Upcoming Funding Rounds
** Please note: Always check-in with individual funders BEFORE YOU APPLY. While every effort has been made to ensure information given is correct at the time of publication, funding availability and other details may change frequently. **
Auckland Foundation – Auckland
Applications for each of the contestable grants are open from Monday August 15 – Friday September 2 at 5pm. Applications may be possible under the Grassroots Giving Programme ($500-$15,000), Hobsonville Point Community Grant or North Shore Fund.
If you are applying for funding, they also have 2 workshops to help you prepare your submission and to ask questions. These are taking place on the 2nd of August (prior to the opening date) and the 23rd of August (during the funding application period) both from 10am-4pm with the venue to be confirmed. Please email [email protected] to register your interest for attending a grant workshop.
They meet monthly and will fund energy related projects and events for those in the Whakatane, Kawerau and Opotiki District Council areas and Kaingaroa village. You must be an electricity consumer connected to the Horizon Energy Distribution network, your Centre must also be the owner of the building (or the building owned by one of the 3 DC) and not have applied for the last 2 years.
Items they would consider funding – heat pumps (if your building is insulated), LED lights, insulation, double glazing. Once you have registered, the Trust will come and visit and discuss eligible funding options for you before you get quotes.
Central Hawkes Bay District Council Community Volunteer Organisation Support – LNI
Will reopen in July 2022. Made up of two categories. Category One – a pool of $10,000 for new community initiatives. Category Two – a pool of $20,000 for on-going support to existing community groups. Require letters of support (these can be from parents who attend your centre). Funding amount is likely to be about $1,500.
Whanganui Community Foundation – LNI
This includes Rangitikei, Waimarino and Whanganui. They offer Quick Response grants ($10k and under) and meet monthly. They provide funding for parenting programs but will not currently consider funding maintenance or other capital projects.
Kapiti Coast District Council – Waikanae Community Board Discretionary Grant – LNI
Applications close 25 August 2022 ready for the September meeting. Up to $500 available.
Network Tasman Peter Malone Community Grants Scheme – Tasman
Applications open 23 July 2022 and close 26 August 2022
Applicants must be end users of Network Tasman Limited line facilities as recorded in the records of the Company. In the event of the applicant being an organisation, the purpose of the grant must be of significant benefit to the district serviced by the Company.
The maximum grant is generally $3,000 and you must have other funding available. Generally, grants will not be available for wages or operating costs however, consideration will be given to funding the cost of providing specialist services, training, and professional development.
For more information, please contact Marina Buonocore: [email protected] or 03 544 6179.
Timaru District Council Community Funding – Canterbury
Applications close 19 August.
Funding of $10,000 or more for new or existing facilities development. For more information email: [email protected]
Amuri Irrigation Community Fund – Canterbury
Grants up to $1,000. Two funding rounds close in February and August however, they will consider applications outside these under special circumstances. Foster the development of sporting, recreational or social activities in the Amuri Basin (Culverden, Rotherham and Waiau) and align with the values of AIC.
Southland District Council Community Partnership Fund – Southland
Various closing dates throughout the year, however many close 31 August
The nine community boards in the district are responsible for approving the grants. More information is available under the relevant community page.
Meridian Power Up – White Hill Southland (24 Sep)
If you live in a community near one of their hydro or wind farms, you can apply. Check the objectives for each region.
Stonelake Foundation – Otago/Southland
Any New Zealand charity/organisation can apply to be the official game day charity at a Highlanders home game. You will have the opportunity to raise funds through donation buckets and selling match day sheets (you must provide the volunteers for this); receive $1 for every ticket sold; raise awareness of your charity via social media and game day big screens and receive $1,000 contribution from the Stonelake Foundation.
Fonterra Grassroots stopped about 3 years ago. Fonterra now try to have a broader approach to funding by building strong relationships with their communities. If you would like to request support for your community, download an application form from their website.
PGG Wrightson Cash for Communities – rural communities
Register your Playcentre on the website, then promote the program to your local community and farmers. When PGG Wrightson account holders purchase Ballance Agri-Nutrients fertiliser, they can nominate your centre against their account. $1 per tonne purchased will be donated.
