Stories
Stories from the families we support
Three families tell us what changed: a new tailoring business, a son back in school after the floods and a harvest to sell.
Oct 11, 2026 · 6 min readFeatured
Every donation makes a difference
Ninety cents of every dollar goes straight to projects, and our audited accounts show exactly where the rest is spent.
Latest
Stories
A day in the life of a volunteer
From the 7 am food bank shift to an afternoon reading club, one Saturday volunteer shows us what a day of help looks like.
Jul 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Tips
Ten ways to fundraise with friends
From bake sales to sponsored runs and birthday pledges, ten simple ideas our supporters have used, plus a free fundraising pack.
Jul 24, 2026 · 6 min read
Health
Meet the partners behind our water projects
Local committees choose the well sites, train repair teams and collect small fees that keep the pumps running for a decade.
Jul 8, 2026 · 10 min read
Education
How your donations built three new classrooms
In eighteen months, supporters funded three classrooms, forty desks and two teachers' salaries for a village school that used to teach under a tree.
Apr 26, 2026 · 3 min read
Environment
Why we plant trees with the schools we build
Each new classroom comes with fifty trees planted by pupils, giving shade, fruit and a living science lesson for years to come.
Apr 3, 2026 · 11 min read99%satisfaction
Why Lumen Co
Why give through Lumen Co
Ninety cents of every dollar reaches projects, and you see exactly what your gift achieved.
Impact tracking
See photos, project updates and numbers from the exact project your gift funded.
Tax receipts
Receive a tax receipt seconds after every gift, plus a yearly summary each January.
Volunteer network
More than 1,400 volunteers sort food parcels, tutor children and walk shelter dogs every week.
Secure giving
Card, bank and wallet payments are encrypted and processed by certified payment partners.
Transparent reports
Our accounts are independently audited every year and published in full on this site.
Local partners
We work through community organisations in 36 communities, led by people who live there.
By the numbers
What your support has achieved
90%of every gift goes to projects
210kpeople helped
36communities supported
15years of work
Stories of change
Stories of change
Donors, volunteers and partners on why they give and what they have seen it achieve.
I started with a single gift. Two years later I give every month.
Owen HaddadMonthly donor since 2019Easy to give, easy to understand, and the impact is real.
Ava DelgadoVolunteer coordinatorMy children chose to donate their birthday money here.
Mateo HarlowFundraiser, city marathonThe updates show exactly where my money goes. That transparency matters to me.
Hana IbrahimWeekend volunteerVolunteering on Saturdays has become the highlight of my week.
Lea BrennanCorporate partnerSeeing photos of the finished well brought me to tears.
Kenji AshfordFirst-time donorInsights
Visit the blog Stories and updates
Featured
Meet the partners behind our water projects
Local committees choose the well sites, train repair teams and collect small fees that keep the pumps running for a decade.
By Ethan Patel · Sep 21, 2026
FAQ
Questions about giving
Everything you need to know before you start.
Can I cancel a monthly gift?
Of course, at any time, with one click or one call.
How much of my donation goes to projects?
Ninety cents of every dollar goes directly to our programmes.
Is my donation tax-deductible?
Yes, and you receive a receipt by email straight away.
How can I volunteer?
Sign up online and we will invite you to an introduction session.
Can I choose where my money goes?
Yes, you can give to a specific project or where the need is greatest.
Can my company get involved?
We offer matched giving, team volunteering days and partnerships.
Still have questions?Our team is happy to help.
Lumen Co372 Station Street, Auckland
Contact
Get in touch
Questions about a gift, volunteering or a company partnership? Our supporter team replies within one working day.
Our work
Where your support goes
Six programmes, from clean water and schooling to animal rescue, all run with local partners.
Clean water
Wells built with villages and kept running by trained local committees for at least ten years.
IncludedEnquire
Animal rescue
Shelter, vet care and rehoming for abandoned animals, with every adoption followed up after six weeks.
IncludedEnquire
Education fund
School kits, trained teachers and repaired classrooms for children who would otherwise miss out.
IncludedEnquire