Grants & Funding
Funding is often a focus for community groups, and sometimes groups don't know where to go for funding. Council staff can assist with pointing you in the right direction. The following resources are available to our South Waikato community.
Grant Funding Schemes
Council has historically managed three grant schemes.
Community Development Grants (CDG): This Scheme is currently suspended.
Creative Communities Scheme (CCS): This scheme is for local community-based arts projects. Creative New Zealand provides allocated funds for distribution by Council. Council has engaged Creative Waikato as third-party administrators of the Creative Communities Scheme. Follow this link to learn more.
South Waikato Environment Initiatives Fund: Council also administers the South Waikato Environmental Initiatives Fund that grants $30,000 each year to sustainable environmental projects around the district. This funding is available to private farmers, community groups and schools.
Are you a rural landowner? You may be eligible for subsidised native planting on your property. You can access further information here.
PLEASE NOTE: For both grant schemes, applications will not be considered where the project/activity is in retrospect (already occurred) prior to allocation of funds.
Funding Workshops
Community Waikato
Community Waikato offer both online and onsite Funding, as well as Community Governance Workshops. Funding workshops usually include planning and preparation, what makes a successful application, and accountability and reporting. Find out about workshops in your area here.
Community Organisations Grants Scheme (COGS)
This scheme, managed by Department of Internal Affairs, provides government-funded grants to support voluntary and not-for-profit organisations working in local communities and neighbourhoods with local priorities in South Waikato encompassing empowering community wellbeing and resilient communities with a focus on social connectedness and social inclusion. You can access further information on COGS and the Schemes Waikato South priorities here.
Ofi Community Fund
The ofi Community Fund has been established with the aim of supporting local rural communities in New Zealand, particularly those within the Waikato and Bay of Plenty regions. The fund prioritizes initiatives that align with the values of ofi, focusing on Education, Health & Nutrition, disadvantaged groups, sports, and the environment.
Projects should primarily benefit the local rural communities within a 75km radius from Tokoroa, the ofi collection area.
You can access further information and online application documents for the ofi Community Fund by emailing oficommunityfundNZ@ofi.com.
Sport Waikato
Sport Waikato administers the Tuu Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund targeted at organisations that support the provision of play, active recreation and sports opportunities for tamariki and rangatahi. Further information on the eligibility criteria and application process can be accessed here.
SWIFT (South Waikato Investment Fund Trust) Community Contribution Funding
For information on SWIFT priority funding areas for the South Waikato and contact details access here.
Ethnic Communities Development Fund
Administered by the Ministry for Ethnics Communities, this fund has been established for projects that fit the Ministry’s strategic priorities in supporting ethnic communities to grow their skills, celebrate their culture and take part in society. Applications can be submitted at any time and there is no closing date, with the fund currently open. You can access further information here.
Raukawa Grants & Registrations
For Iwi registrations and application forms for grants encompassing Kuia and Koroua Wellbeing, Sports and Education, refer directly to Raukawa’s webpage here.
Generosity New Zealand
Generosity New Zealand's website is a digital search facility with a database of comprehensive information with online search tools on available funding - grants and scholarships for New Zealand community groups and individuals.
SWDC is able to provide the following access to our ratepayers:
- givUS which is for community groups and volunteer organisations seeking funding
- givME which is for individuals seeking funding for study and professional development
To access these databases, you will need to create an account with Generosity New Zealand using your library membership card number.
Sign up here.
Sign up for account here. (link to https://kohaa.org.nz/subscriptions/signup/XXXX here)
Once you have created an account, you can access the Generosity New Zealand database here.
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Community Development Grant
Learn about eligiblity for Community Development Grants and how to apply.
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Creative Community Funding Scheme
Funding is available for community-based arts activities in your area. Follow this link to learn more.
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South Waikato Environmental Initiatives
Are you a rural landowners? You may be eligible for subsidised native planting on your property.