More than half of New Zealanders surveyed who already give to charity are interested in leaving a charitable gift in their will, new research suggests, raising the prospect of a significant future funding stream for community organisations.
The research, commissioned by Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand and carried out by independent consultancy BERL, surveyed more than 3,000 people across different regions, ages and income groups.
It found 52.3 percent were interested in leaving a gift to charity through their will.
Of those surveyed, 17.4 percent said they had already included a charitable gift in their will, 25.4 percent were considering doing so and 9.5 percent planned to do so in the future.
The findings come as New Zealand enters what is expected to be a major period of intergenerational wealth transfer, with an estimated $1.6 trillion expected to move between generations over the next 25 years.
Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand says even a small share of that wealth being directed towards charitable causes could have a significant long-term impact.
Strong preference for supporting local causes
The research found a strong local focus among respondents.
Almost nine in 10 people, or 87.6 percent, said they give to local causes.
Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand chief executive Eleanor Cater said the result showed New Zealanders were particularly motivated by organisations and causes connected with the communities where they live.
“Understanding how Kiwis give, what motivates us and what stands in the way is what this research set out to do,” Cater said.
“We’ve found a real interest in structured giving such as bequests, and supporting local causes is a key driver of generosity across the board.”
She said the findings were encouraging at a time when charities were facing difficult fundraising conditions and households were dealing with higher living costs.
The research suggests people are not necessarily abandoning charitable giving when finances become tighter, but may instead be considering longer-term ways to support organisations important to them.
Personal values drive giving, family comes first
The most common reason for leaving a charitable gift in a will was alignment with personal values.
A total of 69.3 percent of respondents who supported the idea said this was an important motivation.
The strongest barrier was also clear.
Some 72.6 percent said looking after family first was the main factor preventing or delaying them from including a charitable gift in their will.
That distinction is important.
The research does not suggest people are choosing charities instead of family.
Rather, many appear interested in leaving something to a cause after making provision for relatives and dependants.
Charitable giving in wills at a glance
| Finding | Result |
|---|---|
| Interested in leaving a charitable gift in a will | 52.3% |
| Already included a charitable gift | 17.4% |
| Currently considering it | 25.4% |
| Planning to do so in future | 9.5% |
| Give to local causes | 87.6% |
| Values are main motivation | 69.3% |
| Family-first concern is main barrier | 72.6% |
| Professional advisers who raised charitable giving | 20.2% |
| Respondents who donated in past year | 90.5% |
| Confirmed gifts in wills across CFANZ network | 785 |
Advisers identified as a missing link
One of the most significant findings relates to lawyers, financial advisers and wealth managers.
Only 20.2 percent of respondents who had received professional advice said charitable giving had been raised during those conversations.
Cater said that represented a missed opportunity.
“While this finding wasn’t a big surprise to those of us who work in this space, we see that as a big opportunity ahead, for small shifts in professional practice supporting the conversations Kiwis want to have.”
Wills are often prepared or updated with the assistance of lawyers and advisers, meaning those professionals can play an important role in whether charitable giving is discussed at all.
The research suggests many people are interested in the idea, but are not necessarily being prompted to consider it when making estate plans.
That could become increasingly important as the value of assets being transferred between generations grows.
Findings need to be read in context
The survey was deliberately focused on people who already give to charity, so the results should not be treated as representing all New Zealanders.
That is clear in the donation figures.
Some 90.5 percent of respondents said they had donated during the previous year.
By comparison, the CAF World Giving Report 2026 put the national figure at 61 percent.
The difference reflects the nature of the sample.
The research therefore provides a closer look at people already engaged in charitable giving, rather than a general population measure of how likely every New Zealander is to leave money to charity.
That distinction matters when considering the headline figure of 52.3 percent interest in charitable bequests.
Even so, the results give charities useful information about the motivations and concerns of existing donors.
$1.3 billion already pledged through community foundations
Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand says its network already has 785 confirmed gifts in wills.
Those pledges are estimated to be worth more than $1.3 billion.
As at 31 March 2026, the network was managing $366 million in invested community funds.
The organisation represents 18 locally based community foundations covering about 90 percent of New Zealand.
Its model involves investing donated funds and using returns to support local charities and community causes over the long term.
That means a gift left in a will can continue generating funding beyond the initial donation.
September puts wills in focus
The research has been released ahead of Wills Month in September, when New Zealanders are encouraged to make a will or review an existing one.
Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand is also using the month to encourage people who are already considering charitable giving to discuss it as part of their estate planning.
For charities, the opportunity is potentially substantial.
The wider challenge will be turning general interest into confirmed commitments while respecting the clear priority many people place on providing for their families first.
The BERL findings suggest the appetite exists.
The next question is whether charities, community foundations and professional advisers can make those conversations easier and more normal for people who want part of their estate to continue supporting their communities after they die.
Source: Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand and BERL charitable bequest research, 2026.