Community Association Fund (New Zealand)

Deadline: 1-Feb-23

The Whangarei District Council is now accepting applications for the Community Association Fund.

The Community Association Fund supports resident and ratepayer groups, citizen associations and other community representation groups recognised by Council that advocate for and support their local community.

Objectives

The overall objective of the Community Funding Policy is to support effective delivery of the community funding programme to meet the needs of four groups of stakeholders, being:

• Groups and organisations seeking financial support, who require clear guidance about Council’s intentions and priorities for funding, fair and equitable grants processes, and upfront information about their obligations if they receive a grant.
• Elected members, who are responsible for deciding on the allocation of grants in a way that best meets the needs of the community, addresses the priorities they have collectively set, and delivers good value for ratepayers.
• Council staff, who need a clear framework within which to work to provide high quality service and advice, stewardship of grant funds, evaluation of their impact and benefit, and effectively deliver the community funding programme.
• Whangarei residents, who fund through their rates the community support the council provides, and who receive the benefit of the activities they fund on their behalf.

Funding Priorities

• Council aims to support a balanced mix of social amenities and services that meet the needs of all their diverse communities that make up the Whangarei district.
• They also want to support activities coming from outside of the district that will enrich the experience of the people of Whangarei and address local needs.
• An open, transparent and equitable process ensures Council puts these funds to good use in serving the Whangarei district.
• Arts, Culture and Heritage – weighting of 30%: To support and celebrate the history, language, culture and art of the diverse communities.
• Recreation and Sport – weighting of 20%: To support and deliver a variety of recreation and sporting opportunities for all ages, abilities and life stages.
• Environment – weighting of 15%: To support, celebrate and protect the flora, the fauna and the special places for current and future generations to enjoy.
  • They particularly want to see applications that align with:
    • waste minimisation objectives
    • climate change adaptation or mitigation objectives
    • national objectives such as Predator Free 2050
    • enabling kaitiakitanga of the district’s taiao (natural environment).
• Community Wellbeing – weighting of 35% – To support and celebrate happy, healthy, connected communities and individuals.
  • They particularly want to see applications that:
    • support communities to help themselves
    • promote community wellbeing and address disadvantage
    • promote and celebrate community participation and identity

Funding Information

• The fund offers a set grant of $1,500 annually, of which at least $500 of this must be invested in local projects or events that the community has identified as important to them (“community projects”).

Eligible Projects

• The remainder is for the operations and administration of the applicant group to support their work in and for the community.
• This Fund is intended to encourage and facilitate greater interaction between the association and the communities they serve, and support small local initiatives, so applications should clearly evidence how the community was engaged to determine the “community project”.

Eligibility Criteria

• Generally, eligible applicants for Council’s support are community organisations that are not-forprofit/charitable with a formal legal structure and founding documents, whose primary aim is to provide services and benefits to the community at large.
• These organisations will have appropriate financial management practices for their size, and a bank account in the organisation’s name.
• Individuals aged 12-20 are eligible to apply to the Youth Fund (new name pending), with the endorsement of an appropriately aligned organisation such as their school, church, youth group, sports club, or other entity the individual is associated with or known by.
• They can consider applications from school boards and religious organisations where the request is primarily for the benefit of the wider community.
• The requests made to this Fund are typically four times the available budget, so applicants are encouraged to be realistic in their budgets and in their requests, and to present a clear case for support, aligned with one of their Funding Priorities.
• Groups that do not meet the criteria of an eligible organisation in their Community Funding Policy will need to engage an organisation that does meet the criteria to apply on their behalf. The umbrella group as the applicant will be the main point of contact, the receiver for any funds granted, and responsible for the appropriate use of those funds.
• Eligible applicants are community organisations that:
  • meet their general eligibility criteria
  • have the primary purpose as stated in their constitution or trust deed to support and advocate for their local community
  • are place-based, representing a geographical community within the Whangarei district
  • demonstrate that they are actively engaged with the community, and
  • are recognized by the community and by Council as the voice for the community

Ineligible

The community funding programme will not support:

• debt servicing, gambling or prize money, travel costs, conference fees, costs related to fines or disputes
• retrospective expenses incurred
• activities or projects:
  • where the primary purpose is to promote religious, political, or commercial activity
  • it considers are the core business of another organisation or service provider
  • it considers the responsibility of central government or other agencies
  • that start before funding decisions are made o that are self-funding or for fundraising purposes
• applicants it has significant concerns with, financial or otherwise
• applicants who have not completed their obligations for prior funding received
• applicants that can fund the initiative themselves.

For more information, visit Whangarei District Council.