard. The funding environment is tougher. And while the kūmara may not speak of its own sweetness, we need to start speaking more honestly about what it takes to keep the garden growing.

If we want a thriving, connected, and resilient community sector, then the way it is funded needs to reflect the true cost - not just financially, but relationally and emotionally. Because behind every “successful” campaign are people carrying the weight of making it so.

This story was written collectively by our kaimahi, board and AI chipped in to structure it. 7 May 2026.

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