Using GEMS Funding Insights, Strategic Grants has analysed four years of available grant funding opportunities across Aotearoa, from FY21 to FY24, creating one of the most comprehensive views of the funding landscape currently available.
This inaugural report, which will be updated annually, examines funding across regions, funder types, funding categories and application pathways to reveal trends with sector-wide impacts.
By bringing funding data together in a single view and improving transparency across time, the report aims to help funders and charities alike understand where funding is available, identify where gaps exist, and make better, more informed decisions about future funding allocations.
Key findings – top 6
- Overall funding grew but government funding was volatile. Available grant funding increased from $878 million in FY21 to $1.4 billion in FY24* an increase of 61.7%. Large government programmes strongly influenced totals, reflecting four years of COVID-19 responses and resets across all levels of government.
- The funding data landscape is fragmented. The funding sector in Aotearoa lacks a transparent, comprehensive view of grant funding. Better visibility could help reveal funding patterns, identify gaps and uncover opportunities across the sector.
- Government remains the dominant funder. Government funding continues to shape overall funding trends. The full report explores the factors behind significant shifts in government funding distribution.
- Philanthropy is growing but average grant sizes remain modest. The growing philanthropic base is creating more funding opportunities, while also presenting new challenges and considerations for applicants.
- Invitation-only funding is growing, leading to the increasing importance of relationship-based funding. This trend is reshaping how funding opportunities are accessed and raising important questions about equity, access and engagement across the sector.
- Charities face an increasing administrative burden. The changing funding landscape is creating new opportunities, but also increasing the time and effort required to access and manage funding effectively.
What the data means for the sector
What do these findings mean for funders and charities across Aotearoa New Zealand?
Beyond the headline figures, the report raises important questions about how funding is distributed, who can access it, and the time and resources needed to secure it.
For funders, a clearer picture of the landscape can help identify gaps and inform funding priorities. For charities, understanding these trends can support more focused funding efforts and decisions about where to invest time in applications and relationships. Better insights can support a fairer and more effective funding system.
Join Jo Garner and Natalie Edwards on 19 November for a Strategic Grants webinar exploring the six key findings, the trends behind them, and what they could mean for your organisation.
Register Here for the full Funding 2026 report when it is released.
About the author
Alison Black is a Grants Strategist at Strategic Grants with over 17 years of experience working across the for-purpose sector and education sectors. Alison specialises in grant seeking and strategic review and has worked closely with many dedicated for-purpose professionals and volunteers throughout Aotearoa New Zealand.
Alison holds a Bachelor of Science (Statistics).