About The Mactodd Community Charitable Trust
The Mactodd Community Charitable Trust, formally known as (ADEPT) is a philanthropic organisation dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of our Community.
Mactodd Lawyers have been the stewards of the Trust of 45 years and have nurtured and grown the investment portfolio during that time. This has enabled an enduring legacy for the future and we acknowledge the vision of the founding trustee and Mactodd partner Alan Macalister.
Our Mission
Our mission is to support and uplift individuals and groups across Central Otago and Southern Lakes.
We are committed to promoting the wellbeing of all community members through startegic investments and support of programmes that align with our core values.
$1.8M
Delivered to the community
45 Years
Stewardship
26
Sustainable Projects
Youth Development
Funding programmes and initiatives that foster the education, health, and wellbeing of young people.
Arts &
Culture
Investing in local initiatives to enhance and promote cultural engagement among residents and visitors. Creating opportunities for artists and writers to thrive and celebrate in our community whilst building a vibrant and inclusive cultural landscape.
Community Initiatives
Encompassing a wide variety of projects that foster welfare and services that will improve the quality of life within our community.
Empowering Our Community Through Focused Initiatives and Supportive Engagement
While the Trust’s original focus was elderly persons’ housing and health needs, we have expanded it’s purpose to encompass a wider range of community needs.
We collaborate with local organisations, and community leaders to identify areas of need and allocate resources where they can make the most impact.
Elderly Health & Wellbeing
Continuing our legacy of funding for programmes and initiatives that support the elderly in our community.
Environment Stewardship
Continuing our legacy of funding for programmes and initiatives that support the elderly in our community.
Recent Grants Include:
Central Stories Alexandra District Museum
Digitisation, cataloguing and collection software
Dunstan Arm Rowing Club
New boatshed
Eleven Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes applicants receive portion of Mactodd Community Charitable Trust’s grants fund
Mactodd Community Charitable Trust is delighted to announce that eleven Southern Lakes associations and community-focused organisations received a portion of the total funding pool of $379,770.
Successful applicants include Queenstown Trails Trust, Dunstan Arm Rowing Club, Wakatipu High School, Baskets of Blessing, Mt Aspiring College, Glenorchy Mission Hall, Wanaka Cycling Without Age, Luggate Fire Brigade, Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control, Upper Clutha Community Link, and Central Stories Alexandra District Museum.
This was the first funding round for the Trust, receiving a total of 96 applications. The grants committee was impressed with the calibre of applications received from a diverse range of organisations doing inspiring work across the region. Mactodd director and grants committee member Caitlin Dykes says the response highlighted the depth of need and the strength of community spirit locally.
“We are proud to be able to support a number of impactful projects this year and we look forward to sharing insights from this inaugural round — including what we learned and the positive difference already being made” she says.
Fellow grants committee member and Mactodd solicitor Madeline Patterson says it has been an honour to be a part of this process.
“It has been wonderful to have received this level of interest and engagement from the Southern Lakes community and we are immensely grateful to those who took the time to apply. And although we are unable to support everyone who applied, every application had merit and was impressive.”
“These people and organisations will do great things for our diverse, vibrant and rapidly growing Southern Lakes community. It is because of people like this that our region is such a wonderful place to live” she says.
A core requirement was for initiatives and projects to help create a stronger, healthier, and more connected community (Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes). These initiatives and projects would ideally focus on youth development, health and wellbeing, environmental stewardship, or community services that benefit the wider community.
The second funding round is expected to be announced on 1 October 2026.
Successful applicants:
Queenstown Trails Trust – $109,000 for the Southern approach to new Jim’s Way / SH 6 overbridge
Dunstan Arm Rowing Club – $100,000 for a new shed
Wakatipu High School – $65,000 for support staff for migrant students
Baskets of Blessing – $10,000 for a food storage container
Mt Aspiring College – $10,500 for wellbeing programmes for students
Glenorchy Mission Hall – $11,620 for painting
Wanaka Cycling Without Age – $4,150 for a storage container
Luggate Fire Bridage – $29,500 for a generator
Central Otago Wilding Conifer Control – $15,000 for a new trailer to hold equipment
Upper Clutha Community Link – $5,000 for a foodbank storage container
Central Stories Alexandra District Museum – $10,000 for digitisation, $6,000 for cataloguing, and $4,000 for collection software