Impact Metrics Framework
GiveWell-style cost-per-outcome analysis for New Zealand charities. This framework measures how efficiently charities convert resources into programs, how transparently they report, and how their impact compares within their sector.
Charities Analyzed
28,962
Avg Impact Score
29.5
out of 100
Total Volunteer Value
$770.4m
at $32.50/hr NZ median
Avg Program Ratio
0.9%
of expenses to programs
Highest Impact Score
100
out of 100
Sectors Covered
12
Impact Score Distribution
Distribution of Impact Transparency Scores across all analyzed charities. Higher scores indicate more complete operational reporting, not necessarily greater impact.
Sector Impact Comparison
Average Impact Transparency Score by sector, for sectors with 5 or more charities. Higher scores indicate that charities in that sector tend to report more complete operational data.
Impact Transparency Score -- Methodology
Inspired by GiveWell's cost-effectiveness framework, our Impact Transparency Score measures how completely a charity reports the data needed to assess its operational efficiency. It does not measure actual outcomes or impact -- only the availability of the data required to evaluate them.
Reports program-specific expenses (not just total expenses)
Reports the number of paid staff, enabling cost-per-FTE analysis
Reports volunteer count or volunteer hours, enabling economic value imputation
Reports grants and donations paid out, enabling grant multiplier analysis
More than 70% of expenses directed to programs (GiveWell benchmark)
No data quality or governance red flags identified in CharityData rating
Top Impact Charities
Charities ranked by Impact Transparency Score, with key cost-efficiency metrics. A high score indicates strong data reporting, not necessarily greater real-world impact.
| # | Charity | Sector | Impact Score | Program % | Cost/FTE | Vol Value | Grade | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Visionwest Community Trust | Social Services | 100 | 77.6% | $76k | $264k | C- | 100th |
| 2 | Te Whanau O Waipareira Trust | Social Services | 85 | 37.9% | $335k | $536k | A | 100th |
| 3 | Waipareira Investment Group | Community Development | 70 | 53.1% | $31k | $71k | - | 100th |
| 4 | Royal New Zealand Foundation Of The Blind Incorporated | Social Services | 60 | - | $150k | $6.6m | A- | 96th |
| 5 | The Gift Trust | Community Development | 60 | - | $3.5m | $3k | B+ | 97th |
| 6 | Lichfield Lands Incorporated | Religion | 60 | - | $8.0m | $17k | B+ | 91th |
| 7 | Central Otago Health Incorporated | Health | 60 | - | $22.7m | $2k | A | 97th |
| 8 | Longview Trust | Religion | 60 | - | $4.0m | $8k | A- | 91th |
| 9 | The Evangelical Alliance Relief Fund | International Aid | 60 | - | $302k | $29k | C- | 98th |
| 10 | Neurological Foundation of New Zealand | Health | 60 | - | $530k | $47k | A- | 97th |
| 11 | Ngati Ranginui Iwi Society Incorporated | Community Development | 60 | - | $163k | $5k | A | 97th |
| 12 | The Napier District Masonic Trust | Community Development | 60 | - | $91k | $25k | - | 97th |
| 13 | The Pā Incorporated | Social Services | 60 | - | $152k | $5k | A- | 96th |
| 14 | Grace Vineyard Christian Fellowship | Religion | 60 | - | $158k | $2.2m | A- | 91th |
| 15 | Volunteer Service Abroad Te Tuao Tawahi Incorporated | Education | 60 | - | $262k | $4.4m | B | 98th |
| 16 | Variety - The Children's Charity Incorporated | Education | 60 | - | $371k | $5k | C- | 98th |
| 17 | Te Whakaruruhau 2013 Incorporated | Social Services | 60 | - | $159k | $2k | A- | 96th |
| 18 | Otago Foundation Trust Board | Religion | 60 | - | $2.0m | $7k | B | 91th |
| 19 | The Cranford Hospice Trust | Health | 60 | - | $96k | $1.7m | C+ | 97th |
| 20 | Community Law Centres Aotearoa Incorporated | Social Services | 60 | - | $796k | $10k | - | 96th |
| 21 | Homes for People Trust | Community Development | 60 | - | $296k | $8k | A- | 97th |
| 22 | Beattie Community Trust Incorporated | Community Development | 60 | - | $71k | $96k | A | 97th |
| 23 | Top of the South Community Foundation | Community Development | 60 | - | $118k | $19k | B+ | 97th |