The Digital Wings programme enables the distribution of electronic equipment (laptops, desktop computers and printers) from corporate donors to community organisations to enhance educational and employment opportunities. Charities, whānau / hapū and community organisations are invited to apply for refurbished computers to support their goals and outcomes, free of charge.
Preference is given to organisations working in rangatahi, youth development and education to employment initiatives. Please note that supply is dependent upon donation stock available and allocation to community is at the discretion of the Digital Wings Trustees. Please also note Digital Wings does not supply computers to individuals or private homes and they do not have ipads or tablets as the donations are from businesses.
Kia Tipu, He Tipua – evolving the lottery grants system
Te Puna Tahuna, Lottery Grants Board is evolving the lottery grants and advisory system to make it easier and fairer for communities, hāpu and iwi to access funding. The Board has tasked Te Tari Taiwhenua, Department of Internal Affairs with this programme of work known as Kia Tipu, He Tipua – Evolving the lottery grants system.
Engaging widely with communities, hāpu, iwi, funders and other organisations will be crucial to designing an improved future system with people and communities at its heart. The Department will provide recommendations to the Board in late 2022 and any changes to Lottery funding will be phased in from 2023.
The programme will undertake a review of the whole system to create a new community funding and advisory support system that is more responsive, flexible, inclusive, strategic and honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This is the first time an end-to-end review has been done since Lotto launched in New Zealand over 35 years ago.
Timeline of the programme
2020: Opportunity to evolve the system was identified.
2021: Lottery Grants Board tasks Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs with this programme of work.
2022: Working with communities hapū, iwi, funders, statutory bodies and other organisations to design the future state.
2023: An evolved lottery grants funding system.
Further information
Click across to the Community Matters website via the link below for further information.
https://www.communitymatters.govt.nz/evolving-the-lottery-grants-system
If you have any questions or comments about this programme of work, you can email: [email protected]
Free Healthy Homes Workshops – Henderson-Massey, Whau and Waitākere Ranges local board areas
Ecomatters are offering free Healthy Homes workshops in the Henderson-Massey, Whau and Waitākere Ranges local board areas. They would love to work with local Playcentres to host this workshop so parents can learn more about how to keep their whānau warm and healthy over winter.
Host a free Healthy Homes workshop for your Playcentre whānau!
In this workshop they give many tips and low-cost ideas for attendees to easily put in place in their own homes, including DIY window insulation, how to read and reduce power and water bills, ideas to keep houses dry, warm and free of mould, and much more.
Workshops run for an hour, including time for questions, and can be booked for any day and time during weekdays. For a workshop to take place, a minimum of ten attendees is needed. The workshops are delivered by EcoMatters Environment Trust, and funded by the Henderson-Massey, Whau and Waitākere Ranges Local Board.
If you would like to host a workshop at your Playcentre, email Penelope at [email protected] with the days and times that suit you best and she will contact you to book you in. They would love to come along and present at a time you already have a group meeting, so people don’t have to go out of their way to attend.
Shout Out
If you have a ‘Shout Out’ you would like featured as a thank you to a funder or company who has supported your Centre, please email Tonya on [email protected]
Discounts for Playcentres
There is a “Centre Discounts” page on the members section of the website with offers from several companies including the Playcentre shops, Red Cross, Harvey Norman, Resene and Ecostore.
Please note that these are not exclusive/approved suppliers or specific Playcentre recommendations and you are more than welcome to use a local option, especially if they are cheaper.
End of Financial Year
With the end of the financial year fast approaching, please remember that many funders require a separate note in your accounts for each funder. This is often part of the terms and conditions for accepting the grant.
It is also important for centres that are registered charities to ensure their purpose, structure, officers, and rules on the Charities Register are up to date. Several centres still mention NZPF and Associations. It is also important that any centre that is a registered charity and an incorporated society has the same rules on both websites. Funders will look at your details online, and it is important that they are correct. Proposed amendments to the Charities Act will mean that registered charities will need to review their rules every year to ensure governance arrangements are up to date and appropriate.
Grants support
You can find lots of information to assist you with your funding applications on the Grants section of the Playcentre website (you need to first be logged in as a member) – https://www.playcentre.org.nz/member/finance/grants-kit-and-supporting-documents/
Tonya Bristow
Accounts Administrator – Grants