Funding sustainability analysis

Single-funder dependency

New Zealand charities whose latest annual return shows ≥60% of disclosed funding coming from a single source — based on charity-disclosed funder data extracted from Charities Services annual returns. The metric describes operational sustainability risk: if the dominant funder withdraws, the charity’s revenue base falls sharply.

Only charities that disclosed at least 3 distinct funders in their latest annual return are included — at 1-2 funders the top-funder share is mathematically forced and not a meaningful concentration signal. The sustained 3-year flag identifies charities with the dependency present in all three of their most recent returns.

Warning cohort (≥60%)
183
charities
Severe (≥80%)
47
charities
Sustained 3+ yrs
5
high-confidence cases
Combined dependent funding
$51.5M
disclosed pool across cohort
What this measures (and what it does not).Single-funder dependency is a transparency and operational-sustainability observation derived from the charity’s own annual return. It is not a deregistration prediction or a judgment about the charity’s management — research published 2026-05-02 found no association between the metric and deregistration rates. Use it to ask better questions about funding stability, not to draw conclusions about individual organisations.

Most-named dominant funders

Funders that appear most often as the single largest source of disclosed revenue across the warning cohort. Charity counts below ≥60% threshold; sector mix shows where the dependency clusters.

Dominant funderDependent charitiesCombined dependent $Sectors
Pub Charity Limited46$5.3MArts & Culture, Education, Environment +4
The Lion Foundation27$2.8MArts & Culture, Community Development, Education +3
New Zealand Community Trust27$5.7MAnimal Welfare, Arts & Culture, Community Development +5
Grassroots Trust Limited14$3.4MArts & Culture, Education, Health +1
Aotearoa Gaming Foundation10$491KArts & Culture, Community Development, Education +2
One Foundation7$1.3MArts & Culture, Education, Health
Pelorus Trust6$354KArts & Culture, Education, Health
Kiwi Gaming Foundation Limited6$207KArts & Culture, Education, Health
Air Rescue Services Limited5$1.7MArts & Culture, Education, Social Services
ILT Foundation4$1.8MArts & Culture, Education, Environment
Four Winds Foundation Limited4$999KArts & Culture, Education, Health
Oxford Sports Trust3$1.9MArts & Culture, Health, Social Services
Trillian Trust Limited3$1.3MArts & Culture, Education
Blue Sky Community Trust3$867KCommunity Development, Health
Trust House Foundation3$247KArts & Culture, Education, Religion

Where the cohort clusters by sector

SectorWarning cohortSevere (≥80%)Sustained 3+ yrsCombined $
Education54121$7.4M
Arts & Culture51152$28.5M
Health38101$8.5M
Social Services1441$3.0M
Environment730$2.2M
Religion700$263K
Community Development610$621K
Other510$996K
Animal Welfare110$48K

