We supported this research because we believe Aotearoa needs a clearer picture of how philanthropy is responding to issues affecting women and girls – and where it is falling short.

This report confirms that the gap is real, structural, and urgent. It also shows that while New Zealand continues to see itself as a leader on gender equality, that story masks a far more contested and uneven reality. No national dataset tells us how much philanthropic funding reaches women and girls, yet the best available evidence suggests the share is far too small.

At the same time, rights and protections are being eroded, economic disparities persist, and too many of the organisations doing the hardest work remain under-recognised and under-resourced. This is what makes this report so important. It offers not only a sharper understanding of the problem, but practical, courageous calls to action for funders, donors, and communities.

We hope it prompts reflection, conversation, and, most importantly, change. If philanthropy is to play its part in building a fairer future, then women and girls in Aotearoa must be far more visible in where money flows, how decisions are made, and what we choose to value.

Alice Montague
Chief Executive Officer
Clare Foundation