New Zealand

Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFNZ) is the national body that supports and connects 18 regional community foundations across the country. Established in 2013 and headquartered in Wellington, CFNZ promotes a model of long-term, place-based philanthropy—encouraging individuals, families, and organisations to “give where you live” and create enduring impact through endowed funds. It offers expert guidance on fund setup, legacy giving, and grant-making advice, ensuring donors can match their passions with community needs while growing local capital for future generations.
Through its national coordination role, CFNZ provides vital services to its network of member foundations. These include peer learning and best practice standards, conferences (such as CFANZ Conference 2024 in Christchurch), partnerships with major organisations like Fonterra and Tindall, and resources tailored for professional advisers. CFNZ also supports charitable mergers and the growth of regional funding pools—having absorbed millions from smaller trusts—while acting as a united voice to harness New Zealand’s intergenerational wealth for local benefit .