Charities in the warning cohort

183 of 183 charities
Charity SectorTop funderTop shareFundersDisclosed poolFlags
Te Matatini Society IncorporatedArts & CultureMinistry for Culture and Heritage78%3$20.6M3-yr
Philips Search and Rescue TrustHealthGrassroots Trust Central Limited76%5$1.7M
The Home Of Cycling Charitable TrustHealthGrassroots Trust Limited96%3$1.6M≥80%
The Northland Emergency Services TrustSocial ServicesOxford Sports Trust64%4$1.4M
Tino Rawa Charitable Trust BoardArts & CultureTrillian Trust Limited99%3$1.2M≥80%
South Canterbury Hospice IncorporatedHealthPub Charity Limited97%4$1.1M≥80%
The Hawthorndale Care Village Charitable TrustEnvironmentILT Foundation88%3$1.1M≥80%
Jasmine Arts and Culture Charitable TrustEducationAir Rescue Services Limited90%3$887K≥80%
Play It Strange TrustEducationThe Lion Foundation73%3$858K
Auckland Community Education CentreHealthOne Foundation66%3$799K
Counties-Manukau Sports FoundationEducationAir Rescue Services Limited63%7$714K
Asian Community Engagement TrustHealthBlue Sky Community Trust99%3$704K≥80%
The Wish For Fish Charitable TrustSocial ServicesGrassroots Trust Limited73%7$700K
Bay of Plenty Youth Development TrustEducationNew Zealand Community Trust80%8$685K≥80%
Canterbury West Coast Sports TrustArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust95%4$665K≥80%
New Zealand Land Search and Rescue IncorporatedEnvironmentPub Charity Limited90%4$603K≥80%
Auckland Philharmonia TrustArts & CultureFour Winds Foundation Limited63%4$596K
Netball Manawatu Centre IncorporatedArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust67%5$543K
North Haven Hospice Society IncorporatedHealthOxford Sports Trust75%5$465K
Tasman Regional Sports TrustArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust92%3$439K≥80%
Kaitake Community Sports Hub IncorporatedArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust92%5$435K≥80%
Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands' Association IncorporatedOtherPub Charity Limited95%4$433K≥80%
Sport Bay Of Plenty Charitable Trust Board IncorporatedArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust86%3$430K≥80%
New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby Association IncorporatedArts & CulturePub Charity Limited93%4$391K≥80%
Sport WhanganuiArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust94%3$383K≥80%
New Zealand Festival TrustOtherNew Zealand Community Trust66%5$380K
Invercargill Hockey AssociationEducationILT Foundation69%3$347K
Te Tamawai TrustEducationThe Lion Foundation63%3$316K
Fraser-Tech Rugby Football Club IncorporatedArts & CultureGrassroots Trust Limited90%3$305K≥80%
Sistema Aotearoa TrustEducationFour Winds Foundation Limited94%3$261K≥80%
New Zealand Down Syndrome Association IncorporatedSocial ServicesPub Charity Limited93%3$216K≥80%
New Zealand Barbarian Rugby Club IncorporatedEducationThe North and South Trust Limited95%4$212K≥80%
Auckland Hospital FoundationHealthThe Lion Foundation64%3$212K
Horowhenua Sports Turf TrustEducationOne Foundation63%3$205K
Wairarapa Youth Charitable TrustArts & CultureTrust House Foundation89%3$198K≥80%
Hamilton Rowing Club IncorporatedHealthGrassroots Trust Limited79%3$190K
Napier Civic Choir IncorporatedArts & CulturePub Charity Limited70%6$183K
Te Waiariki Purea TrustEducationNew Zealand Community Trust67%3$181K
Capital Zone Basketball TrustArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust81%3$180K≥80%
Envirohub Marlborough Charitable TrustEnvironmentPub Charity Limited74%5$176K
Hamilton Star University Cricket Club IncorporatedEducationGrassroots Trust Limited72%7$168K
Miharo Murihiku TrustEducationILT Foundation76%3$166K
Marist Brothers Old Boys Rugby Club (Auckland) IncorporatedArts & CultureThe North and South Trust Limited85%5$165K≥80%
Brain Injured Children TrustSocial ServicesThe Lion Foundation77%3$163K
Women In Sport Aotearoa IncorporatedEducationNew Zealand Community Trust79%3$159K
Gisborne Basketball Association IncorporatedArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust78%3$153K
Akal FoundationCommunity DevelopmentBlue Sky Community Trust85%3$148K≥80%
Q E Health LimitedHealthOne Foundation76%3$148K
Auckland University Of Technology FoundationEducationThe Lion Foundation68%3$147K
Bay of Plenty Golf IncorporatedArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust70%3$143K
Camellia House TrustSocial ServicesThe Lion Foundation69%4$138K
Southern Steam Train Charitable TrustArts & CultureILT Foundation62%3$130K
Holocaust Centre Of New Zealand IncorporatedEducationThe Lion Foundation72%4$124K
Kidz Need Dadz Charitable Trust Wellington (Incorporated)HealthPub Charity Limited61%3$124K
Habitat for Humanity (Nelson) LimitedCommunity DevelopmentMainland Foundation Limited63%3$123K
Horowhenua Agricultural Pastoral And Industrial Association IncorporatedArts & CultureOne Foundation67%3$120K
