#286 'Leading A Corporate Foundation With A Difference', Rebecca Roberts Head of Simplicity Foundation

What if philanthropy wasn’t an add-on to business, but built into its DNA?

In this episode of Purposely, we welcome Rebecca Roberts, Head of the Simplicity Foundation, to explore how one corporate foundation has embedded giving into its core model in a way that grows alongside the business.

Established alongside Simplicity NZ Ltd in 2016, the Foundation receives 15% of KiwiSaver and Investment Fund management fees. As Simplicity has grown to manage more than $10 billion, the Foundation’s giving has expanded too, now distributing around $3 million in grants each year to charities across Aotearoa New Zealand.

Rebecca shares how this structure works in practice, what it means to embed impact into a commercial model, and why long-term thinking matters in philanthropy.

• Why Simplicity chose to hardwire giving into its business model from day one

• The Foundation’s three pillars: Thriving Te Taiao (Environment), Thriving Rangatahi (Young People), and Thriving Hapori (Communities)

• The value of medium and long-term partnerships over one-off grants

• Why co-funding and collaboration with other foundations can strengthen outcomes

• What sustainable, impact-focused philanthropy looks like in action

From planting more than 200,000 native trees to supporting youth pathways into employment and addressing housing and food insecurity, this conversation highlights philanthropy designed for measurable, community-level impact.

Rebecca also reflects on the responsibility that comes with scale, the discipline required in funding decisions, and how foundations can balance responsiveness with strategic focus.

A valuable listen for anyone involved in corporate foundations, philanthropy, impact investing, or charity leadership.