Language: English | Māori

Āheitanga me Angawā

Eligibility and Timeframes

Is my organisation eligible for funding?

We only accept applications from not-for-profit organisations. These include:

  • an incorporated society, association or organisation, which is not carried on for the purpose of providing profits or gains to any member or shareholder, and whose governing rules or constitution restrict any distribution of funds to any member or shareholder.
  • any entity registered under the Charities Act 2005.
  • a not-for-profit educational institution or body, church or church administration organisation.
  • if you are a small unincorporated organisation which benefits the community and has been operating under a constitution or set of rules, for at least 12 months, please contact us to discuss options for applying under an umbrella organisation. Your organisation would need to have its own bank account, and financial statements, and have letters of support from at least two independent sources.
  • collaborative partnerships acting as backbone organisations, should contact us to discuss how best to apply.

Projects where the benefit is in our funding regions. Our four funding regions include:

  • Christchurch / Waimakariri / Selwyn / Hurunui (this is our Canterbury region).
  • Nelson / Tasman (this is our Nelson region).
  • Marlborough / Kaikōura (this is our Marlborough region).
  • Chatham Islands.

If you have any questions relating to the above contact us on 0508 266 878 and ask to speak to one of our Community Investment Team.

What types of costs can we apply for?

We support operating costs and/or project costs.

Operating costs may be considered to support the operating and administration costs of community organisations. This may include salaries, plus general overheads such as rent, power, phone and administration costs.

Project cost grants may be available to assist funding to one off community projects, events, assets or programmes.

What doesn’t Rātā Foundation Fund

Rātā Foundation does not make grants to:

  • Individuals
  • Retrospective applications (projects which have been completed or cost committed before you have been informed of your funding decision). Check out application timeframes and funding decisions.
  • Projects where the benefit is outside our funding regions, which cover Tasman, Nelson, Marlborough, Kaikōura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch, Selwyn and the Chatham Islands local authority areas.
  • Fund expenditure related to core curriculum delivery in schools, for example computers and other ICT, basic educational resources, teachers' salaries and operational expenses (except where the cost may legitimately be part of a community based learning programme).
  • Competitive, high performance or elite sports or arts activities. Kapa Haka events are not subject to this exclusion.
  • Projects where the beneficiaries are animals except where there is a clear community benefit of people involved in the conservation of native species.
  • Fund projects that are, or are likely to be highly socially divisive, lacking social license, for example organisations applying to fund projects, which are political in nature.
  • Rātā Foundation does not fund research except where the cost may legitimately be part of a project or programme evaluation.
  • Projects that have no community involvement and support.
  • Funding for land purchase.
  • Loan funding will not be made to retire current debt.
  • Directly fund scholarships to individuals.
  • Fund overseas travel for groups or individuals.
  • Other trust funds, capital funds or endowments.
  • Underwrite fund-raising projects.
  • Political parties or groups aligned with political parties.
  • Support the spiritual activity of religious organisations.
  • Fund debt retirement.
  • Commercial organisations or for the commercial activities of not-for-profit organisations.
  • Local government or central government departments for activities that could primarily be deemed to be their responsibility.
  • The purchase or maintenance of vehicles or other machinery/equipment which have high carbon emissions.

Applicant Reserves policy

Please read Rātā Foundation’s reserves policy which sets out the principles we apply when taking account of any reserves a community organisation holds when assessing applications for funding.

Application Timeframes

You can apply at any time. However, you can only receive one grant in each Rātā Foundation financial year (1 April to 31 March). This is based on the approval date of your application.

Small Grants Programme (requests for $20,000 or less)

Once your application has been submitted, generally the timeframe* for a funding decision will be ten weeks. If we have to send back your application for further information this may take longer.

Large Grants Programme (requests for over $20,000)

Once your application has been submitted generally, the time frame for a funding decision will be four months once we have all the completed information. If we have had to send back your application for further information this may take longer.

Building Projects

  • Applications where the request is over $100,000 
    Once your application has been submitted, generally the time frame for a funding decision will be four months* once we have all the completed information. To discuss this option please contact one of our Community Engagement Advisors on 0508 266 878.
  • Applications where the request is over $20,000 and up to $100,000 
    Once your application has been submitted, generally the time frame for a funding decision will be four months once we have all the completed information. If we have had to send back your application for further information this may take longer.
  • Applications here the request is $20,000 or less
    Once your application has been submitted, generally the time frame for a funding decision will be ten weeks*. If we have had to send back your application for further information this may take longer.

*Timeframes specified may vary slightly due to public holidays

Community Loans

Applications can be submitted at any time of the year. Trustees will consider recommendations at their regular board meetings.

Can we apply for something which has already happened or will happen before we hear the outcome of our application?

No. We cannot fund retrospectively. This means if you have already committed these costs or the activity will take place before you hear the outcome of your application, we will not be able to fund your request.

Our application has been successful. When can we apply again?

You can only receive one grant in any Rātā Foundation financial year (1 April to 31 March). This is based on the approval date of your application.

Can we apply to both the Small Grants programme and the Large Grants programme in the same financial year?

You can apply to only one of these programmes at any time. Please look at How We Fund to see which programme best fits your needs.

If we apply under the Small Grants programme this year, can we apply under Large Grants programme next year?

You can decide which programme to apply under at any time. If you choose to apply under our Small Grants programme this year, you can apply under the Large Grants programme next year or vice versa.

Funding Decisions and Payments

Decisions on whether or not to support applications are made by our Board of Trustees. We will let you know the Board’s decision by email and you will find the decision letter in your Rātā Foundation Portal.

The decision period is the same for all four funding regions - Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands.

If your application is successful, we will make payment when the Terms and Conditions for your grant have been completed and submitted through your Rātā Foundation Portal.

  • We require our Terms and Conditions to be authorised by your organisation’s Chairperson, President or equivalent head of governance board
  • The bank account needs confirming
  • You need to click on Submit.
  • Find out what to do if your bank account has changed.

For Building Projects payments may be made in instalments that will be paid in line with your project time frame.

What happens if we wish to amend our project once a grant has been awarded?

We expect grants to be used for the purpose applied for. However we recognise occasionally circumstances change and you may wish to spend the grant slightly differently. Please contact us to talk this through with one of our Community Investment Team.

Why are some applications declined?

Unfortunately Rātā Foundation receives requests for funding which are far higher than the grants budget we have available. We have to make difficult decisions about which projects we’re able to support. Some reasons an application might be declined include:

  • The application did not meet our eligibility criteria or are requesting excluded items.
  • The request did not align strongly with our funding priorities within Connect, Learn, Participate, Support and Sustain.
  • We look to see what difference your project or service will make and how your organisation is placed to run the project when assessing applications.

If you have any questions relating to the above contact us on 0508 266 878 and ask to speak to one of our Community Investment Team.

Top