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 – playgroups only
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
Many close in March.
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
2 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.
https://norahhowellct-nz.baanalyser.com/start

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.
https://www.waikatosunrise.org.nz

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).

OneFortyOne Foundation – Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough – USI
Always open.
They like to support activities that support People, Ideas, Nature and Education for grants up to $5,000. Not for core operating expenses.

Community Trust of Mid and South Canterbury – USI
Closes 28 April 2023
Eligible centres will receive a reminder one month before if they have not yet submitted for the $1,500 Principal Discretionary Funding.

Meridian Power Up – Te Uku Waikato (23 April 2023), Te Apiti Manawatu (23 April 2023), West Wind Wellington (23 April 2023), Mill Creek Wellington (23 April 2023), Waitaki Canterbury (23 April 2023), White Hill Southland (TBC), Manapouri Southland (23 April 2023)
If you live in a community near one of their hydro or wind farms, you can apply. Check the objectives for each region.

Smarty Grants update

Smarty Grants is an online funding portal used by some funders. Smarty File is a new optional feature on Smarty Grants that lets you collaborate with others on your application and accountability by providing access for multiple team members in your organisation and to pre-fill organisational and contact info into applications.  The My Submissions page now allows you to delete unsubmitted applications and archive old applications.

Shout Out

Tahuna Playcentre are feeling very grateful to have this wonderful new soft fall for our tamariki, and are deeply thankful to The Lion Foundation for making this possible. In the two sessions we’ve so far been able to play on the new surface, we’ve been able to safely set up our obstacle course, the tamariki have been drawn to the swings area more, and they’ve been able to help themselves to the bikes from the shed without having to navigate steps.

We also have others to thank for this project. The Tauhei Quarry generously donated the metal for the surface, and our wonderful Playcentre parents and grandparents completed the dig out. The value of these is reflected in the Team Turf invoice. Given these savings, we were able to expand the area of the soft-fall surface slightly by straightening the surrounding fence. This has enabled enough space to set up our obstacle course on the turf.

TeamTurf was excellent to deal with. Keith Ratcliffe was very transparent with quotes, helped us with design, helped to make savings where we could, and even gave his own time to help us with the dig out on a Sunday.

Finally, thanks very much to Lesa and yourself for doing the legwork in getting this grant.

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.

Grants Support

You can find lots of information to assist you with your funding applications on the Grants section of the Playcentre website. 

Tonya Bristow
Accounts Administrator – Grants