A new chapter for community controlled funding

Hi there

Today The Wellbeing Protocol is excited to announce the rebuilt hum.community is now live - and it changes who gets to decide.

For too long, the question "where should this money go?" has been answered by people sitting a long way from where the money lands. Long application forms, competitive funding rounds, complex reporting often means the money doesn't get to the groups that most need it. The current system rewards paperwork over place-based wisdom.

We think there's a better way - and we've been proving it. Pilots across New Zealand, Australia, and the UK have already moved hundreds of thousands of dollars and pounds into community hands as micro-grants, and we're now ready to scale. We're backed by government agencies, foundations, and individuals who share the vision; we've presented at conferences across three continents; and our work has been featured in TVNZ, Philea, Alliance Magazine, Impact Boom, Regen Melbourne, and the NZ Herald.

hum lets communities collectively govern a shared treasury and decide, together, where every dollar goes. No legal entity required. No grant rounds. No 30-page reports. It allows money to flow from multiple sources into a transparent community controlled treasury. 

The rebuild is faster, clearer, and designed for how communities actually work. A single partner (e.g. charity) can now support many community groups without drowning in admin and funders get real time information on where their funds are going. 

.Who this is for

Funders - commit capital to many partner or community treasuries and have the confidence that your money is efficiently going to where it's most needed. You'll have real-time visibility.

Charities and NGOs - become the trusted partner in your region or specialist area, supporting many small groups without running grant rounds yourself.

Community groups -  you don't need to be a registered entity or have a grant writer. You need a shared purpose and a willingness to decide together. With the new Community edition you can sign up in minutes and start to receive funding from anybody. 

Be part of what's next

Every community fund on hum is a small proof that a wellbeing economy is possible - one where resources move closer to lived experience and communities are recognised as capable allocators.

Follow our news on Linkedin and visit hum.community (checkout our new explainer videos) to see the rebuild and start a conversation.

The future of funding isn't more applications. It's more agency.

The team at hum