Businesses can sometimes be portrayed as mere profit-driven entities. However , the conversations we had with business leaders about their response to the recent 2023 floods and the Cyclone Gabrielle disaster revealed that they share a fundamental value: they are an integral part of their community. They dispel the notion that their involvement in recent disasters is solely transactional. They offer a glimpse into what community engagement truly means for them.

First, these business leaders have approached philanthropy as a partnership with communities. The leaders shared a deliberate, often years-long engagement process aimed at earning the trust of community leaders and local councils. Prior to the 2023 disasters, for instance, one business served as a community hub for men's mental health support, which was unrelated to its core business. Another hired local residents to engage with community and government leaders, ensuring business contributions support and complement existing economic efforts. This proactive approach includes directly reaching out to communities, which fosters an on-going understanding of their needs. Their pre-disaster community insights and relationships have allowed them to direct business efforts towards effective and impactful disaster response and building community resilience.

When the 2023 disasters occurred, recognising the complexity of disaster response and collaboration is a recurring theme among these business leaders. They actively engaged with other funders, community-based organisations, and government entities by gathering information on community disaster needs, understanding and clarifying roles and responsibilities of various organisations and entities, and finding disaster response and recovery gaps where these businesses could meaningfully contribute. This collaborative spirit has involved pooling resources for impactful recovery projects and addressing unmet needs that complement government response.

Beyond monetary contributions, these businesses have also demonstrated trust in their communities. This includes financially supporting non-registered community groups and community events, as well as individual relief efforts, such as a laundry service for displaced residents, all of which have improved the lives of affected residents. Another business mobilised the community to organise a sandbag pick-up point in their area. While another has leveraged business products and employees to make their financial contributions go further.

Finally, these businesses recognise that transformative philanthropy involves actions such as advocating for systemic changes through national legislation and mobilising communities to push for equitable changes in local council investment priorities. They have also lobbied for local government authorities to improve their community engagement, ensuring government initiatives meet community needs and interests.

The actions of these business leaders serve as a beacon for other businesses in Aotearoa. Their experiences not only challenge preconceived notions of the limits of business philanthropy but also paint a picture of businesses as integral forces in supporting the development of resilient communities. Far more than a financial transaction, their philanthropy becomes a force that fosters genuine partnerships, advocates for change, and leaves an indelible mark on community well-being.