Giving Architects

Giving Architects Driving positive change for people and planet

Build the relationship before you need the gift 🤝Strong Advancement begins long before a major fundraising need arisesMa...
31/08/2026

Build the relationship before you need the gift 🤝
Strong Advancement begins long before a major fundraising need arises

Major campaigns can create urgency, but sustainable Advancement is built well before the campaign target, building project or major ask appears.

It grows through consistent engagement: staying connected with alumni and families, listening to your community, demonstrating impact, strengthening trust and creating opportunities for people to participate in the life and future of the institution.

That work matters because philanthropy is ultimately relational.
When a significant opportunity does arise, institutions with established relationships, strong leadership engagement and a genuine culture of participation are starting from a very different position.

The campaign may have a start date. The relationships behind it should not.

Advancement is not simply another word for fundraising. Fundraising is an important part of the picture, but strong Adva...
28/08/2026

Advancement is not simply another word for fundraising. Fundraising is an important part of the picture, but strong Advancement goes much further 🚀

It is about building meaningful, long-term relationships between an institution and the people who care about its future - alumni, families, staff, donors, community partners and supporters. When alumni engagement, philanthropy, communications and institutional priorities work together, Advancement becomes a strategic function that can strengthen connection, participation and support over many years.

For education leaders, the question is not only “How do we raise more?” It is also “How do we build a community that wants to stay connected, contribute and be part of where we are going?”

We will be continuing this conversation at the Educate+ International Conference in Brisbane, 1–4 September. If you are attending, come and see the Giving Architects team for a chat about what effective Advancement could look like in your institution.

Nobody Writes the Impact Report on the Day It’s Due. And the best impact reports are not simply written. They are built....
21/07/2026

Nobody Writes the Impact Report on the Day It’s Due. And the best impact reports are not simply written. They are built.

When strong evidence, donor insight and human judgement come first, AI can help turn them into clearer, faster and far more meaningful impact reports which resonate with donors.

In this article, our AI Specialist Ross Imbler, MA, CFRE, reveals the often-overlooked step that can make or break the quality of an AI-assisted impact report.

Hint: it is not the prompt!

Check out the article here:
https://www.givingarchitects.com/nobody-writes-the-impact-report-on-the-day-its-due/

Stronger fundraising decisions often begin with better board conversations.We were grateful to receive this reflection f...
29/06/2026

Stronger fundraising decisions often begin with better board conversations.

We were grateful to receive this reflection from Ian McInnes, Chief Executive Officer of Tearfund New Zealand, following Clive’s contribution to their board discussion.

The work of a board is not to become involved in the day-to-day detail of fundraising. But when boards are engaged strategically, they can play a powerful role in helping an organisation understand the realities of growth, donor acquisition, retention, investment, and long-term sustainability.

Thank you, Ian, for the generous words and for the important work Tearfund New Zealand continues to lead.

If you missed our article, here is a quick breakdown of the 5 questions every board should be asking about fundraising.B...
23/06/2026

If you missed our article, here is a quick breakdown of the 5 questions every board should be asking about fundraising.

Boards do not need to be involved in the day-to-day detail of fundraising.
But they do have an important role to play in creating the conditions for fundraising to succeed. That starts with asking better questions.

The strongest fundraising organisations are often those where fundraising is understood as a shared organisational priority, supported by leadership, governance, and the team around it.

Stronger fundraising often begins with simply asking better questions.

We are excited to partner with FIA NZ - Southern for an upcoming workshop on major donor fundraising, where our very own...
23/06/2026

We are excited to partner with FIA NZ - Southern for an upcoming workshop on major donor fundraising, where our very own Clive Pedley FFIA CFRE, will share his expertise on making major gifts practical, purposeful, and relationship-led.

Whether you are building a major gifts programme from scratch or looking to strengthen an existing one, you will leave with real strategies for identifying potential donors, having better conversations, and growing philanthropic partnerships that last.

📅 Tuesday 21 July, 3:30–5:00pm
📍 Christchurch: The Court Theatre – Ravenscar Lounge
📍 Dunedin: University of Otago, Science Library, online
💵 Members NZ$35 | Non-members NZ$40

After the workshop, attendees are invited to continue the conversation at a free networking evening from 5:00–7:00pm, open to both members and non-members, with nibbles provided

A big thank you to the FIA NZ - Southern Committee for bringing this event together and for the opportunity to be part of this important conversation. We are looking forward to meeting and connecting with the amazing fundraisers across the Southern region.

Register here 👇🏻
Major Gifts Made Practical: https://lnkd.in/edXkjtUm
Networking: https://lnkd.in/eirVHFz6

A little reminder when it comes to donor stewardship:The gift is only one moment in the relationship. What happens next ...
16/06/2026

A little reminder when it comes to donor stewardship:
The gift is only one moment in the relationship. What happens next matters.

A donor’s connection can deepen when they feel their generosity was noticed, their gift made a difference, and their trust was well placed.

Good stewardship is not just a thank-you. It is how an organisation honours the relationship behind the gift with care, consistency, and purpose.

Because donors do not stay connected by accident. They stay connected when they feel informed, valued, and part of the mission’s unfolding story.

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We are delighted to welcome Anna Baird to the Giving Architects whānau! With more than 20 years’ experience across the f...
15/06/2026

We are delighted to welcome Anna Baird to the Giving Architects whānau!

With more than 20 years’ experience across the for-purpose sector in New Zealand and Australia, Anna brings a powerful blend of fundraising expertise, strategic insight, governance understanding and hands-on operational leadership.

Anna's experience and skills amplify our ability to support organisations at every stage of their fundraising journey from building programmes from the ground up, to diversifying income, deepening donor relationships, preparing for major campaigns, and aligning philanthropic investment with long-term impact.

Just as importantly, Anna brings warmth, energy and a practical, people-centred approach to her work. She understands the realities facing for-purpose organisations and brings the clarity, focus and heart needed to help turn ambition into meaningful impact.

We are thrilled to have Anna join our team and look forward to our clients and partners experiencing the insight, generosity and expertise she brings.

Welcome aboard Anna! ☺️

Visit Anna's profile here 👉 https://www.givingarchitects.com/team-members/anna-baird/

Sustainable fundraising is not about chasing every opportunity.It is about building a stronger, more balanced fundraisin...
10/06/2026

Sustainable fundraising is not about chasing every opportunity.
It is about building a stronger, more balanced fundraising mix, one that gives your organisation greater confidence, resilience, and room to grow. For many organisations, over-reliance on one or two channels or a small number of donors can quietly limit long-term potential.

The opportunity is to ask 👇🏻
What would it look like to build fundraising that is not just active, but sustainable?

02/06/2026

“Research is the one thing that stands between a loved one and a cure 💜”

Powerful words from Dr Michelle Sullivan, General Manager of Cancer Research Trust NZ, and a reminder of why this work matters so deeply.

It has been a privilege for Giving Architects to walk alongside Cancer Research Trust New Zealand as they began building their fundraising programme from the ground up. Our work together was focused on shaping the foundations of a sustainable fundraising approach, helping the Trust grow its capacity and capability to fund life-changing cancer research for years to come.

CRTNZ is close to our hearts in many ways. Seeing the organisation go from strength to strength, with growing clarity, confidence and momentum behind its fundraising, is exactly the kind of meaningful work that fuels our passion for what we do at Giving Architects.

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing your experience and for trusting us to support such meaningful work. We are proud to have played a part in helping strengthen the fundraising foundations behind a mission that brings hope to so many 💫

Check out our journey together below:
https://www.givingarchitects.com/case-studies/our-journey-with-cancer-research-trust-new-zealand/

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