Navigating complexity with confidence: Not-for-profit insights
Discover how not‑for‑profit organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand are navigating market volatility and evolving risks, informed by insights from Mercer’s latest Global Endowments & Foundations Survey.
Global Endowments & Foundations Survey: Pacific executive commentary
This Pacific executive commentary explores the investment trends and challenges shaping decision-making for NFPs across Australia and New Zealand. Designed to complement the Global Endowments & Foundations Survey findings, it provides local insight to support more informed, confident investment decisions.
Drawing on survey data, the commentary highlights how, amid heightened market volatility, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting macroeconomic conditions, local NFPs are prioritising diversification to help protect long-term spending goals and sustain mission delivery.
Key findings include:
- Pacific respondents are increasingly allocating to private markets – including private equity, private debt, and real assets – to support growth and manage risk
- 82% of Pacific respondents increased portfolio diversification since the last survey, well above the global average
- 59% rate the risk of generating insufficient returns as highly significant
- Despite liquidity concerns, 92% report satisfaction with unlisted asset performance, signalling growing confidence in private markets.
Whether managing liquidity constraints or leveraging scale, Australian and New Zealand NFPs may look to benefit from investment strategies tailored to their size, governance, and mission. Mercer's combination of deep local expertise and global perspective can help support NFPs to build more resilient, diversified portfolios aligned to each organisation's purpose.