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We work with
- Development and planning consultancies
- Industry leadership bodies
- Sport & recreation facilities
- Galleries, libraries, archives & museums
- Iwi & hapū
- Heritage sites
- Arts organisations
- Councils
- Community trusts
- Regional Tourism Organisations
- NGOs & charitable trusts
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What we do
- We get results for communities
- We understand what funders want
- We unlock the magic between
your project and your funding partners - We help you expand the reach of your project or organisation
- We help you build capability and confidence to get more funding yourself
- We are knowledgeable and connected across a broad range of sectors
Recent projects
Building fundraising capability for a treasured theatre organisation.
BATS Theatre is the home of Wellington’s performing arts and is where some of New Zealand’s best-known performers cut their teeth. IresonCo worked with the staff and board to refresh its revenue generation strategy (RGS) to help the theatre diversify its funding sources and make them more sustainable. The focus of the RGS refresh was the development of the Love BATS Donor Programme and a Corporate Partnership Strategy.
Through this, we developed the capability of BATS’ new Partnership Manager and coached her to secure a significant corporate partnership within three months of the strategy refresh.
“I came to my new fundraising and sponsorship role as an absolute newcomer. As a newbie it was daunting starting work with an expert in the fundraising and sponsorship arena but Craig put me at ease straight away. Craig was always approachable and understanding. He was kind and caring and he always listened. He made fundraising and sponsorship fun. I have since had successes with our donor programme, with corporate sponsorships and many other fundraising and sponsorship areas. I couldn’t have done it without Craig. He gave me the knowledge and confidence to carry on without him.”
Lyndee-Jane Rutherford – Partnerships Manager, BATS Theatre, Wellington
Building fundraising capability for a treasured theatre organisation.
BATS Theatre is the home of Wellington’s performing arts and is where some of New Zealand’s best-known performers cut their teeth. IresonCo worked with the staff and board to refresh its revenue generation strategy (RGS) to help the theatre diversify its funding sources and make them more sustainable. The focus of the RGS refresh was the development of the Love BATS Donor Programme and a Corporate Partnership Strategy.
Through this, we developed the capability of BATS’ new Partnership Manager and coached her to secure a significant corporate partnership within three months of the strategy refresh.
“I came to my new fundraising and sponsorship role as an absolute newcomer. As a newbie it was daunting starting work with an expert in the fundraising and sponsorship arena but Craig put me at ease straight away. Craig was always approachable and understanding. He was kind and caring and he always listened. He made fundraising and sponsorship fun. I have since had successes with our donor programme, with corporate sponsorships and many other fundraising and sponsorship areas. I couldn’t have done it without Craig. He gave me the knowledge and confidence to carry on without him.”
Lyndee-Jane Rutherford – Partnerships Manager, BATS Theatre, Wellington
Increasing access to indoor court space for Hawke’s Bay’s youth by securing significant funding.
The Pettigrew Green Arena (PGA) is Hawke’s Bay’s premier indoor sporting facility. We worked with the board to secure $4.8 million to build a new six court stadium to meet the region’s growth in basketball, volleyball, and futsal. Our work started with a feasibility study to unpack the vision and demonstrate the community’s needs. We then project managed applications to Lottery Significant Projects Fund, Lottery Community Facilities Fund, and Eastern and Central Community Trust. We also developed a sponsorship proposal and case for investment which the PGA team used for subsequent applications and sponsorship approaches.
“Craig Ireson is a first-class professional fundraiser who really knows the ropes. Craig has been a crucial part of the behind the scenes work to make our expansion project a reality, starting with the work he did to write the feasibility study which got the project off on the right foot.”
Craig Waterhouse – Chairman, Regional Indoor Sports and Event Centre Trust, Hawke’s Bay
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A cultural and education taonga for Central Hawke’s Bay Tamatea
Ngā Ara Tipuna is a project which showcases a network of pā sites in Waipukurau and Takapau, Central Hawke’s Bay, through interpretive structures and digital storytelling.
