What Is a Gift Account?

A Gift Account (known internationally as a donor-advised fund, or DAF) is the easiest way to give strategically in New Zealand. It works like a personal charitable account: you donate funds, receive an immediate tax deduction, invest the balance for tax-free growth, and recommend grants to your favourite charities over time.

Giving Directly vs Using a Gift Account

Direct donations are great, but they’re one-off and hard to track. A Gift Account:

Consolidates your giving in one place with a single tax receipt

Lets you plan your giving over time, not all at once

Allows funds to grow tax-free while you decide which causes to support

Removes the admin burden – The Gift Trust handles the compliance and vetting

How Does a Gift Account Work?

We make it simple with a three-step process:

Give

Open a Gift Account with as little as $1,000 NZD. You can name the account and contribute whenever you like. Donations are eligible for a 33% NZ donation tax credit. There’s no pressure to decide which causes to support right away – you can take your time.

Grow

Gift Accounts with balances over $20,000 NZD attract tax-free investment growth, helping your donations do more good over time. Choose from term deposits (the default option), socially-responsible pooled funds, or a portfolio managed by your own financial adviser.

Grant

When you’re ready, simply recommend grants to your chosen local or international charities. The Gift Trust vets recipients and handles the administration.

Key Benefits at a Glance

Immediate tax credit eligibility, even if you grant later

Flexibility to support multiple charities over time

Tax-free investment growth on your charitable funds

Consolidated reporting and simplified record-keeping

Anonymity and discretion, if desired

Involve your family in giving

“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

Get in touch

PO Box 19120, Marion Square
Wellington, New Zealand

04 391 4438

info@thegifttrust.org.nz

What Is a Gift Account?

Giving Directly vs Using a Gift Account

How Does a Gift Account Work?

Give

Grow

Grant

Who Can Open a Gift Account?

Key Benefits at a Glance

Ready to Get Started?

What Is a Gift Account?

Giving Directly vs Using a Gift Account

How Does a Gift Account Work?

Give

Grow

Grant

Who Can Open a Gift Account?

Key Benefits at a Glance

Ready to Get Started?

Get in touch

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