Love Queenstown is a non-profit initiative managed by Destination Southern Lakes – a collaboration between Destination Queenstown and Lake Wānaka Tourism. Love Queenstown and Love Wānaka (our partner initiative over the hill) are delivered in partnership with the 45South Foundation – a donor driven charitable trust that supports localised philanthropy right here in our region.

Love Queenstown funds climate, conservation and biodiversity action exclusively within the Queenstown-Lakes region (bordered by the Cardrona Saddle in the North and Kingston in the South, and including the towns of Glenorchy, Arrowtown and Gibbston). Love Queenstown supports the organisations who are championing this work right here and now, as well as the innovators and the change-markers who are striving to meet the future needs of our region.

Each year, Love Queenstown allocates funds to local organisations and initiatives who are working to benefit Queenstown’s environment, whether that's through native reforestation, biodiversity and pest eradication efforts, waterway health programmes, conservation, wilding control, climate education and advocacy, and more.

We fund immediate environmental need via our annual Impact Grants and are working to grow funding for long-term, future focused projects, with 20% of everything we raise invested in an endowment fund for future initiatives.

Each year we allocate funds to local organisations who operate in the climate, conservation, and biodiversity space. Every dollar raised is spent exclusively within this region, so you know you’re making a difference to the place you love. Funding is available to charitable organisations and initiatives on a contestable basis, with annual grant rounds open each year. Check out previous recipients or learn more about what funding is available here.

Love Queenstown makes it easy for businesses to give back and be part of the collective effort to protect and regenerate Queenstown’s environment. Become an Impact Partner, donate on a monthly basis, or make a contribution per product, ticket, or experience sold. Click through to the businesses page for more information, or reach out to the team to start the journey.

20% of all funds raised are invested in an endowment fund, enabling long-term, substantial funding opportunities that will benefit this place for generations to come. Funds are invested with support from the 45South Foundation.

We pool our funds for collective impact, so no matter how big or small your donation is, it all goes back to protecting our environment in a meaningful way.