Parents Centre New Zealand IncorporatedCommunity DevelopmentAotearoa Gaming Foundation64%4$119K
Project Kiwi TrustEnvironmentPub Charity Limited74%3$111K
Petone Rowing Club IncorporatedHealthPelorus Trust64%4$110K
NZ SPORTS AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUSTHealthRano Community Trust67%3$109K
Conductive Education Taranaki TrustEducationNew Zealand Community Trust70%3$108K
Sporthub Community TrustArts & CultureMilestone Foundation Limited69%3$106K
Hospice New Zealand IncorporatedHealthPub Charity Limited77%4$104K
Green Island Rugby Football Club IncorporatedArts & CultureThe Lion Foundation79%4$101K
Canterbury Golf IncorporatedArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust70%3$100K
Christmas at the Bowl TrustCommunity DevelopmentNew Zealand Community Trust75%3$98K
Age Concern Napier IncorporatedSocial ServicesPub Charity Limited67%3$98K
Hawke's Bay OrchestraEducationPub Charity Limited74%4$96K
North Shore Music Theatre IncorporatedEducationThe Lion Foundation69%4$95K
Thames Valley Hockey Association IncorporatedEducationGrassroots Trust Limited64%3$94K
Auckland Rescue Helicopter TrustHealthFour Winds Foundation Limited83%3$91K≥80%
Taranaki Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Association IncorporatedHealthNew Zealand Community Trust66%3$89K
Lake Rotoiti Outdoor Education TrustEducationPub Charity Limited69%3$87K
Wanganui Group Of The Riding For The Disabled Association IncorporatedSocial ServicesNew Zealand Community Trust92%3$87K≥80%3-yr
Feilding Golf Club IncorporatedHealthNew Zealand Community Trust79%3$86K
Picton Maritime Festival TrustReligionPub Charity Limited66%4$85K
NorthSport Academy LimitedEducationConstellation Communities Trust73%3$82K
Life Education Trust Waipa King CountryHealthGrassroots Trust Limited70%3$80K
City Mission Palmerston NorthCommunity DevelopmentThe Lion Foundation71%3$80K
Mountains to Sea Wellington TrustEducationPelorus Trust65%3$75K
Taima KoreroHealthAotearoa Gaming Foundation82%3$73K≥80%
Manta Watch New Zealand Charitable TrustHealthPub Charity Limited95%3$71K≥80%
Kaisen TrustOtherPub Charity Limited62%4$71K
Morrinsville Art Gallery Charitable TrustEducationThe Lion Foundation64%3$70K
New Brighton Community Gardens TrustEnvironmentPub Charity Limited86%3$70K≥80%
Special Olympics Hutt Valley TrustEducationPelorus Trust62%3$70K
Feeding RotoruaOtherPub Charity Limited67%3$68K
Life Education Trust Wellington CityEducationThe Lion Foundation67%4$67K
West Coast Riding for the Disabled IncorporatedSocial ServicesPub Charity Limited76%3$66K
Wellington Art Club IncorporatedArts & CultureNew Zealand Community Trust62%4$65K
St John Tokoroa Area CommitteeHealthGrassroots Trust Limited72%3$64K
Maramarua Golf Club (Incorporated)HealthNew Zealand Community Trust64%3$63K
SCIP LimitedHealthAotearoa Gaming Foundation66%3$61K
Cambridge Community House TrustEducationGrassroots Trust Limited87%3$61K≥80%
Taranaki Retreat TrustReligionNew Zealand Community Trust67%3$60K
Guardians of the Bay of Islands IncorporatedEnvironmentPub Charity Limited62%5$59K
New Plymouth Surfriders Club IncorporatedArts & CultureKiwi Gaming Foundation Limited64%3$58K
Saiyans Sports Club IncorporatedHealthPelorus Trust66%5$58K
Whangarei Agricultural and Pastoral SocietyArts & CultureOxford Sports Trust66%3$58K
Cycling Without Age Lower Hutt Charitable TrustArts & CulturePub Charity Limited95%3$57K≥80%
Whakatane District Community Arts Council IncorporatedArts & CultureAotearoa Gaming Foundation82%3$57K≥80%
Peter Pomare FoundationEducationPub Charity Limited88%3$56K≥80%
Wanaka Rowing Club IncorporatedArts & CultureThe Lion Foundation64%3$56K
Macular Degeneration New ZealandEducationAotearoa Gaming Foundation69%3$54K
Bream Head Conservation TrustEducationPub Charity Limited86%3$54K≥80%
INDIAN COMMUNITY SOUTHLAND INCORPORATEDCommunity DevelopmentAotearoa Gaming Foundation62%3$54K
New Zealand String Quartet TrustEducationPub Charity Limited71%6$53K
Citizens Advice Bureau Napier IncorporatedSocial ServicesPub Charity Limited77%4$53K
Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service IncorporatedEnvironmentPub Charity Limited80%3$51K
Diving New Zealand (Incorporated)Arts & CultureFour Winds Foundation Limited63%4$51K
Whangaroa Health Services TrustHealthPub Charity Limited65%3$50K
Backline Charitable TrustEducationPub Charity Limited67%4$50K
Garden Marlborough 2004 IncorporatedEducationPub Charity Limited88%3$50K≥80%
Orchestrate Hawke's BayEducationPub Charity Limited84%3$50K≥80%
Royal New Zealand Institute Of Horticulture Education TrustEducationTrillian Trust Limited87%3$48K≥80%
Waikanae Bridge Club IncorporatedAnimal WelfareNew Zealand Community Trust83%3$48K≥80%
Taupo Marist IncorporatedEducationPub Charity Limited78%3$48K
Canterbury Basketball Association IncorporatedEducationKiwi Gaming Foundation Limited73%4$48K3-yr
Picton Dawn Chorus IncorporatedEducationPub Charity Limited63%4$47K
