Community Research

The Stable Spaces report is the first significant national survey on the state of independently owned physical arts infrastructure in Aotearoa. The report examines what makes successful asset ownership in…continue reading

The purpose of the Stable Spaces survey was to establish an overview of how the arts are housed in Aotearoa, and how their housing supports their activities. Going into the…continue reading

Community Wealth Building puts people back at the center of local economies by ensuring wealth generated in a local economy is held and invested back into that area, and puts…continue reading

This short article is a follow-up to an earlier article (Godfrey & Williamson 2020). Linked here http://rb.gy/hlhs6q Our earlier findings concerning no diminution of philanthropy during recessions, excepting corporates, seems…continue reading

We want to improve experiences with banks for community organisations. Community Networks Aotearoa volunteered to take leadership of a project to investigate and gather the stories of the sector, the…continue reading

This report outlines two approaches to assessing the intentions and outcomes of the non-governmental organisation, Life in Vacant Spaces (LiVS), in Ōtautahi Christchurch. Ōtautahi Christchurch presents a useful case study…continue reading

This book celebrates a decade of Life in Vacant Spaces, affectionately known as LiVS, and the collection of over 700 projects supported during this time.

Colleagues from the Kaipātiki Project and The University of Auckland partnered on a project to capture the experiences of stakeholders to help identify the people in the local community who…continue reading

The impact of economic crises on philanthropic funding to, and fundraising by, nonprofit organisations is a surprisingly under-researched field. Internationally, data is scant and comparisons are impeded by different categorisations…continue reading

The pandemic of COVID19 has disrupted every aspect of life. From groceries to medicines, travel to events, sports to funerals, economics to politics and religion to social rights all domains…continue reading

The rise of 2.0 Web, Technological convergence and the multiplication of devices has resulted in new sophisticated ways of thinking about digital marketing and have pushed the boundaries towards a…continue reading

Non-profit institutions satellite account (NPISA) provides information about the contribution non-profit institutions (NPIs) make to the New Zealand economy in 2018 and measures of volunteering and unpaid work. NPISA supplements…continue reading

Aotearoa New Zealand is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis, with the effects disproportionately felt by younger generations, single-parent households, Pacific Islanders, and Māori. Housing speculation, fuelled by…continue reading

Independent study that quantifies the gap between what not-for-profit social service providers in NZ are funded to deliver and the real cost. I finds there is an estimated $630 million…continue reading

Urban communities around the world are using farming and gardening to promote food security, social inclusion and wellbeing (Turner, Henryks and Pearson, 2011). In the New Zealand city of Christchurch,…continue reading

This literature review has been prepared for the Kāinga Tahi Kāinga Rua research direction as part of the Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities National Science Challenge by members of…continue reading

The Whai Rawa whenu in the Kāinga Tahi, Kāinga Rua research programme explores the regulations, planning and financing rules, governing structures, and leadership styles that shape current Māori housing. Our…continue reading

This research report summarises the findings of Philanthropy New Zealand’s (“PNZ”) Tangata Whenua and Diversity Project (2018–2019). This project was started due to the lack of research on the philanthropic…continue reading

What place is there for next generation energy such as ‘green hydrogen’? Aotearoa New Zealand needs to look at innovative ways to decrease carbon emissions. This includes increasing our renewable…continue reading

Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 involves transformational change in the business of business, and social enterprises can lead the way in such change. We studied Cultivate, one such…continue reading

This report summarises the key findings of an evidence review completed by the Centre for Social Impact to inform the implementation of Foundation North’s 2018 Strategic Plan. These key findings…continue reading

Foundation North’s new strategy has identified strengthening social cohesion within and between our diverse communities, particularly for refugee- and migrant-background communities, as one of its priorities. This research report was…continue reading

Foundation North’s new strategy identifies South Auckland as a priority community that is disproportionately affected by disparities across key indicators: income, education, employment, child and youth wellbeing and outcomes for…continue reading

