Our services
Trust · Church · Self
COAT offers a range of services tailored to Christian charities and churches, providing the support and resources they need to succeed in their mission — alongside a more personal service designed to grow Christian leadership, whether for an individual leader or a whole team.
Charity governance reviews
Our mission is to foster faith and trust in Christian organisations — churches, charities and schools — so they achieve more effective outcomes. We believe the love and teaching of Jesus are essential for our world, and that Christian organisations play a crucial role in society.
We want those organisations to be effective in their mission and to govern themselves in a way that withstands public scrutiny. Christian organisations should set the benchmark for exemplary behaviour, and COAT exists to help the sector reach it.
We do this by
- Defining and publishing a set of standards for accountable behaviour in Christian organisations and churches.
- Accrediting organisations that meet those standards.
- Listing accredited organisations in our directory.
- Offering resources, training and support to strengthen accountability.
- Encouraging donors and volunteers to support organisations committed to good governance, transparency and accountability.
Our model is straightforward and draws on established patterns in the United States, Canada and Australia. Christian organisations commit to our standards, demonstrate compliance, pay a fee, and work with us on ongoing monitoring. In exchange they may display the COAT Accredited seal on their website and appear in our Give Confidently directory.
The ten principles of COAT accreditation
Every COAT-accredited organisation is assessed against ten foundational principles drawn from Scripture, New Zealand law and leading governance practice. These principles apply at every certification tier — from Bronze through to Platinum.
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Principle 1
Christian Identity & Purpose
The organisation must publicly declare its Christian ethos, affirm a Statement of Faith consistent with orthodox Christianity, and ensure its governance is grounded in that identity. Governance is stewardship, not administration — the organisation belongs to God, not to its leaders.
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood." — Acts 20:28
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Principle 2
Legal Compliance & Charitable Status
The organisation must be a registered, legitimate, and active charity under New Zealand law, meeting all statutory obligations of the Charities Act 2005, Trusts Act 2019, and/or Incorporated Societies Act 2022.
"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God." — Romans 13:1
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Principle 3
Diligent Governance
The organisation must be governed by a properly constituted body that meets regularly, keeps records, and acts with care, diligence, and appropriate independence.
"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." — Proverbs 21:5
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Principle 4
Responsible Leadership
Governance authority must be genuinely shared — no individual carries it alone. Governing body members must meet biblical and organisational character criteria, be properly inducted, developed, and held to account. Conflicts of interest must be managed with transparency.
"For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?" — 1 Timothy 3:5
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Principle 5
Charitable Purpose & Mission
The governing body must ensure the organisation carries out the charitable purpose for which it exists, and that all activities align with that purpose.
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much." — Luke 16:10
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Principle 6
Financial Stewardship
The governing body must exercise proper financial oversight: maintaining records, reviewing reports, approving statements, and ensuring appropriate audit or review under NZ thresholds.
"Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds." — Proverbs 27:23
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Principle 7
Risk Management & Legal Compliance
The organisation must identify and monitor its risks, and comply with its obligations under NZ health and safety, privacy, employment, and human rights legislation.
"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it." — Proverbs 22:3
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Principle 8
Transparency & Accountability
The organisation must be transparent and accountable to its members, donors, and the public — through annual reports, AGMs, accessible financial statements, and a working complaints mechanism.
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father." — Matthew 5:16
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Principle 9
Ethical Communication & Fundraising
All gift appeals and communications must be truthful, transparent, and honour donor intent. The organisation must not misrepresent its finances or use gifts contrary to the purposes for which they were given.
"A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight." — Proverbs 11:1
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Principle 10
Safeguarding & Care of Vulnerable People
The organisation must have a functioning framework to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm — including policy, a Designated Safeguarding Lead, worker screening, training, and a clear response protocol. This principle reflects New Zealand's Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care (Whanaketia, 2024) and the Children's Act 2014.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea." — Matthew 18:6