The annual Engaged Philanthropy Review from Perpetual Guardian, New Zealand’s largest manager of philanthropic services, highlights the increasingly important role of structured giving in supporting communities facing rising demand and funding pressures.
While charities across Aotearoa continue to experience growing strain, the report demonstrates how carefully stewarded philanthropic capital is helping organisations deliver essential services, build capability, and create long-term impact. The findings also reinforce the value of funding continuity, with structured philanthropic vehicles providing charities with greater certainty and resilience in an increasingly complex operating environment.
Total philanthropic distributions in FY26 reached $48.4 million, representing a 28.0% increase on FY25 distributions of $37.8 million. More than 2,500 grants were distributed during the year, supporting health, education, social services, environmental initiatives, arts organisations, and community programmes across New Zealand.
Key Themes from the 2025/26 Report
- $48.4 million distributed to charitable causes in FY26, up from $37.8 million in FY25 (+28.0%).
- 2,500 grants were paid during the financial year.
- Social services remained the largest area of giving, receiving $23.53 million, representing 48.6% of all funds distributed.
- Giving to health-related causes reached $10.93 million, accounting for 22.6% of total distributions.
- Education-focused giving totalled $5.05 million, supporting scholarships, research, and pathways to opportunity.
- Environmental causes received $3.71 million, funding conservation, biodiversity protection, and community-led restoration projects.
- The average grant value increased to $19,227.
- Philanthropic funds under management increased to $869 million, while philanthropic assets under management grew to $1.15 billion.
- Perpetual Guardian now supports more than 700 charitable entities across New Zealand.
The report highlights a growing trend toward intentional and structured philanthropy, with donors increasingly seeking ways to create sustainable impact beyond immediate giving. As economic pressures continue to affect the charitable sector, professionally governed philanthropic structures are providing critical funding certainty and enabling organisations to respond both to current needs and future challenges.
Perpetual Guardian Head of Philanthropy Kirsten Kilian-Taylor says the report demonstrates the importance of philanthropy that is thoughtfully structured and professionally stewarded.
“What we are increasingly seeking to do is add funding continuity to the charitable sector wherever possible. Structured philanthropy provides organisations with greater certainty and allows them to focus on delivering impact, building capability and planning for the future, rather than continually responding to short-term funding cycles.”
Perpetual Guardian Group CEO Patrick Gamble says the findings reinforce the value of connecting generosity with purpose.
“The organisations and communities we support are facing increasingly complex challenges. Our role is to ensure charitable capital is managed responsibly and deployed effectively so that donor intentions can translate into lasting impact. The results reflected in this year’s report demonstrate the power of good stewardship combined with the enduring generosity of New Zealanders.”
Perpetual Guardian is New Zealand’s largest manager of philanthropic services, stewarding more than $1.15 billion in philanthropic assets and $869 million in philanthropic funds on behalf of more than 700 charitable entities. Through charitable trusts, foundations, endowments and other structured giving vehicles, Perpetual Guardian continues to help donors, families and communities create lasting impact throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
The FY26 Engaged Philanthropy Review demonstrates that, in an environment of growing need and constrained resources, structured philanthropy is playing an increasingly important role in providing the continuity, stewardship and long-term investment required for charitable organisations to thrive.
