Liz Greive, founder of the charity Share My Super, is leveraging her personal assets and pension to combat child poverty in New Zealand by encouraging superannuants to donate their benefits to charitable causes.
- Funding Model: Greive invested $10 million of her own assets to cover operational costs, ensuring 100% of donations reach charities.
- Financial Impact: Share My Super has earned nearly $4 million since its establishment.
- Target Issue: The initiative addresses the needs of approximately 180,000 children living in poverty in New Zealand.
The Motivation Behind Share My Super
Born in 1952 in the north of England, Greive’s drive to assist struggling families stems from her childhood exposure to post-war rationing and poverty. These early impressions were further reinforced during her career as a social worker in South Auckland starting in the late 1970s.
After a career in social work and business, Greive found herself in a fortunate financial position following a divorce approximately ten years ago. Upon receiving her pension, she determined the funds would not significantly impact her quality of life and decided to redirect them toward families in need.
Addressing Systemic Poverty
Greive highlights a cyclical pattern where poor education leads to low-paid jobs, perpetuating poverty across generations. She notes that food insecurity is a primary driver of domestic violence and contributes to issues such as drug abuse, suicide, and health crises like rheumatic fever.
The charity has seen significant engagement, with some donors contributing one-off amounts ranging from $40,000 to $70,000. Greive also pointed out that roughly 1% of eligible people do not collect their superannuation, suggesting those funds could be redirected to help vulnerable children.
Advocating for Financial Literacy
Drawing from her experience as the primary breadwinner in her marriage and the historical male dominance of the investment sector, Greive urges women to take an active role in managing their finances.
She advises women to be fully engaged with their assets and investments, emphasizing the importance of financial literacy to ensure personal security, regardless of relationship status.
Share My Super currently partners with several organizations, including KidsCan, Women’s Refuge, Auckland and Wellington City Missions, Te Pa, First Foundation, CPAG, Ako Mātātupu: Teach First NZ, Hillary Outdoors, Variety, and Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou. More information can be found at sharemysuper.org.nz.
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