The Whanganui Community Foundation's chairwoman has defended a restructure after criticism it was "bucking worldwide trends".
The criticism came from Philanthropy New Zealand after the foundation said last week it was restructuring its administration and that long-serving chief executive Judith Timpany and two part-time staff would lose their jobs.
Philanthropy NZ chairwoman Kate Frykberg said the Wanganui organisation was "bucking worldwide trends" and that she was "surprised" at the decision to replace the three positions with an administrative provider.
"Effective philanthropy requires a strategic approach informed by deep community knowledge, and backed up by research, assessment and evaluation," Ms Frykberg said.
"An administrative provider is much less likely to have this broad range of expertise.