| 24 | Supreme Sikh Society of New Zealand | Religion | 60 | - | $195k | $32k | A- | 91th |
| 25 | Pirirakau Hauora Charitable Trust | Health | 60 | - | $63k | $27k | A | 97th |
| 26 | Te Rūnanga o Kaikōura Incorporated | Community Development | 60 | - | $323k | $2.6m | A- | 97th |
| 27 | Little Company Of Mary - New Zealand | Health | 60 | - | $459k | $5k | - | 97th |
| 28 | Ruapotaka Marae Society Incorporated | Arts & Culture | 60 | 0.9% | $106k | $169k | A | 98th |
| 29 | The Village Square Trust | Community Development | 60 | - | $74k | $5k | C- | 97th |
| 30 | Hamilton Christian Nightshelter Trust | Community Development | 60 | - | $105k | $3k | B+ | 97th |
| 31 | Community Business and Environment Centre Co-Operative Society Limited | Environment | 60 | - | $132k | $15k | A- | 97th |
| 32 | Sport Waitakere Trust | Sports & Recreation | 60 | - | $124k | $29k | A- | 98th |
| 33 | Otaki and Porirua Trusts Board | Education | 60 | - | $560k | $69k | B- | 98th |
| 34 | Sport Hawke's Bay | Education | 60 | - | $71k | $7k | C+ | 98th |
| 35 | One Double Five Whare Awhina Community House Trust | Community Development | 60 | - | $116k | $3k | A | 97th |
| 36 | Hokonui Runanga Health And Social Services Trust | Social Services | 60 | - | $276k | $74k | A- | 96th |
| 37 | Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust | Community Development | 60 | - | $21k | $247k | A | 97th |
| 38 | Te Mahurehure Cultural Marae Society Incorporated | Community Development | 60 | - | $359k | $5k | A | 97th |
| 39 | National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of New Zealand | Religion | 60 | - | $209k | $6.0m | A | 91th |
| 40 | Christian City Church Auckland | Religion | 60 | - | $161k | $982k | A- | 91th |
| 41 | Ngati Rarua Iwi Trust | Arts & Culture | 60 | - | $215k | $128k | B | 98th |
| 42 | Hikurangi Enterprises Limited | Environment | 60 | - | $112k | $8k | - | 97th |
| 43 | LAKE TAUPO HOSPICE LIMITED | Health | 60 | 0.7% | $88k | $1.2m | B- | 97th |
| 44 | Waikanae Christian Holiday Park Incorporated | Religion | 60 | - | $122k | $842k | A | 91th |
| 45 | Te Ora Hou Ōtautahi Incorporated | Social Services | 60 | - | $100k | $113k | A | 96th |
| 46 | DOVE Hawkes Bay Incorporated | Social Services | 60 | - | $100k | $10k | - | 96th |
| 47 | Glenbrook Vintage Railway Charitable Trust Board | Arts & Culture | 60 | - | $291k | $324k | - | 98th |
| 48 | Pillars Ka Pou Whakahou | Social Services | 60 | - | $97k | $417k | C | 96th |
| 49 | Well Foundation | Health | 60 | - | $547k | $255k | A- | 97th |
| 50 | Observatory Village Lifecare Limited | Health | 60 | - | $831k | $39k | A- | 97th |
Sector Deep Dive
Aggregated impact metrics by sector. Average values are computed only across charities that report the relevant data field. Sector comparisons should account for inherent differences in operating models.
| Sector | Count | Avg Impact Score | Avg Program % | Avg Cost/FTE | Avg Vol Value | Avg Admin % | Avg Grant Mult |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Religion | 5,473 | 34.0 | 0.6% | $146k | $114k | - | 304.8% |
| Advocacy | 22 | 30.7 | 0.6% | $99k | $26k | - | 65.5% |
| International Aid | 112 | 30.7 | 0.3% | $321k | $257k | - | 152.9% |
| Social Services | 3,797 | 30.1 | 1.7% | $106k | $119k | 22.4% | 1805.8% |
| Community Development | 3,676 | 28.9 | 1.2% | $220k | $62k | - | 1011.5% |
| Health | 2,418 | 28.5 | 0.9% | $228k | $78k | - | 1580.9% |
| Other | 195 | 28.4 | 0.6% | $208k | $84k | - | 5111.0% |
| Environment | 1,241 | 28.3 | 0.6% | $164k | $96k | - | 334.5% |
| Education | 6,372 | 28.3 | 0.6% | $151k | $66k | - | 2425.4% |
| Sports & Recreation | 2,142 | 28.0 | 0.6% | $131k | $113k | - | 520.1% |
| Arts & Culture | 3,117 | 27.1 | 0.5% | $104k | $79k | - | 880.3% |
| Animal Welfare | 397 | 24.8 | 0.6% | $188k | $185k | - | 2597.5% |
Data sourced from Charities Services register and annual returns. 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.
Data as at 5 Oct 2026 · refreshed weekly from the Charities Register data we hold