Foundation North’s new strategy identifies Northland as a priority community that is disproportionately affected by disparities across key indicators: income, education, employment, child and youth wellbeing and outcomes for Māori.…continue reading

This report, written by Rachael Trotman of the Centre for Social Impact, focuses on the funders’ experience of the VOYCE collaboration, which also actively involved care-experienced children and young people,…continue reading

A new report commissioned by Foundation North, and prepared by the Centre for Social Impact and Ākina Foundation, looks at how impact investment could help the foundation, other philanthropic funders,…continue reading

A new report commissioned by Foundation North, and prepared by the Centre for Social Impact and Ākina Foundation, looks at how impact investment could help the foundation, other philanthropic funders,…continue reading

Project overview: Urban communities around the world are using farming and gardening to promote food security, social inclusion and wellbeing. For Christchurch-based Cultivate, urban farms are not only physical places…continue reading

This report reflects the voices of people most directly affected by the New Zealand welfare system. Between 18 and 31 October 2018, 267 people contributed their perspectives, insights, and experiences…continue reading

I am quite fascinated by the grant making ecosystem and believe that we, as a community, need to understand where grant money comes from, where it goes to, and how…continue reading

Project Background: The Hastings District Council ‘Supporting Social Wellbeing Strategic Framework 2010’, has as one of its key outcomes: Young people connect and develop positively within the community and add…continue reading

Immigrant entrepreneurs play an important role in their host countries’ economies. They contribute to national economies by starting up and running small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). These make up 97%…continue reading

Grandparents raising grandchildren in New Zealand are entitled to the unsupported child benefit (UCB) if they meet the conditions for eligibility. To access the support, they are required to attend…continue reading

This report has presented the results of three research projects carried out in the wider Southland region: interviews with household members about population change; a survey of employers in the…continue reading

This is the ‘first cut’ report of a large quantitative and qualitative study of over 1000 grandparents or other kin in Aotearoa who have their grandchildren living with them. The…continue reading

What has happened in the 25 years or so since purchase-of-service contracting was introduced for government funding of voluntary organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand? This article provides a brief commentary…continue reading

Electric cars are the future of transportation without pollutions. Electric cars industry start to grow fast, but this cars facing some problems like, low speed and the car take long…continue reading

In 2016 the Ministry of Soical Development (MSD) advised that from July 2017 its contracts with funded providers would include, as a condition of funding, the requirement to gather and…continue reading

The cost of homelessness to society and to the individual is difficult to measure, which in turn makes it difficult to formulate and evaluate meaningful policy change to address rising…continue reading

This research looked at some interrelated questions. What are the attributes of an organisation that builds social value? And what is it about faith-based aged care providers that makes them…continue reading

This paper presents the lessons from phase I of the community driven development (CDD) project being implemented in Myanmar. The CDD approach has a special relevance and application in the…continue reading

Although now coming to the fore in New Zealand in a new way, public policy has put increasing emphasis on ‘outcomes’, ‘impacts’ and ‘results’ for at least a quarter of…continue reading

This study examines the financial sustainability challenges and opportunities faced by local NGOs, particularly of those registered as Ethiopian Resident Charities by the law. These NGOs constitute nearly 70% of…continue reading

This research is to evaluate the impact of rural skills development trainings for poverty alleviation in Bulilima district in Plumtre, Zimbabwe. The reason for this research was to find out…continue reading

Ethnic precincts are a relatively new addition to Auckland’s retail landscape and there has to date been little research devoted to better understanding their function and role. Increased knowledge about…continue reading

This paper explores the key components of dysfunctional, criminal and deviant behaviours within and by associational and not-for-profit organisations, and their consequences in terms of practice, application and policy.

