Four Kiwi charities - working with troubled teens, assistance dogs, young carers and fair food distribution - will pitch for dollars at The Funding Network’s next crowdfunding event.

To be held in Auckland at AUT University on Thursday, June 4, the event will raise tens of thousands of dollars in a fun and philanthropic way.www.thefundingnetwork.org.nz

Popular broadcaster Trudi Nelson will be the MC for the night.

Last year’s TFN event, a first for New Zealand, saw dozens of generous Kiwis pledge more than $50,000 in just half an hour. Subsequent donations saw the total swell to more than $160,000.

In the running this time are:

• Assistance Dogs New Zealand - trains dogs to enrich the lives of adults and children living with multiple disabilities. The dogs help give their owners independence, mobility, confidence and the ability to participate in their communities.

• The Crescendo Trust of Aotearoa - supports young people who are not responding well to traditional education by giving them training and mentoring in music, media and communication. This fosters their creativity and builds life skills.

• Fair Food - Auckland’s first food rescue charity which is both a social and environmental organisation. It rescues fit-to-consume food from retailers and producers that would otherwise go to landfill and redirects it to those most in need through various community groups.

• Young Carers NZ is a network for Kiwi children and young people who look after ill, elderly or disabled love ones. About 8% of young people up to the age of 24 are young carers and the charity provides them with information, support and advice.

“These four terrific organisations are all doing amazing work in their respective areas and are truly worthy of support,” says Hilary Sumpter, CEO of Auckland Communities Foundation which helps run The Funding Network, with support from Philanthropy New Zealand and The Gift Trust.

“Our aim is to support small to medium-sized organisations, for which $10,000 would make a genuinely useful contribution.”

Often described as “Dragon’s Den for charities”, The Funding Network was launched in London in 2002 by philanthropist and art dealer Dr Frederick Mulder. It has since spread around the world, with more than 150 TFN events held, 750 charities supported and at least NZD $13 million raised. Pledges start at $100.

Dr Mulder, who came to Auckland for the first NZ event last September, says The Funding Network aims to democratise philanthropy by providing an attractive and easy way in for new givers.

“The environment we create inspires people to raise more as a group than they could as individuals,” says Dr Mulder. “It also encourages people to give more than just money. Our guests hear about new solutions to community issues, they ask questions, and then they pledge support to social entrepreneurs who have big ideas but limited resources.”

Hilary Sumpter says that is exactly what happened in Auckland last year. “One donor, who pledged $3,000 on the night, was so impressed with the concept they came back to us afterwards and made another $80,000 donation - $40,000 each for two of the charities. Now that is truly big-hearted philanthropy.”

The Macquarie Group Foundation and Macquarie Private Wealth NZ are key supporters of The Funding Network in New Zealand, with the Macquarie Group Foundation matching a third of the donations at the last event.

“We were thrilled by the success of the first TFN NZ event, where the charities and the audience came together to make a real difference in a few short hours. We’re delighted that more New Zealanders will have the opportunity to share in this remarkable giving experience,” says Laurence Fitzpatrick, Head of Macquarie Private Wealth NZ.

After Auckland in June, The Funding Network plans to hold a third event in Wellington later this year and then take the concept to other regional cities around the country.