Deadline: 03-Jun-2026
The Community and Volunteering Capability Fund (CVC) supports volunteering initiatives across New Zealand through government grants that strengthen volunteer systems, cultural volunteering practices, and community organisations. It funds Māori, Pasifika, youth, and ethnic volunteering projects, regional volunteer centres, and Volunteering New Zealand, with a total allocation of just over NZD 1 million.
Overview of the Programme
The CVC Volunteering funding programme is designed to strengthen the volunteering ecosystem in New Zealand. It supports organisations that promote, coordinate, and improve volunteering practices at local, regional, and national levels.
The fund places strong emphasis on cultural inclusion, volunteer protection, and best practice standards in volunteer management.
Key Objectives
The programme focuses on building a stronger, safer, and more inclusive volunteering sector.
Key objectives include:
- Recognising and valuing volunteers
- Strengthening volunteer protection systems and safeguards
- Promoting best practices in volunteer management
- Supporting culturally grounded volunteering approaches
- Enhancing Māori mahi aroha practices
- Encouraging youth participation in volunteering
- Strengthening regional volunteer centres
- Supporting Volunteering New Zealand initiatives
- Improving coordination and training across the sector
Focus Areas
The funding supports a wide range of volunteering-related activities.
Key focus areas include:
- Volunteer recognition and appreciation systems
- Volunteer safety and protection frameworks
- National standards for volunteer management
- Cultural volunteering practices (Māori, Pasifika, ethnic communities)
- Youth volunteering initiatives
- Capacity building for volunteer organisations
- Training and networking for volunteer managers
- Strengthening regional volunteer infrastructure
Cultural Dimensions of Volunteering
The programme recognises volunteering as a culturally diverse practice in New Zealand.
Māori (Mahi Aroha)
- Based on tikanga (customs and values)
- Focus on duty, care, mana, and rangatiratanga
- Volunteering as community responsibility, not financial reward
Pasifika Communities
- Rooted in cultural responsibility and spirituality
- Emphasis on service to family and community
- Collective support and relational values
Ethnic Communities
- Based on family and community obligations
- Includes helping, sharing, and mutual support
- Strong ties to social and cultural networks
Funding Allocation
The programme provides a total funding pool of just over NZD 1 million.
Funding breakdown:
- NZD 111,000: Māori, Pasifika, ethnic, youth, and community organisations for volunteering or mahi aroha projects
- NZD 747,000: Regional volunteer centres for training, recruitment, and best practice development
- NZD 175,000: Volunteering New Zealand for national coordination and sector-wide support
Eligible Activities
Funding can be used for initiatives that strengthen volunteering systems and participation.
Supported activities include:
- Volunteer recruitment and training
- Development of volunteer management systems
- Promotion of volunteering opportunities
- Cultural volunteering initiatives
- Capacity building for community organisations
- Networking and knowledge-sharing activities
- Strengthening regional volunteer coordination
Eligible Organisations
The programme supports structured volunteering organisations and networks.
Eligible applicants include:
- Volunteering New Zealand
- Regional volunteer centres
- Māori, Pasifika, ethnic, youth, and community organisations
- Organisations working to promote volunteering or mahi aroha
Funding Duration
- Multi-year funding available (up to 3 years)
- Fixed annual allocations for eligible organisations
- Focus on sustained sector development
Ineligible Activities
The programme does not fund certain types of activities.
Not eligible:
- Individual applicants
- Completed or ongoing projects
- Debt repayment
- Fundraising activities
- Political activities
- Land or asset purchases
- Personal financial benefit projects
- Duplicate or business-as-usual services
- Profit-generating projects (unless surplus supports volunteering outcomes)
- Projects with unmanaged conflicts of interest
Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to strengthen the volunteering ecosystem across New Zealand.
Expected outcomes include:
- Increased recognition of volunteer contributions
- Improved volunteer safety and protection systems
- Stronger national standards in volunteer management
- Expanded Māori, Pasifika, and youth volunteering participation
- Improved training and coordination across volunteer organisations
- Stronger regional and national volunteering infrastructure
Importance of the Programme
This initiative is important because it:
- Strengthens community participation and civic engagement
- Supports culturally inclusive volunteering systems
- Improves safety and standards in volunteer management
- Builds capacity across the voluntary sector
- Enhances collaboration between national and regional organisations
- Recognises diverse cultural values in volunteering practices
Conclusion
The Community and Volunteering Capability Fund (CVC) Volunteering funding programme strengthens New Zealand’s volunteering ecosystem by supporting inclusive, culturally grounded, and well-managed volunteer systems. Through targeted funding for organisations, regional centres, and national coordination bodies, it enhances the recognition, safety, and effectiveness of volunteering across communities.
For more information, visit Hapai Hapori Community Matters.
