The Rise of Collective Giving: How Local Generosity Grows Stronger Together
At Acorn, generosity takes many forms. While gifts in Wills remain the foundation of our work, more and more people are choosing to make an impact during their lifetime. By giving to meet the needs of today, people are getting the chance to see their generosity in action now, while still helping to build the long-term strength of the Western Bay of Plenty community.
Over the past year, collective giving has continued to grow as a powerful part of this story. Some people are choosing to give in smaller, social circles — like the Sally’s Angels Giving Circle, a group of friends who meet, pool their contributions, and decide together where their funds will go.
Others are joining larger movements, such as the WBOP Women’s Fund, which now unites more than 100 women across our region to give with purpose on a bigger scale. Both approaches show the same truth: when people come together, their collective generosity stretches further, builds connections, and delivers more impact.
Photo: Craigs Investment Partners, supporting Golf New Zealand’s She Loves Golf initiative to help more women discover the game.
Workplace giving has also seen steady growth, becoming a powerful way for businesses and their teams to contribute together. Payroll giving makes it simple for staff to donate a little each pay cycle and automatically receive their 33% tax credit. When employers choose to match those contributions, the collective impact is effectively doubled.
For some organisations, giving has become a team effort — with staff-led fundraising events or workplace challenges boosting contributions and building workplace connection at the same time. What we’ve seen is that this approach doesn’t just benefit the charities receiving support, it also builds pride and purpose within the workplace itself.
Employees feel part of something bigger, and employers are able to demonstrate their commitment to the community where they operate in a tangible, ongoing way.