LW Nelson Charitable Trust

The LW Nelson Charitable Trust helps Northland charitable, educational and community organisations that provide assistance to the aged, destitute or those suffering from a serious mental or physical disability.

How to apply

To obtain an application form, get in touch online, or call us on 0800 371 471.  
Applications are invited annually from September and close on 31 October.

History

The LW Nelson Charitable Trust was established in 1958 by Northland farmer and business man Laurence William Nelson, who died in 1959.

`L.W.' was a self-made man, a very shrewd operator and a millionaire in today's terms.

Careful to the nth degree, L.W. Nelson had the midas touch and by the end of his life had amassed property and investments to generously endow the trust that bears his name; and to-date has given more than one million dollars back to the Northland community.

In announcing formation of the trust, he said that the idea had originated years earlier in discussions he'd had with his wife, Jane Nelson who died at the age of 77.

They had both had been intensely sympathetic towards those who found themselves in poor circumstances, particularly in old age. Mr Nelson said that the primary consideration of the trustees would be to assist Northland's aged and destitute, and those suffering from some serious disability, either mental or physical.

Mr Nelson was named in the 1959 birthday honours list but died before he could receive the award.

The trust is managed and administered by Public Trust.