Not For Me has been established with two primary objectives:
- To provide donors a smart way to make their donations go further; and
- To help selected charities in their fundraising activities by sourcing quality memorabilia, items and services which can be sold through auctions
It was set up by Ant and Vanessa Ford in 2007 and both are still actively involved.
“We decided that instead of just giving an annual donation to selected charities, we would see if we could increase the impact of our donated dollar. The result was “Not for Me”. The money we would have spent on our annual donations is now used to procure memorabilia so that the charities get more and no-one clips the ticket along the way. “
Not For Me (CC35385) is a Charitable Trust incorporated under the Charitable Trust Act 1957.
Why is it called Not For Me
Initially when we started canvassing people for donations we frequently would say “No, it’s not for me” as we explained how we operated and our ethos.
By calling it Not For Me we are also emphasising that there is nothing financial in it for us. We take no salary or expenses for running this organisation and the entire amount bid at the auction goes directly to the charity.
Our People
Founders Ant and Vanessa Ford, have established an impeccable reputation amongst the not-for-profit sector and are well known for their personal generosity and strong commitment to ‘giving back’ to the community in many ways. They have been joined in this venture by like-minded Trustees who share their commitment, values and vision for this unique charitable venture.
Ant Ford
FounderThese days Ant is driven by a very clear purpose – to use his skills and experience to positively impact the lives of New Zealanders.
This purpose has evolved over the past twenty years, during which time he has been involved in a wide range of community & charitable activities. This includes a very rewarding six years as General Manager at First Foundation and five years as General Manager at the Tania Dalton Fopundation.
Ant is a Kiwibank Local Hero Medal recipient and in 2015 he published a book called ‘Caught in the Act of Giving’, which tracks his giving journey during the past ten years.
Vanessa Ford
AdministrationVanessa is a qualified Chartered Accountant who has worked for KPMG and Telecom. During her stint at KPMG, she took advantage of the company’s secondment programme and worked in the company’s Dublin office during 1998-99. These days she works for ICM Asia Pacific Ltd.
Vanessa enjoys making the time to lend her career experience and expertise to Not For Me
Board
The Trust is guided by a small group of trustees who share a commitment to generosity, transparency and community impact. From leading and managing successful businesses, to supporting local sports and education initiatives, the team brings both personal and professional experience to the cause. Not For Me’s Board comprises of five trustees:
- Mark Callander
- Ant Ford
- Rhonda Scott
- Brett Turner
- Jo Dick