A new nationwide survey is asking locals to share why they give, with the aim of better understanding generosity across Aotearoa and strengthening communities in the Top of the South.
Community Foundations Aotearoa, an umbrella organisation of 14 community foundations across the country, is leading the first of its kind Giving in Aotearoa New Zealand Survey.
The survey looks at why people choose to give, either financially or through their time, skills and support, and what barriers may prevent them from doing so.
Top of the South Community Foundation chief executive Chelsea Routhan says the survey will provide insight and data community foundations have not previously had access to.
“What are the barriers to giving? What are motivations to giving, so that we can really understand our community,” she says.
“Because generosity, I think, has a real ability to make significant community impact, and so the more that we can understand that and be insight lead, then we can make sure that we can connect donors with the community so we can make our community stronger for the future.”
Chelsea says the survey goes well beyond financial donations, capturing the many ways people support others.
“It can be things like supporting our neighbours and those kinds of things as well.”
“How people define giving, and what do they call it? Because often you just think of money, but it's so much more than that. And I think our community needs more than that to thrive, so that's what I think this insight will really help us.”
She stresses the importance of having strong local participation and encourages anyone with a spare five minutes to take part.
“That's what we need to know, is not just nationally, but what does it look like here in Te Tauihu, right across our communities, different ages, different cultures, different parts of the region. So that voice will really help.”
“I think generosity and giving has the ability to give a lot of meaning for our community. I think there's a lot of people that want to give that sometimes don't know how.”
The survey is open until Sunday, 27 April. Participants can nominate a charity of their choice to win $1000.
The survey can be found here.
