Investment options

Gift Accounts with balances above $20,000 can choose to have their funds invested, either in term deposits, one of our pooled socially-responsible investment funds, or through your chosen financial adviser. You can read more about these options below. Any growth or loss from the options you choose will be credited to or debited from your Gift Account balance.

Things to consider when choosing an investment

Time horizon

What’s your time horizon for giving a significant proportion of your funds to charities? If you’re planning on giving more than half of your funds out within the next five years, then you might choose to keep that percentage of your funds in term deposits. If you’ve got a longer time horizon, then you might want to consider our pooled or adviser-managed funds.

Risk tolerance

Like any investment, the value of our pooled and adviser-managed funds can go down as well as up. While our funds are managed by accredited expert financial advisers, and are designed to perform well over the long-term, if you choose to put some of your funds into a managed fund, you may see your gifted funds drop in value in the short-term. If you don’t have an appetite for that kind of risk, then consider placing your funds in term deposits.

Term deposits

This is our default option, so if you don’t let us know your investment preferences, your funds will be added to our term deposit pool. If you choose to place all or some of your gifted funds in term deposits, your funds will be combined with those of other donors in a series of rolling term deposits, to gain the benefit of guaranteed, but modest, growth.

Pooled socially-responsible investment funds

You may choose to have your gifted funds invested in one of our socially-responsible investment (SRI) funds. These are managed for us by an accredited financial adviser and take account of a range of social and environmental factors and exclude investments in weapons and armaments, nuclear weapons, tobacco, child labour, alcohol, gambling, pornography, fossil fuel stocks, and factory farming.

Important note

Funds invested in the pooled SRI funds are currently managed on behalf of The Gift Trust by Bloomsbury Associates, and held by FNZ as custodian. The value of funds invested may go down as well as up. The Gift Trust recommends you obtain independent financial advice before making investment decisions. More information about each fund’s portfolio is available in our Investment Options info sheet.

Investing through your chosen financial adviser

You may instead choose to have your Gift Account funds managed by your chosen financial adviser in an investment style that suits your gifting strategy and values. The Gift Trust team will need to approve your suggested investment plan in advance so if you are interested in this option, please contact us: info@thegifttrust.org.nz.

Open a gift account today

Resources to support your donation decisions

Investment options for donated funds

Guide to Gift Accounts

Donation Tax Credits

Compare types of giving

Different types of donations

Our Donation Policy

Individuals and families brochure

Companies brochure

Philanthropic Advice Package

Philanthropic Advice Package for companies

“The Gift Trust provides a personalised service for my plan to give, donate and support the causes that are important to me at a reasonable cost.”

— Gillian, Gift Trust donor

"The gift accounts offered by The Gift Trust are a good option for individuals or organisations wanting to consolidate their charitable giving. I encourage all financial advisers to consider this important development."

– Dr Rodger Spiller, Financial Adviser, Money Matters

“An area of importance to our clients is charitable giving. The Gift Trust offers an opportunity to streamline the gifting process, while adding increased confidence and transparency. It also provides robust due diligence of eligible charities and access to additional support services for clients with complex needs.”

— Philip Stevenson, Bloomsbury Associates. CEFEX Certified Investment Adviser

“We would like to recognise and offer thanks for the support we receive though The Gift Trust’s donation. An annual donation from one of your donors is one of the largest donations that Kaibosh receives each year and has been absolutely pivotal to our ability to operate with confidence and to expand our operation across the Hutt Valley. We are extremely thankful.”

— Matt Dagger, Kaibosh, Gift Trust grant recipient

“My gift account has made my giving easy. It lets me get straight to the fun and satisfying part of giving to the causes I care about, without the hassle.”

— Anake, Gift Trust donor

"The Gift Trust provides a flexible and robust structure, to support donors' charitable giving intentions, while still enabling them to have a say in the investment of donated funds."

– David Ireland, Partner, Dentons Kensington Swan

"A Gift Account with The Gift Trust is a great option as an alternative to setting up a charity or private foundation while still preserving clients' control over their giving."

– Steven Moe, Partner, Parry Field Lawyers

"The administration and ongoing compliance requirements involved in setting up a private charity can be onerous, and even risky. Setting up a Gift Account allows The Gift Trust to look after those requirements, and provide support that allows the donor to focus on what they really want to do with their gifts."

– Sue Barker, Sue Barker Charities Law

"The Gift Trust takes the guesswork out of giving. Having support with research and due diligence on donations ensures that funds are truly making the desired impact. It has been a real pleasure to work with The Gift Trust."

– Ben, Gift Account holder