More than 700 Kiwis leaving gifts in their Wills, and over 1300 current invested funds, tell a story of a quiet evolution that is disrupting charity norms and changing the way that Kiwis give, by helping them to discover more intentional ways to give into communities.

New Zealand lags behind other nations in encouraging bequests to charity, with only 6% of Wills containing a charitable gift (compared to 17% in the UK and 10% in the USA). The landscape is changing, however, as Kiwis discover new ways of giving into communities through place-based giving vehicles called Community Foundations.

Community Foundations partner with local people to grow the resources of a region. Growing from collective community intent and generosity, 18 Community Foundations across the country manage already over $315m in funds - up 21% over the past year alone.

Safeguarding bequests, or gifts in wills, are the speciality of Community Foundations. The network has to date stewarded over 700 bequests, which are together estimated to be worth over $1.2b, for future community funding. Specialist advisors within each Foundation work with Kiwis to help them shape their legacies, providing vital know-how to set up funds that will support community needs for the long-term.

The benefit of the long-term investment model of Community Foundations is illustrated best through the story of Edna Brown, whose humble estate left a gift to support health causes in Tauranga. This legacy gift, established in 2003, formed the first personal endowment fund in New Zealand’s Community Foundations network:

Under the Community Foundations’ invested model, private gifts to communities give back for the long term, illustrated by Edna’s fund which has been gifting and growing since 2003. It will continue to do so in perpetuity (forever).

Eleanor Cater, CEO Community Foundations of Aotearoa NZ (CFANZ), says it’s a successful invested charity model that has been growing across the world for over 100 years, today with 1800 Community Foundations established worldwide. “It’s hard to give well into communities and the Community Foundations model enables giving to remain relevant, to shift and change with community priorities for the long term. Here in New Zealand, the growth of hundreds of funds into a central community structure indicates Kiwis are keen to find more effective ways to give into their communities.”

“What we are seeing happening is a significant shift around the way Kiwis give”, says CFANZ’s Board Chair, Lori Luke. "Intentional and thoughtful giving, utilising local expertise and a common infrastructure, is the way of the future. With the social and environmental challenges that NZ faces, it's encouraging to see so many Kiwis becoming more intentional with their giving".

A giving story – a bequest that honours a wonderful life

At 93 years of age, David has enjoyed a few trips around the sun. When it comes to shining lights in his life, it’s the thought of his wife and soul mate Diana, battling dementia, that brings him to tears.

After a suggestion from one of their daughters, he and Diana have jointly agreed to leave a significant gift in their wills to Hawke’s Bay Foundation, to support dementia sufferers and end-of-life care in perpetuity.

“The concept is a very good vehicle for people who wish to support communities and their interests after they’ve gone.”

“Every day there are so many organisations wanting financial support, you can’t assist everybody. You’ve got to choose the vehicle that you want. My family have been so affected by dementia through Diana’s journey, so our bequest is a way of giving back,” says David.

“We’ve had 66 years together and enjoyed a great life and if, like us, you’ve got an ounce of philanthropy in you, then Hawke’s Bay Foundation is a wonderful vehicle to put it into practice.”

David and Diana’s generous bequest will be directed to the Dementia Relief Fund at Hawke’s Bay Foundation. .All donations made to the Dementia Relief Fund will be invested, distributing the investment returns earned to causes supporting those impacted by dementia.

Read more at: https://hawkesbayfoundation.org.nz/pledge-to-help-hawkes-bay-dementia-sufferers/

September is Wills Month and CFANZ spearhead this campaign each year, helping Kiwis consider how they can intentionally shape their legacies for the future of Aotearoa NZ.

Learn more about CFANZ and Wills Month here: https://communityfoundations.org.nz/september-is-wills-month

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