This is the first, desk research stage seeking to understand why some Australian Not-for-Profit organisations make voluntary financial disclosures beyond their basic statutory obligations. We found institutional and stakeholder theories…continue reading

The meteoric rise of food bank use in times of prosperity leads us to argue that food banks are institutionalised within New Zealand society with texts reflecting civic, market and…continue reading

Post-quake Christchurch has seen a flourishing of alternative economic activities that work to directly support the wellbeing of residents, often through the volunteer and community sector. This project seeks to…continue reading

Resettlement provides access to rights similar to other New Zealanders and the opportunity to eventually gain citizenship. It also provides an avenue for countries like New Zealand to share international…continue reading

This research explores the principles and practices relating to community economic development (CED), and social enterprise in New Zealand at this time. Success factors and challenges are identified, including an…continue reading

The Jayar Charitable Trust (JCT) was established to invest funds for future distribution into the community through the JR McKenzie Trust (JRMT). Inspired by the late Peter McKenzie, who had…continue reading

Growing inequalities are leading to imbalances in the way people are able to live well and care for each other and the environment. I this issue we report on the…continue reading

Based on a field study in 2013, it analyses the role of coffee production in the socio-economic and livelihoods of small-holders. It presents prospects for livelihoods upliftment and some of…continue reading

Over the last decade, government agencies, the community and voluntary sector, and academics have all noted the changes difficulties, and tensions being caused by government policies and processes surrounding social…continue reading

This report measures philanthropy in New Zealand during 2011; that is, how much money New Zealanders and their organisations (trusts & foundations, individuals and businesses) gave to charitable and other…continue reading

Funding and financial management are critical issues for the not for profit sector. Funding is limited, competitively sought, and differences in funders’ and organisations’ expectations and needs can cause dysfunction.…continue reading

Quarterly giving and volunteering data, published by the Department of Internal Affairs

Poverty is experienced in many different ways and certainly involves much more than a lack of money or even economic power. This report brings together stories of the ways in…continue reading

This research was undertaken to assess the veracity of financial filings at the Charities Commission by charities which are “small” (expenditure less than ,000 pa) or “medium”-sized (expenditure between ,000…continue reading

Presentation slides presented at ‘Reporting on the difference we make’ workshop in Wellington on 9th December 2010.

Giving and Volunteering statistics for the June quarter 2010

This paper looks at the role of NGOs in contributing to government goals and objectives in the health and disability sector, and the future challenges facing that sector.

New quarterly data on giving and volunteering in New Zealand

Accountability is usually assumed to be an unmitigated good for Third Sector organisations – the more the better. While there are some benefits from externally imposed accountability requirements, they can…continue reading

New Zealand’s 97,000 not-for-profit organisations’ survival is reliant upon the generosity of individuals, corporations, trusts, and the government. As New Zealand faced economic downturns between 1986 and 2008, this potentially…continue reading

This report is a piece of action research. It provides a snapshot of how the residents of Merivale, Tauranga feel about their suburb and reveals what they would like to…continue reading

NZCOSS’s first Vulnerability Report shows the recession’s community impact on NGO services. The Vulnerability Report will be produced quarterly and will actively monitor the level of economic and social hardship…continue reading

Announcing the 2009 Survey of Remuneration in the Not for Profit Sector

This research provides a broad overview of the housing sector with particular focus on the needs which are evident. It has a focus on the Auckland and Northland regions being…continue reading

This paper examines the benefits that stem from generosity for givers, receivers and the community as a whole. This paper is the second of a series to stimulate discussion between…continue reading

This is an update on financial reporting in the not-for-profit sector in Australia. This article was prepared in June 2009.

A growing awareness of giving, volunteering and acts of kindness in all their forms offers many opportunities to promote greater generosity throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. The philanthropic and voluntary sectors,…continue reading

This paper builds a picture of what we know about how people currently give in New Zealand, identifies gaps in information and the challenges for the future of generosity. This…continue reading

This paper considers challenges to giving and opportunities for promoting generosity in New Zealand. It sets out proposals from the Generosity Hub for a strategic plan, objectives and initiatives. It…continue reading

These powerpoints were presented at an ANZTSR workshop on 25th November 2008. They present an overview of the current financial reporting requirements in (i) New Zealand and (ii) Australia. The…continue reading

Financial and accounting. This powerpoint file contains slides presented at the ANZTSR workshop held on 25th November 2008.

