Fundraising ideas for small charities
Small charities usually mix appeals, events and grants. Registered charities with donee status can give donors receipts that earn a tax credit.
Grants from gaming trusts, community trusts and councils are often the biggest single source, but they take planning and paperwork.
Best return for your time
- Community trust grants (Foundation North, Trust Waikato, Toi Foundation, BayTrust, Rātā and others)$750/hrtypically $15,000 per grantRegional trusts (mostly from the old trustee savings banks) fund community groups in their region.Weeks of part-time work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Lottery Grants Board (via Community Matters)$545/hrtypically $15,000 per grantLotto NZ profits granted by the Lottery Grants Board through one Lottery Fund with three application types for groups (Community Projects, Community Facilities, Community Support Services) plus equipment for people with a disability. Four funding rounds in 2026/27; the next opens 6 January 2027.Weeks of part-time work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Class 4 gaming trust grants (NZCT, Lion Foundation, Pub Charity, Aotearoa Gaming Trust, Four Winds and others)$526/hrtypically $5,000 per grantGrants from pokie-machine proceeds for equipment, uniforms, travel and running costs of community groups.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Givealittle page$385/hrtypically $2,500 per campaignNZ's largest donation platform: free to set up, 5% fee, tax receipts issued automatically for donee organisations.An afternoon’s work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Long lunch$348/hrtypically $40,000 per eventA ticketed, multi-hour weekday or weekend lunch, often corporate, with auction and speaker.A project over months, Raffle rules apply, 7–15 helpers
- Live auction$333/hrtypically $10,000 per eventA few high-value lots sold by an auctioneer from the stage during an event.Weeks of part-time work, No permit, 3–6 helpers
- Council community and local-board grants$300/hrtypically $3,000 per grantDistrict and city councils (and Auckland local boards) give small community grants, often in fixed rounds.A few evenings’ work, No permit, 1–2 people
- Business donation (no advertising in return)$286/hrtypically $1,000 per sponsorA company gives money to a donee organisation without expecting advertising.An afternoon’s work, No permit, 1–2 people
Something different
Less common ideas that stand out because people haven’t seen them ten times already.
- Gala dinner or charity ball · typically $60,000 · big charities do it; small groups rarely try
- Supper club or chef-hosted dinner series · typically $60,000 · an unusual dining model that stands out
- Long lunch · typically $40,000 · mostly corporate; uncommon for community groups
- Online raffle (Class 3 licensed) · typically $15,000 · licensed big-prize raffles are run by few groups
- Restaurant fundraising dinner · typically $15,000 · a treat night that most groups haven't tried
- Community festival or fair on a park or reserve · typically $5,000 · a big undertaking that few groups take on
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide