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. **
MoE Playgroup Special Grant – nationwide
Applications close 30 April and 30 October. Discretionary grant to help playgroups cover large costs that can’t be met from other funding. Available for H&S issues, increasing participation in priority communities and addressing extraordinary circumstances. If enough funds, MoE will consider applications for resources and activities. Maximum grant is $5,000.
Auckland Council Board Local Grants – Auckland Council area – UNI
Opens mid Jan/early Feb depending on the Board. These grants tend to be for higher value grants (over $2,000) than the Quick Response Grants and are available once or twice a year. Each Board has their own outcomes and priorities.
Norah Howell Charitable Trust – Waikato area – CNI
Two funding rounds with closing dates of 31 March and 30 Sep. Smaller grants under $5,000. Focus is on smaller local and grassroots organisations. Prefer to support specific projects but will consider general funding if directed to core purpose of the organisation.
Waikato Sunrise Rotary Club – CNI
Applications close on 31 March and 31 October. Grants are generally less than $5,000 with priority to children, education, and local community.
Trust Horizon – Bay of Plenty – CNI
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.
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.
Wellington Children’s Foundation – LNI
Closes 31 March. Covers Hutt Valley in the east to Kapiti in the north. Smaller grants (usually under $2,500).
Roy Owen Dixey Charitable Trust – Christchurch City, Waimakariri and Hurunui (not Banks Peninsula or Selwyn) – USI
Opens 1 Feb, closes 28 Feb. Must be registered charity. They will fund general charitable purposes.
Otago Community Trust – Otago – LSI
Always open. They have a variety of funding options including Community Response Grants (Under $10k and over $10k), Capability Funding and Capital Project Grants.
Community Trust South ECE Playground Funding– Southland – LSI
Always open. Can apply once every five years.
OceanaGold – Macraes (Otago)
They accept funding requests for specific activities by writing to them. Investment in education initiatives is important to them.
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 Hapori – nationwide
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.
Digital Wings – National
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.
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.
Important Reminders
Property work funding
If you are getting property work done that is also being funded by Playcentre Aotearoa, be aware that it is important that the supplier is paid from the same bank account that the grant funds were paid into else you risk having to refund the grant. If Playcentre Aotearoa are paying the bill, you need to get written permission from the funder that this is okay and confirm that you will be able to provide a clear paper trail of the funds being paid from your centre to Playcentre Aotearoa and then onto the supplier. This is to ensure the funds are accounted for correctly.
GST
If your centre is GST registered, please check if your grant includes GST or not. Many funders do not include GST as you can claim it back, however I am finding several centres are including GST in Xero.
Registered Charities or Incorporated Societies
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.