Three Years Powering the Child Cancer Foundation Street Appeal
How PurposeTech helps Child Cancer Foundation coordinate hundreds of volunteers nationwide to support families impacted by childhood cancer
About Child Cancer Foundation
Every week in Aotearoa, four families receive the heart-breaking news that their child has cancer. Child Cancer Foundation supports these families every step of the way—from diagnosis, through treatment, and beyond.
With no direct government funding, Child Cancer Foundation needs to raise $6.5 million each year to continue their vital support services. Their annual Street Appeal is their biggest fundraising event, relying on the generosity of hundreds of volunteers who take to the streets to collect donations.
The Street Appeal brings together individual volunteers, groups of friends, and corporate teams who “adopt” collection sites to show their support for Kiwi families impacted by childhood cancer.
The Challenge
Coordinating a Nationwide Fundraising Campaign
The Child Cancer Foundation Street Appeal is a massive undertaking. With collection sites across Aotearoa, hundreds of volunteers, and a two-day campaign window, the logistics are complex. Add in the need to accommodate different volunteer types—from solo collectors to corporate teams—and the challenge becomes even greater.
“We couldn't have done it without you! Raised over $300k in 2025!”— Fundraising Team, Child Cancer Foundation
Key Challenges:
- No direct government funding: Child Cancer Foundation relies entirely on the generosity of Kiwis to raise $6.5 million annually
- Nationwide coordination complexity: Managing volunteer registrations and collection sites across all of Aotearoa
- Multiple volunteer pathways: Accommodating both individual volunteers and corporate/team 'Adopt-a-site' groups
- Time-sensitive campaign: Two-day Street Appeal requires precise coordination and real-time visibility
- Communication at scale: Keeping hundreds of volunteers informed with updates, reminders, and instructions
The Solution
PurposeTech deployed a fully branded volunteer management portal at volunteer.childcancer.org.nz, giving Child Cancer Foundation complete control over their Street Appeal volunteer coordination.
The platform supports two distinct volunteer pathways: individuals can browse and book shifts at convenient locations, while corporate teams can “adopt” entire collection sites for a day. Real-time donation tracking with geographic heatmaps gives the fundraising team instant visibility into campaign performance.
Donation heatmap showing collection performance across Auckland
Three Years of Growing Partnership
Partnership Begins
Child Cancer Foundation adopts PurposeTech for their March Street Appeal, raising over $200,000 in their first campaign on the platform.
Record-Breaking Campaign
The second year exceeded all expectations, raising over $300,000 with enhanced platform features including donation heatmaps and improved volunteer self-service booking.
Third Year & Growing
March 13-14 Street Appeal with registration opening early, showcasing a mature and trusted partnership.
Making a Difference Together
Every volunteer hour, every donation collected, every site coordinated helps support Kiwi families through their hardest moments.
Supporting Families
Every dollar raised supports Kiwi families impacted by childhood cancer—from diagnosis through treatment and beyond.
Real-Time Visibility
Geographic heatmaps show donation performance across the country, helping identify high-performing sites and areas needing support.
Flexible Volunteering
Whether volunteering solo, with a friend, or as a corporate team, the platform accommodates every type of volunteer.
Year-on-Year Growth
Three consecutive years of partnership, with the platform evolving to meet the growing needs of Child Cancer Foundation.
2026 Street Appeal
Friday 13 & Saturday 14 March 2026
Registration is open for volunteers to support Kiwi families impacted by childhood cancer.
Register to Volunteer“We couldn't have done it without you!”— Child Cancer Foundation
Learn more about the life-changing work of Child Cancer Foundation at childcancer.org.nz
Ready to Transform Your Street Appeal?
Whether you're running a nationwide collection campaign or coordinating regional fundraising events, PurposeTech can help.