Community Trust South’s General Grants Program (New Zealand)

Deadline: Ongoing Opportunity

The Community Trust South is pleased to announce an open call for its General Grants Program.

Categories

They offer a range of other special funding programmes which have separate application forms and processes including:

• Regional Sports Organisation Fund
• Compete Fund
• Principals Discretionary Fund
• Schools and early childhood and playground funding
• Kapa haka uniform funding
• Funding for Individuals

Pillars

• Health, Wellbeing & Active Lifestyles
  • Working with communities to ensure people participate, are supported, empowered and cared for.
• Art, Heritage & Culture
  • Working with communities to ensure people participate, celebrate, and preserve our arts, heritage and culture.
• Education
  • Working with communities to ensure every person has the opportunity to achieve their potential.
• Community Development & Economic Development
  • Working with communities to ensure they are connected, successful, resilient and dynamic.

Types of Grants

• Project Grants
  • These grants are for specific one-off community projects.
  • For projects with total project costs of under $20,000 a grant of between 15-40% will generally be considered
  • For projects with total project costs of over $20,000 a grant of between 20-30% will generally be considered
  • The Trust will approve only one project grant for an organisation made under general grants, within any 12-month period
• Operating Grants
  • These grants are not restricted to a specific project or programme but are for the ongoing day to day costs of running an organisation. Generally they are up to 15% of an organisation’s total annual expenses.
  • You can also apply for a one-off project grant from time to time, but you will need to do this at the same time as your operating grant and on a separate application form.
• Multi-Year Operating Grants
  • These are by invitation only and generally their support is for three years.
  • A three-year funding commitment means that it isn’t necessary for you to submit a formal application every year, as funding for Years 2 and 3 is approved in principle and is confirmed each year subject to you submitting accountability reporting.

Funding Information

• Grants of up to $75,000 are available for projects, organisations, services and events that help them to support thriving communities.
• They have a simplified process for applications requesting $10,000 and under and decisions are generally made within 6 weeks of receiving your application.
• Applications requesting between $10,000 and $75,000 involve a more detailed process and decisions can take up to 8 weeks from receiving your application.  

What they look for?

• Project alignment with their strategic plan
• A clear understanding of the identified need, gap or opportunity supported by evidence
• Awareness of current and future trends in the field the application relates to, such as community demographics
• Degree to which the project complements other existing initiatives
• Level of community benefit – projects for the exclusive benefit of a limited number of people will be a lower priority
• Applicant commitment to the project
• Credibility and capability of the organisation and ability to deliver
• Strength of community support
• Demonstrated connections, consultation and/or partnerships such as  with communities, between organisations, across levels within sectors or across sectors
• Demonstrated need for funding and provision of a comprehensive and realistic budget
• Extent that other funding sources have been explored and secured
• Ongoing viability and sustainability of the project in the longer term
• Extent that the project demonstrates value for money i.e. extent of community benefit relative to level of grant funding sought
• Extent of understanding of the likely outcomes and community benefit (i.e. who, how many and likely changes) and how this will be measured
• Project responsibility
• Risks associated with project

Eligibility Criteria

• Non-profit organisations that are a legal entity and operating in their area – Southland, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Tapanui and Heriot areas can apply including:
  • An incorporated society or an incorporated charitable trust
  • A company with charitable purposes that is registered with Charities Services
• Non profit organisations established under the Local Government Act 2002, Maori Trust Boards Act 1955 or Education Act 1989
• If you aren’t a legal entity you can apply for up to $2,000 and you will need to have a set of rules, minutes of meetings and have a bank account in your group’s name. Otherwise you will need to work with a Funding Partner to apply.  

Ineligible

• Commercial and for profit organisations
• Political or advocacy/lobby groups

For mor information, visit Community Trust South.

For more information, visit https://www.communitytrustsouth.nz/what-we-fund/general-grants/