Community trust grants (Foundation North, Trust Waikato, Toi Foundation, BayTrust, Rātā and others)

Regional trusts (mostly from the old trustee savings banks) fund community groups in their region.

Typically raises

$15,000

$2,000–170,000 per grantest.

About $750 per organiser hour

Based on one community group grant

Is it right for us?

Money: $10,000–50,000
Work: Weeks, part-time
Helpers: 1–2 people
Lead time: 2–4 months
Red tape: Some

Common: a standard funding source for established groups

People: 1-2
Organiser time: 10-30
Lead time: 2-4 months; rounds (Trust Waikato has 3 per year)
Up-front cost: Nothing up front
Risk: none
Who can use it: Generally for-purpose organisations with a bank account, financial statements and charitable purposes in the region. Generally not individuals.

Suits: Scouts or Guides, Sports club or team, Charity, Community group, marae or service club, Kapa haka, choir, theatre or band

Less usual for: Primary or intermediate school, High school, Church

When: Summer (Dec–Feb), Autumn (Mar–May), Winter (Jun–Aug), Spring (Sep–Nov)

How big a job: Several weeks, part-time, 1–2 people

How it works

The money, as an example sum

A typical grant here is about $15,000 (they run from $2,000–170,000). One approved application = about $15,000, for about 10-30 hours of paperwork and nothing paid up front.

From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.

Where the money figure comes from

Foundation North Q1 2026-27 approvals: quick-response grants of $5,000-$25,000 and community grants up to $170,000 (Badminton North Harbour). Typical is an ESTIMATE.

Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.

Step by step

Find your regional trust.
Read its strategy and exclusions.
Use quick-response grants for small asks.
Prepare accounts, budget and quotes.
Apply before the round closes.
Report back on outcomes.

Getting the word out

Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it.

Then tell people: Once the grant is in, tell people who funded it. Many funders ask you to; your grant letter says how.
When to start: Start when the grant is approved, and again when the money is spent: a photo of the new gear with a thank-you.

Where to put it

School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.
Free notices in local papersMany local papers print some community notices free: ask what they offer. Not every town still has one, so check what comes to your letterbox, and book early.

The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.

What you’ll need

Place: Not neededNone needed
Landowner’s permission: Not needed
Council permit: Not needed
Food rules: Not neededNo food sold
Alcohol: Not neededNo alcohol sold
Gambling rules: Not neededNot gambling

Each regional trust funds only its own region and has its own exclusions and rounds.

Tips

Trusts increasingly fund outcomes and need, not equipment wish-lists; describe who benefits.

Watch out for

Applying outside the trust's region.