Hospice Southland raised $1.8 million in the past financial year to cover the shortfall left by government funding and is facing a similar deficit this year.
Chief executive Andrew Leys said government funding covered about 50 per cent of the hospice's operating costs.
The hospice received $1,747,013 of government funding in the past financial year but worked with a net operating deficit of $1,781,402.
This had to be made up by donations, grants, shop sales and bequests through the year, he said.
The biggest cost - about 80 per cent - was staff wages.
The majority of wage costs were to pay for clinical support staff, Leys said.
The variable nature of bequests and donations made it difficult to budget operational costs, he said.
The hospice service is provided free for palliative care patients with complex needs.
This could be "quite challenging" when the hospice was trying to meet costs, especially with demand increasing as the population aged, Leys said.
As this demand grew, Hospice Southland would look to further target its services to patients with the most highly complex needs.
Patients with less complex needs would be supported through the hospice into other care options, such as rest homes and GPS, within the community, he said.
However, with such a supportive community chipping in, the opportunities for Hospice Southland were unlimited, Leys said.
"We won't be constraining ourselves by what the Government can provide. We would always be looking to do the most we can."
Hospice Southland is not the only facility facing funding shortfalls.
Otago Community Hospice chief executive Ginny Green said the Otago hospice needed to raise about $2 million this year.
It was a massive contribution from the community and had to be asked for annually, she said.
"It's a big ask and it's an ask that we make every year, so we rely on the same people year after year."
Because of this, the hospice was always looking for innovative ways to raise funds, she said.
Demand for the service was increasing, with patient numbers rising from about 160 usually on the programme to 200 now.
National's election pledge to spend an extra $20 million on palliative care would help, she said, but the Otago service was already targeted at those with the highest needs.
Southern District Health Board executive director planning and funding Sandra Boardman said hospice funding was set by taking into consideration government priorities, the health needs of the population and the need to operate within budget.
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