Responding to communities under pressure: a pulse check of philanthropic and grant funding

Philanthropy New Zealand | Tōpūtanga Tuku Aroha o Aotearoa (PNZ) has just released its latest findings on the funding landscape that philanthropists and grantmakers in Aotearoa currently find themselves in.

We heard from 52 unique funders about their distribution levels, changes to practice, and challenges and opportunities in the year ahead.

Read the foreword here

Read the report: Responding to communities under pressure: a pulse check of philanthropic and grant funding

Impacts of COVID-19 on funder distributions and funding practice

In November 2021, Philanthropy New Zealand | Tōpūtanga Tuku Aroha o Aotearoa (PNZ) surveyed its philanthropic and grantmaker member organisations (funders) to explore the impacts of COVID-19 on their distributions and funding practice over the last couple of years.

This survey was a follow-up to the research we undertook in mid-2020 which explored the early and anticipated impacts of COVID-19.

Read the one page information sheet

Read the report — Impacts of COVID-19 on funder distributions and funding practice

Impact Investment in Action – Insights from the field

Philanthropy New Zealand | Tо̄pūtanga Tuku Aroha o Aotearoa are excited to release Impact Investment in Action, a new research report prepared for us by The Connective and funded by WEL Energy Trust.  The report explores this evolving practice in Aotearoa New Zealand through the eyes of early participants and includes insights from the field and practical guidance.

Download the executive summary: Impact Investing in Action Report April 2021 – Executive Summary

Download the full report: Impact Investing in Action Report April 2021

Impact of Covid-19 on the community sector

Philanthropy NZ worked in partnership with the Centre for Social Impact, Hui E! Community Aotearoa and Volunteering New Zealand to produce this research of COVID-19's impact on the community sector. We surveyed more than 1400 organisations.

This provides key data needed for the community sector and those that support them to act.

See the infographic.

Read the summary report and the survey report.

Impact of Covid-19 on philanthropic funding and grantmaking

In May 2020, Philanthropy New Zealand | Tо̄pūtanga Tuku Aroha o Aotearoa (PNZ) surveyed 120 of its philanthropic and grantmaker member organisations (‘funders’) to gain a snapshot in time of COVID-19's impacts on their funding and approaches.

PNZ undertook the survey because many funders investments and revenue streams of, which provide the money they distribute, have been affected. Philanthropic funders and grantmakers are also seeing increased demand for funding given greater community need.

Eighty-two PNZ funders responded. Their giving in the past 12 months represented around $432 million.

Read the one page information sheet.

Read the report – Covid-19 implications on philanthropic funding and grantmaking – Survey findings.

The New Zealand Support Report, JBWere in collaboration with PNZ

JBWere’s New Zealand Support Report developed in collaboration with Philanthropy New Zealand | Tо̄pūtanga Tuku Aroha o Aotearoa puts the country's philanthropic spend at $3.8b a year.

The New Zealand Support Report looks at income the for-purpose sector received from philanthropy and grantmaking in 2018, including the types of givers and a breakdown of causes receiving it. The report also highlights the significant role volunteering plays in New Zealand, valued at an additional $2b a year.

Read the report here.

Read the fact sheet and media release.

Philanthropy New Zealand | Tōpūtanga Tuku Aroha o Aotearoa Stocktake of Environmental Funding Report

Philanthropy New Zealand’s Environmental Funders Network called for research on the amount and type of philanthropic and grantmaker environment funding, due to an identified need for more data in this area.

Foundation North, Rātā Foundation, the Tindall Foundation and the Wellington Community Trust funded this Stocktake of Environmental Funding, which was released in November 2019.

The research identified 102 funders who distributed just under $35m of philanthropic giving to environmental causes. This accounted for four per cent of the total funds these organisations distributed in the 2017-2018 year.

Since then the philanthropic and grantmaker sector has increased its focus on environmental causes. You can read examples of this by the Wellington Community Trust.

You can read a two-page summary of the research here.

You can read the Stocktake of Environmental Funding Research Report here.

If you’re a funder who is interested in being part of the conversations around funding the environment contact info@philanthropy.org.nz