Pushpay’s American CEO Highlights the Strategic Importance of the Company’s New Zealand Operations
Pushpay, a leading donor-management software provider, is embracing its New Zealand roots even after its acquisition by US and Australian private equity firms. The company, founded in 2011 in Auckland by Chris Heaslip and Eliot Crowther, has kept a significant portion of its workforce in the country, with 108 of its 517 employees based there. Despite global expansion, the company’s new CEO, Molly Matthews, insists that maintaining a New Zealand presence is key to its continued success.
“Having a New Zealand presence is like our secret superpower,” said Matthews, during a recent visit to the company’s new Auckland office, located in the upmarket Vero building. “All of our competitors are primarily based in the US. We feel like it gives us the ability to hire really diverse, unique engineers and product people, and we’re able to really operate on a six-day-a-week schedule.”
The Auckland office serves as a hub for the company’s engineering and software development, with Matthews noting that the firm has recently hired Iain Phillips, former Xero engineering general manager, as Vice President of Engineering. “We had options in the States, but we really wanted to have a firm foundation of leadership here in Auckland,” she added. Pushpay’s Auckland operations also house the company’s user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design teams, as well as its accounting, business intelligence, and data departments.
Transition from Public to Private Ownership
Since its sale in 2022 for $1.53 billion, Pushpay has transitioned from a publicly listed company to private ownership. Reflecting on the change, Matthews stated, “Since changing from a public to a private company, there’s definitely been a few changes. We aren’t reporting on a semi-annual basis, but not much has changed for the people who are working for us.”
Although the company is no longer bound by NZX reporting requirements, it continues to prioritize its connection to the New Zealand market. Matthews emphasized that Pushpay has maintained its commitment to the local technology community, even as it expands into new markets. “We had a tremendous amount of pride being a publicly listed company in New Zealand, and so we’ve tried to honour that and our roots here.”
Pushpay’s expansion into Catholic parishes, following its strong presence in Protestant churches, is a key focus for the company. “We have our core focuses, which are gaining both new Protestant customers but also our big launch into the Catholic community. That has been growing steadily,” Matthews explained. The firm is also exploring opportunities to serve non-profit organizations (NPOs) and has observed increasing interest from that sector.
Embracing New Technologies
As part of its strategy, Pushpay continues to leverage cutting-edge technologies. The company recently completed its “State of Church Tech” report, surveying 6,000 church leaders. One key finding was that “leaders are abandoning the idea of an in-person-only ministry,” a trend that has bolstered Pushpay’s digital offerings, especially since the pandemic. The company saw significant growth during the Covid-19 lockdowns, with 95% of pastors conducting virtual services and donations through its mobile app skyrocketing.
Pushpay’s integration of livestreaming capabilities, bolstered by its acquisition of Resi Media, has also strengthened its position in the hybrid church model, which combines online and in-person services. “What we’ve seen post-Covid is that hybrid — online church, plus in-person church — has stayed. So it’s really made our technology, with Resi Media and some of the other features we have, all the more important,” Matthews said.
In another move reflecting the rise of cryptocurrency, Matthews highlighted the company’s partnership with Engiven, which allows churches to accept donations in crypto and stock. “The generosity coming from cryptocurrency to churches doubled from 2023 to 2024. So we’ve invested in a partnership with a company called Engiven [that] handles crypto and stock donations, and it’s actually been really heavily adopted.”
Pushpay’s Future in New Zealand
Despite its global ambitions, Pushpay remains committed to its New Zealand operations. The company’s new office in Auckland is a testament to that, and Matthews sees the country as a strategic asset in its ongoing growth. “We think of it as an opportunity for us to gain efficiency, to really create more systems and processes that ease the pain of our local churches.”
Pushpay’s ability to attract talent from New Zealand, coupled with its use of innovative technologies, positions the company well for future success in both the religious and non-profit sectors.
