Kiwi charity splits from Movember after row about who controls funds

Fundraising | Celina Ribeiro | 24 Jul 2008

A New Zealand charity has severed its links with the Australian-based Movember fundraising organisation following a dispute over how the raised funds should be spent.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand has raised NZ$3m via Movember since 2004, but has decided to cease being a beneficiary of the campaign, claiming that the organisers wanted too much control over what the charity did with the money and when.

Movember is an annual, international event in which men are encouraged to grow a moustache over the month of November in a bid to raise funds for prostate cancer. The Movember Foundation, which runs the events, partners with prostate cancer charities around the world, which then spend the money.

“We were told that unless we spent the money in a timeframe approved by them, and on projects approved by them, then we would not be the beneficiary of any further Movember campaigns,” said Prostate Cancer Foundation president Barry Young.

The Prostate Cancer Foundation said it had been due to announce a two-year research programme to establish areas of need, but claim that Movember wanted the money to be used more speedily.

A Movember spokesperson said the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand was unable to meet its criteria. Its new partners in New Zealand are the Cancer Society and Mental Health Foundation. In the UK, Movember partners with the Prostate Cancer Charity.

Who's Who: Celina Ribeiro

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