Marist Softball Club IncorporatedArts & CultureGrassroots Trust Limited84%4$46K≥80%
Auckland Festival of Photography TrustOtherMilestone Foundation Limited71%3$45K
Picton Community Creche IncorporatedEducationPub Charity Limited66%3$44K
Blues Charitable TrustEducationGrassroots Trust Limited76%3$43K
Vulnerable Support Charitable TrustHealthThe Lion Foundation71%3$43K
Clothed in LoveSocial ServicesAir Rescue Services Limited87%3$42K≥80%
Glen Innes Family Centre Charitable TrustHealthThe Lion Foundation82%3$42K≥80%
Far North Palliative And Cancer Care Charitable TrustHealthOxford Sports Trust Incorporated79%3$41K
The Warrington Surf Life Saving Club IncorporatedArts & CultureOne Foundation61%4$41K
Harlequin Music Theatre IncorporatedArts & CulturePub Charity Limited62%4$40K
Vertical Horizon Camp ReligionNew Zealand Community Trust62%3$39K
Kingdom Resources LimitedHealthKiwi Gaming Foundation Limited85%3$38K≥80%
DIGITS CHARITABLE TRUSTEducationPub Charity Limited82%3$38K≥80%
Te Awa Kairangi Access TrustEducationPub Charity Limited64%3$38K
Capital Theatre Productions TrustArts & CultureThe Lion Foundation80%4$38K
QE II Swim Club IncorporatedArts & CulturePub Charity Limited69%3$36K
Bread of Life TrustEducationLion Foundation70%3$36K
The Bay of Islands Singers IncorporatedArts & CulturePub Charity Limited77%3$36K
Resonance Ensemble NZ TrustArts & CultureKiwi Gaming Foundation Limited63%4$35K
Te Puke Tigers Rugby League Club IncorporatedArts & CultureWe Care Community Trust69%3$35K
Camp Quality New ZealandHealthPelorus Trust92%3$34K≥80%3-yr
Wesley Wellington Mission IncorporatedReligionTrust House Foundation73%3$34K
Make/Shift Spaces IncorporatedEducationThe Lion Foundation82%3$33K≥80%
Waikato University Rowing Club IncorporatedEducationGrassroots Trust Limited63%3$32K
Christchurch Group N. Z. Riding for the Disabled Association IncorporatedSocial ServicesThe Trusts Community Foundation63%3$32K
Waiotapu Forest School Camp TrustEducationAotearoa Gaming Foundation75%3$30K
Whanganui Creative SpaceArts & CultureThe Lion Foundation63%3$30K3-yr
Special Olympics Manukau TrustEducationTrillian Trust Limited64%4$30K
Maranui Surf Life Saving Club IncorporatedArts & CultureTAB New Zealand71%4$29K
West Melton Rugby Football Club IncorporatedArts & CultureAir Rescue Services Limited65%3$28K
Art Hawke's Bay IncorporatedArts & CultureFirst Light Community Foundation Limited61%4$27K
Mairangi Bay Play CentreEducationPub Charity Limited74%3$27K
ONEONESIX TrustEducationPub Charity Limited60%4$26K
Waipu Caledonian Charitable TrustEducationGrassroots Trust Limited66%3$24K
Mountain Green Archery Club IncorporatedHealthThe Trusts Community Foundation63%3$24K
Busting With Life Dragon Boat Team IncorporatedHealthThe Lion Foundation88%3$23K≥80%
Adult Conductive Education TrustHealthPub Charity Limited79%3$23K
Life Education Trust Gisborne East Coast and WairoaHealthLion Foundation67%3$22K
REGENT COMMUNITY TRUSTReligionPub Charity Limited71%3$21K
Tauranga Regional Free Kindergarten Association IncorporatedEducationPub Charity Limited63%3$20K
Hokitika Volunteer Fire Brigade IncorporatedSocial ServicesAir Rescue Services Limited62%3$20K
The Marlborough Sounds Restoration TrustArts & CulturePub Charity Limited62%4$20K
Otago Symphonic Band IncorporatedArts & CultureAotearoa Gaming Foundation61%4$19K
Metropolitan Scottish Pipe Band IncorporatedArts & CultureKiwi Gaming Foundation Limited67%3$18K
The Dunedin Chapter Sweet Adelines International IncorporatedArts & CultureAotearoa Gaming Foundation88%3$18K≥80%
Nelson City Brass IncorporatedEducationThe Lion Foundation60%3$17K
Hakeke Street Community CentreHealthThe Lion Foundation63%3$16K
Forward FoundationArts & CultureLion Foundation62%3$16K
Upper Hutt Toy Library IncorporatedEducationTrust House Foundation61%3$16K
Perinatal Support Nelson IncorporatedHealthThe Lion Foundation66%3$15K
Takapuna Community Facilities TrustHealthBlue Sky Community Trust63%3$15K
ConnectReligionLion Foundation62%3$13K
Te Puru Community Charitable TrustArts & CulturePub Charity Limited79%3$13K
Vincents Art Workshop IncorporatedEducationNew Zealand Community Trust79%3$13K
Sailability Tauranga Charitable TrustReligionNew Zealand Community Trust71%3$12K
Rangiora Toy Library IncorporatedArts & CultureThe Lion Foundation65%5$12K
Christchurch South Community Gardens TrustArts & CulturePub Charity Limited74%3$11K
Maca Sports Leadership Charitable TrustEducationNew Zealand Community Trust60%3$10K
Mothers' Network (Wellington) IncorporatedHealthOne Foundation62%3$9K
Road Safety Education LimitedHealthKiwi Gaming Foundation Limited69%3$9K
Citizens Advice Bureau Upper Hutt IncorporatedSocial ServicesAotearoa Gaming Foundation84%3$9K≥80%
The Marlborough Vintage And Farm Machinery Society IncorporatedArts & CulturePelorus Trust66%3$8K
Riding For Disabled - Cambridge IncorporatedSocial ServicesGrassroots Trust Limited70%3$7K
The South Waikato Arts TrustArts & CultureOne Foundation62%3$7K

