Bloomsbury blog Three ways to make your giving go further

Bloomsbury newsletter, 19 September 2025

New Zealanders are known for their generosity. In 2024, the Charities Aid Foundation ranked New Zealand 17th out of 142 countries in its World Giving Index. The research showed that 58% of NZ adults donated money to charity and 34% volunteered time.

Generosity isn't about money, but being strategic can make your giving go even further. These three simple strategies could increase the impact of your support for the causes you care about without increasing the cost.

Here are three ways to make your giving go further:

1. Claim the rebate you're entitled to

Our government recognises the importance of philanthropy and wants to incentivise giving. If you donate cash to an approved New Zealand charity, you're eligible for a 33.33% tax rebate on your gift (up to the level of your taxable income). This means that for a $1,000 donation, you are eligible for $333.30 in donation tax credits. Despite this, many New Zealanders miss out. For example, in a recent tax year, more than 60% of Kiwis reported donating to a charity, but only around 8% actually claimed their donation tax credits. That's money that could either reduce your tax bill or be redirected back into causes you care about. Making a simple claim through Inland Revenue's MyIR service can significantly boost the impact of your giving.

2. Use structured giving vehicles

If you want to give regularly or leave a lasting legacy, structured approaches such as charitable trusts or donor-advised funds can be powerful tools. Charitable trusts allow you to set aside money or assets specifically for charitable purposes. The trust is a legal entity, so the funds are separated from your personal estate, ensuring they are used for your charitable goals. Trusts can provide tax advantages and are especially useful if you want to create something enduring.

Donor-advised funds are simpler to set up. When you make contributions to the fund, you are immediately eligible for donation tax credits, then you can recommend grants to your chosen causes over time. Donor-advised funds offer flexibility and professional administration.

Feature	Charitable Trust	Donor-Advised Fund (DAF)
Set-up	Formal legal structure, higher cost	Easy to open, lower cost
Control	Trustees decide on grants and investments	Donors recommend grants; provider approves
Legacy	Can exist indefinitely, family-governed	Continues per provider's rules
Best for	Personalised, long-term giving	Flexible, lower-cost strategic giving

Using a structured giving vehicle can increase the impact of your support by offering tax advantages, flexibility, privacy, legacy, family engagement, and more.

3. Integrate philanthropy into your wealth plan

The most effective giving happens when it's part of your overall financial strategy. An adviser can help you align your charitable goals with your broader wealth plan, whether that means giving now, building a legacy, or bringing the next generation into the conversation. If your current plan doesn't yet account for charitable giving, it's an area worth reviewing.

Kiwis are already generous by nature, but being intentional about how you give can make your support go even further. By claiming your tax rebate, using structured vehicles, and integrating philanthropy into your financial plan, you can maximise your impact on the causes that matter most.

Bloomsbury Associates have deep expertise in aligning our charitable intentions with financial strategies. We help clients give in ways that are structured, sustainable, and impactful.

For more of our insights about charitable giving in New Zealand, please listen to our recent interview with Kathryn Ryan from RNZ, where we discussed our recent white paper: The Future of Charitable Giving in New Zealand.