How to fund your charity
,Many charities tell us that finding reliable, long-term funding is a challenge.
Charities Services does not provide funding. This page outlines common funding options that may be available to charities and not-for-profit organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Each fund has its own eligibility criteria, priorities and application process. Check the funder’s website before you apply.
Funding resources
The following resources provide information about grants, funding schemes and other funding opportunities available:
- Generosity New Zealand funding database - New Zealand's largest funding database, providing access to grants, funding schemes, scholarships and awards.
- Community Trusts - Directory of New Zealand's regional community trusts, which provide funding and support to community organisations.
- Community Matters - Information about Lottery Fund grants and Community Organisation Grant Scheme (COGS) administered by Community Operations, part of the Department of Internal Affairs.
Government funding
Several government agencies offer funding.
- Department of Internal Affairs - provides access to Lottery and Crown grants, gaming machine society grants, and other funding programmes that support community organisations and charitable activities
- Department of Conservation - supports environmental protection initiatives.
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage - funds projects that advance arts, culture and heritage.
- Ministry of Youth Development - funds initiatives that support young people and their wellbeing.
- Te Puni Kōkiri - provides funding for organisations with a kaupapa Māori focus.
- Ministry for Pacific Peoples - supports Pacific individuals, families and communities.
- Oranga Tamariki - funds initiatives that support children and young people.
- Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport - manages a range of environmental funds.
- Creative New Zealand - supports arts projects across Aotearoa.
Funding from other charities
Some charities provide funding to other charities. You can use the Advanced Search on the Charities Register to identify organisations whose main beneficiaries are other charities.
Examples of funding charities include:
- The Lion Foundation
- Rotary Foundation
- The Tindall Foundation
- Todd Foundation
- JR McKenzie Trust
- Hugh Green Foundation
- Sport New Zealand
Charitable gifts in wills (or bequests)
Charitable gifts in wills, also known as bequests, can provide an important source of long-term funding for charities. Through their will, individuals can leave a specified amount, a percentage of their estate, or the remainder of their estate to support the causes they care about.
- September Wills Month is a national campaign that encourages charities to promote charitable gifts in wills (or bequests) and the lasting impact they can have.
- This year's campaign comes at an important time, as New Zealand prepares for an estimated $1.6 trillion intergenerational transfer of wealth, highlighting the growing importance of gifts in wills.
- New research commissioned by Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand (CFANZ) and undertaken by BERL.
- The research explores New Zealanders' attitudes towards charitable gifts in wills and identifies messaging that resonates with potential donors.
The research is available on the Community Foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand website.
Other funding options
Charities may also access funding through donor advised funds and crowdfunding platforms.