Each charity links to its full profile, where you can review the rating methodology, named funders, and any right-of-reply correction submitted by the charity. Numbers update nightly from the latest annual returns.

Single-funder dependency analysis: New Zealand charities

183 New Zealand charities show single-funder dependency in their latest annual return, with a top-funder share of 60% or higher and at least 3 distinct funders disclosed. 47 are in the severe tier (≥80% from one source). 5 have sustained the dependency across all three of their most recent annual returns. Combined dependent funding pool: $51.5Macross 27 distinct dominant funders and 9 sectors.

Most-named dominant funders

  • Pub Charity Limited: 46 dependent charities, $5.3M combined disclosed funding
  • The Lion Foundation: 27 dependent charities, $2.8M combined disclosed funding
  • New Zealand Community Trust: 27 dependent charities, $5.7M combined disclosed funding
  • Grassroots Trust Limited: 14 dependent charities, $3.4M combined disclosed funding
  • Aotearoa Gaming Foundation: 10 dependent charities, $491K combined disclosed funding
  • One Foundation: 7 dependent charities, $1.3M combined disclosed funding
  • Pelorus Trust: 6 dependent charities, $354K combined disclosed funding
  • Kiwi Gaming Foundation Limited: 6 dependent charities, $207K combined disclosed funding
  • Air Rescue Services Limited: 5 dependent charities, $1.7M combined disclosed funding
  • ILT Foundation: 4 dependent charities, $1.8M combined disclosed funding

Data sourced from Charities Services annual returns and shared.charity_funder_concentration_mv (#2726, methodology v1.2). Our datasets may not be complete. Automated analysis can produce errors. If you believe any data on this page is incorrect, please contact us at hello@charitydata.co.nz.

For informational purposes only. Not investment advice.