This paper reports on one aspect of a survey of New Zealand volunteers undertaken in 2007 to develop a broad understanding of active volunteers’ expenses and organisational reimbursement patterns. In…continue reading

This paper asks the core questions: what is generosity, and what does it have to do with the way we live our lives or run our businesses? This paper is…continue reading

Burgess found an average productive capacity measurement of 70% and an innovative capacity measurement of 68% from within the sampled organisations New Zealanders are well known for their entrepreneurial flair…continue reading

Executive summary of the findings of Strategic Pay’s 2008 survey of remuneration and pay practices in the Not for Profit Sector

This is the ‘accidental’ joint funding which may very well describe the situation for the 99 per cent of non-profit organisations that orchestrate the mix of funding they require to…continue reading

This powerpoint file contains slides presented at the ANZTSR workshop held on 25th November 2008.

On 1 November 2007 the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Revenue asked for submissions on ways to simplify the law on the taxation of reimbursement and honoraria paid…continue reading

Research into who gives time and money to different parts of the community and voluntary sector. It draws on market research data collected through the Panorama Survey, which is run…continue reading

This report estimates how much money New Zealanders and New Zealand non-governmental organisations gave to charities and other community purposes during the 2005/2006 year.

This report investigates the fund-seeking experiences of community organisations in Waitakere.

In 2006 the J R McKenzie Trust invited expressions of interest from Maori community organisations for grants supporting whanau development. This resulted in a large and diverse response. This document…continue reading

The radical contracting model by which some government departments purchase services from community based organizations serving people with disabilities has directly contributed to the failure of service provision.

Social entrepreneurs and enterprises in New Zealand have failed to gain the acknowledgement and support to create an enabling environment. This contrasts with countries such as the UK, Ireland, Canada,…continue reading

A presentation to the Health and Disability NGO-MoH Forum on the future of contracting: alternative models to competitive tendering.

This paper examines the economic and social tasks involved in community economic development in urban and rural areas. It considers the role social enterprises (community owned businesses or trading arms…continue reading

This research uses organisational information from a stock-take of social service community organisations in Waitakere. It seeks to develop a snapshot of funding information.

One in a series of working papers to understand the scope, structure, financing, and role of the nonprofit sector of more than 40 countries.

The aim of this research was to identify indicators of an individual’s deprivation appropriate for all ethnic groups, that can be combined into a single and simple index of individual…continue reading

Charities and philanthropy have come under increasing pressure to become more business-like in the way that funds are raised, managed and distributed. This has resulted in emphasising venture philanthropy, or…continue reading

This report presents the findings of a study of Maori organisations surveyed on their funding information needs. The purpose of the report is to build a picture of Maori organisations…continue reading

During the last 20 years, citizens have been taught to behave as autonomous, self-interested, utility-maximising individuals, in a culture based on individual property rights where stealing of property is illegal.

All systems have needs, whether the systems be people, families, communities, cities, economics or ecosystems. System needs are complex. They exist simultaneously, and must be addressed systemically and holistically, rather…continue reading

Increased accountability is often assumed to only be desirable for non-profit and voluntary organisations. This papers outlines some of the risks and dangers from externally imposed, and especially, ‘classic’ (legalistic)…continue reading

NZ Council of Christian Social Services, in partnership with the NZ Federation of Voluntary Welfare Organisations, and in consultation with the NZ Council of Social Services, produced this paper “to…continue reading

Purchase-of-service contracting with voluntary organisations for social services in Aotearoa New Zealand is examined, in the context of international trends and as a part of the long run historical evolution…continue reading

Governments around the world are making increasing use of contracting “technologies” to purchase services from voluntary organizations – both in privatising (contracting out) previously government-provided services and in reining in…continue reading

What is happening to government funding of voluntary organisations in Aotearoa/New Zealand? Where is it heading? What does it mean for voluntary organisations?

As more and more activities – housework, childcare, looking after the sick and the old – become monetised and institutionalised, the values that allow people to provide services to one…continue reading