Firstly, as the Project Manager at Central Hawke’s Bay District Council, and then as an independent consultant, Craig Ireson worked with Tamatea hapū to secure the funding to make the vision a reality. Over two years, Craig developed relationships with central government, lotteries, community trusts and businesses to raise $3.8 million for the project. Ngā Ara Tipuna is now up and running, and has won numerous design and heritage awards, and is a much-loved taonga for the people of Tamatea/Central Hawke’s Bay.
“Craig Ireson played a pivotal role in assisting hapū in achieving our aspirations for Ngā Ara Tipuna. The funding for the project took years of planning, but throughout this Craig was a constant and steady presence, navigating the complex waters of Crown funding for the project.”
Phil Morris, Chairperson, Ngā Ara Tipuna ki Tamatea Trust
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Building fundraising capability for a treasured theatre organisation.
BATS Theatre is the home of Wellington’s performing arts and is where some of New Zealand’s best-known performers cut their teeth. IresonCo worked with the staff and board to refresh its revenue generation strategy (RGS) to help the theatre diversify its funding sources and make them more sustainable. The focus of the RGS refresh was the development of the Love BATS Donor Programme and a Corporate Partnership Strategy. Through this, we developed the capability of BATS’ Partnership Manager and coached them to secure a significant corporate partnership within three months of the strategy refresh.
“I came to my new fundraising and sponsorship role as an absolute newcomer. As a newbie it was daunting starting work with an expert in the fundraising and sponsorship arena but Craig put me at ease straight away. Craig was always approachable and understanding. He was kind and caring and he always listened. He made fundraising and sponsorship fun. I have since had successes with our donor programme, with corporate sponsorships and many other fundraising and sponsorship areas. I couldn’t have done it without Craig. He gave me the knowledge and confidence to carry on without him.”
Lyndee-Jane Rutherford – Partnerships Manager, BATS Theatre, Wellington
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Increasing access to indoor court space for Hawke’s Bay’s youth by securing significant funding.
The Pettigrew Green Arena (PGA) is Hawke’s Bay’s premier indoor sporting facility. We worked with the board to secure $4.8 million to build a new six court stadium to meet the region’s growth in basketball, volleyball, and futsal. Our work started with a feasibility study to unpack the vision and demonstrate the community’s needs. We then project managed applications to Lottery Significant Projects Fund, Lottery Community Facilities Fund, and Eastern and Central Community Trust. We also developed a sponsorship proposal and case for investment which the PGA team used for subsequent applications and sponsorship approaches.
“Craig Ireson is a first-class professional fundraiser who really knows the ropes. Craig has been a crucial part of the behind the scenes work to make our expansion project a reality, starting with the work he did to write the feasibility study which got the project off on the right foot.”
Craig Waterhouse – Chairman, Regional Indoor Sports and Event Centre Trust, Hawke’s Bay
Who we are
IresonCo is a strategic fundraising and project management consultancy based in Te Whanganui a Tara, Wellington.
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Craig Ireson
Craig has over 20 years of experience in fundraising, community development, sponsorship, events, marketing, and project management. He has raised over $51 million for community projects during this time. Craig is a Prince2 qualified project management practitioner, an excellent communicator, and facilitator, skilled at guiding and coaching community organisations through the complexities of obtaining significant external funding. Craig is a member of the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand and adheres to ethical standards in fundraising.
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Kirsten Kelly
Kirsten has significant management experience in the arts and cultural sectors of Aotearoa; having held positions as the Company Manager of the Royal NZ Ballet, Visitor Engagement Manager at MTG Hawke’s Bay, Development Coordinator at the Hastings City Art Gallery, and a senior Arts Funding Advisor at Wellington City Council. Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Film from Victoria University. She is passionate about growing communities and supporting young people to have amazing opportunities.