News & Insights

Giving financially in Aotearoa New Zealand continues to demonstrate resilience, but the conditions underpinning that generosity are becoming increasingly complex. JBWere’s Outlook for Giving 2026 points to a modest 3% increase in total monetary giving, signaling a period of stabilisation after years defined by pandemic disruption and uneven recovrough 2024 and early 2025, global instability, including renewed geopolitical tensions, has softened the recovery. GDP growth for 2026 is expected to sit around 1–2%, with inflation pressures lingering in the near term.

These conditions support modest, uneven growth in financial giving, rather tery.

The macroeconomic backdrop offers a mixed outlook. While inflation eased and conditions improved thhan a strong rebound. Household budgets remain constrained, labour market conditions are soft, and confidence has weakened factors that directly affect giving capacity across both individuals and institutions. Structural shifts in donor behavior are reshaping the sector’s outlook.

While total giving has broadly held up in nominal terms over recent years (growing at around 2–4% annually between 2018 and 2025), inflation has significantly eroded its real value. In real terms, giving in 2025 has returned to roughly 2018 levels leaving many organisations with less purchasing power despite higher overall donations. This dynamic is expected to persist in 2026 if inflation remains elevated, reinforcing the challenge for organisations already facing rising costs and increased service demand.

The for-purpose sector has expanded in scale. Income has increased by approximately 7% and expenditure by approximately 8% per annum since 2018. However, this growth has been accompanied by shrinking margins culminating in aggregate net surplus across charities falling to zero in 2025. Whilst total sector assets have risen significantly, these gains are concentrated among larger organisations, leaving many smaller entities with limited reserves.

The proportion of New Zealanders donating has declined over time (from 68% in 2018 to 58% in 2024); the number of tax-credit-claiming donors has trended downward over two decades. The result is a more concentrated donor base, with fewer people giving more.

Everyday giving remains critical, but major gifts and structured philanthropy are becoming increasingly important, particularly in times of economic stress. Encouragingly, bequests which are historically one of the most resilient forms of giving present a significant opportunity for long-term sustainability. This trend aligns with the growing significance of the $1.6 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer underway in New Zealand.

Non-financial contributions remain essential. Volunteer labour alone was valued at over $6 billion in 2023, exceeding total financial giving and underscoring the broader ecosystem of generosity that supports the sector.

The proposed $100,000 cap on donation tax credits (effective April 2027) could have meaningful implications for overall giving levels, particularly for organisations reliant on major gifts.  JBWere’s analysis of this dynamic can be found here.

What this means for the for-purpose sector is that the 2026 outlook for giving is that generosity in Aotearoa New Zealand remains resilient, but it is being tested. Upside scenarios exist: a stronger economic recovery than projected, increased uptake of bequests, and the use of emerging technologies such as AI to enhance fundraising and impact could all lift giving beyond current expectations.

Ultimately, the projected growth in 2026 is not simply a measure of strength - it reflects a sector adapting to constraint. The ability of financially giving to further support rising social needs will depend not only on the continuation of generosity, but on how effectively it evolves in response to these shifting conditions.

Read our full paper on the Outlook for Giving 2026 here and if you would like to discuss the opportunities and challenges of your context, contact a JBWere Adviser or our Philanthropic Services team.