Locally-Led Solutions at the Centre of New Community Resilience Fund
Community groups around New Zealand can apply to a $36 million fund established to encourage locally-led solutions as communities rebuild and recover from COVID-19, announced Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni and Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector Poto Williams.
To read more CLICK HERE
Lottery COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Fund Opens
We wanted to advise you about the launch of the Lottery COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Fund.
What is it?
The Lottery COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Fund is a new $40 million Lottery fund that has been established to support hapū, iwi and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fund will provide one-off grants for community or social initiatives that increase the strength and resilience of communities that are responding to the impacts of COVID-19.
How can I apply?
Any not for profit group or organisation can apply for a grant from the Fund, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Check if you are eligible here.
This fund is also available to members of a community that have come together to support or work on a project to make their community stronger.
The Fund does not have a closing date and will remain open until all available funding has been allocated. You can apply for funding through our Grant and Client Management System or be supported to make an application by contacting one of our Community Advisors.
More Information
If you want to know more about the Fund, visit the Community Matters website.
You can also get in touch with a Community Advisor directly by replying to this email or phoning 0800 824 824.
Community groups around New Zealand can apply to a $36 million fund established to encourage locally-led solutions as communities rebuild and recover from COVID-19, announced Minister for Social Development Carmel Sepuloni and Minister for Community and Voluntary Sector Poto Williams.
To read more CLICK HERE
Lottery COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Fund Opens
We wanted to advise you about the launch of the Lottery COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Fund.
What is it?
The Lottery COVID-19 Community Wellbeing Fund is a new $40 million Lottery fund that has been established to support hapū, iwi and communities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Fund will provide one-off grants for community or social initiatives that increase the strength and resilience of communities that are responding to the impacts of COVID-19.
How can I apply?
Any not for profit group or organisation can apply for a grant from the Fund, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. Check if you are eligible here.
This fund is also available to members of a community that have come together to support or work on a project to make their community stronger.
The Fund does not have a closing date and will remain open until all available funding has been allocated. You can apply for funding through our Grant and Client Management System or be supported to make an application by contacting one of our Community Advisors.
More Information
If you want to know more about the Fund, visit the Community Matters website.
You can also get in touch with a Community Advisor directly by replying to this email or phoning 0800 824 824.
Fundraising at COVID-19 Alert Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4
Fundraising is an important part of charities flourishing in Aotearoa New Zealand. Under the Alert Levels many charities were unable to carry out traditional fundraising activities. New Zealand is at risk of further outbreaks until COVID-19 is eliminated worldwide.
To ensure you have the information you need, we’ve worked with the COVID-19 National Crisis Management Centre to create this simple guidance for charities at level 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Information for Registered Charities about COVID-19
Updated 12 August 2020
Here you will find answers to some of the questions you may have in regards to your obligations as a registered charity during this time and what support is available. For a list of further information or resources for registered charities please see our resources page.
All charities should read the guidelines and follow updates from the Government’s COVID website. These include health advice for the public, guidance for different sectors and providers, and resources. There is a specific page on the government's site for community groups, faith based groups, clubs and societies that offers further support.
We encourage you to consider the Government’s Alert Levels as a rough guide. Develop a plan for how your charity will operate at each level, including any challenges or risks that might arise. If you need some resources have a look at CommunityNet Aotearoa’s COVID advice page.
We will keep this guidance updated over the coming weeks. If you have any questions, contact us at info@charities.govt.nz.
On this page you will find answers to the following questions:
COVID-19 Funder News
COVID-19 Implications on Philanthropic Funding and Grantmaking Survey Findings
In May 2020, Philanthropy New Zealand (PNZ) surveyed 120 of its philanthropic and grantmaker member organisations (funders) to gain a snapshot in time of the impacts of COVID-19 on their funding and approaches.
PNZ undertook the survey because many of the investments and revenue streams of funders, that provide the money they distribute, have been affected. Philanthropic funders and grantmakers are also seeing changed demand for funding given greater community need.
Eighty-two PNZ funders responded. Their giving in the past 12 months represented around $432 million.
To read the one page information sheet CLICK HERE
To read the report – Covid-19 implications on philanthropic funding and grantmaking – Survey findings CLICK HERE
Fundraising is an important part of charities flourishing in Aotearoa New Zealand. Under the Alert Levels many charities were unable to carry out traditional fundraising activities. New Zealand is at risk of further outbreaks until COVID-19 is eliminated worldwide.
To ensure you have the information you need, we’ve worked with the COVID-19 National Crisis Management Centre to create this simple guidance for charities at level 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Information for Registered Charities about COVID-19
Updated 12 August 2020
Here you will find answers to some of the questions you may have in regards to your obligations as a registered charity during this time and what support is available. For a list of further information or resources for registered charities please see our resources page.
All charities should read the guidelines and follow updates from the Government’s COVID website. These include health advice for the public, guidance for different sectors and providers, and resources. There is a specific page on the government's site for community groups, faith based groups, clubs and societies that offers further support.
We encourage you to consider the Government’s Alert Levels as a rough guide. Develop a plan for how your charity will operate at each level, including any challenges or risks that might arise. If you need some resources have a look at CommunityNet Aotearoa’s COVID advice page.
We will keep this guidance updated over the coming weeks. If you have any questions, contact us at info@charities.govt.nz.
On this page you will find answers to the following questions:
- Does the Government's economic support package extend to registered charities?
- Should I consider temporarily putting my charity on hold during this time?
- How would I put my charity on hold or wind up my charity as a result of COVID-19?
- What if I have to cancel or postpone my Annual General Meeting (AGM) or other key events/meetings?
- Is there support/guidance for those registered with the Companies Office?
- What if I need an extension to file my annual return, or need to be urgently re-registered?
- What can I do to support staff and volunteers during this time?
- What if my auditor/reviewer can't do an on-site visit?
- How does my charity create a QR code for the government's contact tracing app?
- Is there a template to set up a manual system to help with contact tracing if we don't have an NZBN?
- What can charities do to help?
- What else should my committee or board think about?
- What about finances and funding?
- How should my charity be operating under the different alert levels?
- How are scammers using COVID-19?
- How can I stay in touch with my community about COVID-19 within the rules around spam?
- How can I fundraise at Alert Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4?
COVID-19 Funder News
COVID-19 Implications on Philanthropic Funding and Grantmaking Survey Findings
In May 2020, Philanthropy New Zealand (PNZ) surveyed 120 of its philanthropic and grantmaker member organisations (funders) to gain a snapshot in time of the impacts of COVID-19 on their funding and approaches.
PNZ undertook the survey because many of the investments and revenue streams of funders, that provide the money they distribute, have been affected. Philanthropic funders and grantmakers are also seeing changed demand for funding given greater community need.
Eighty-two PNZ funders responded. Their giving in the past 12 months represented around $432 million.
To read the one page information sheet CLICK HERE
To read the report – Covid-19 implications on philanthropic funding and grantmaking – Survey findings CLICK HERE
Worried About the Impact of This Period on Your Funding?
Give yourself peace of mind and contact your funders early to discuss any concerns you have about not being able to meet your funding obligations. Be upfront about your organisational challenges - changing community needs, cancelled events, reduced project delivery, loss of income, staff changes etc.
Most funders are quickly adapting their funding models to cover this period and the following months ahead.
Examples include Wellington Community Trust and Nikau Foundation
Give yourself peace of mind and contact your funders early to discuss any concerns you have about not being able to meet your funding obligations. Be upfront about your organisational challenges - changing community needs, cancelled events, reduced project delivery, loss of income, staff changes etc.
Most funders are quickly adapting their funding models to cover this period and the following months ahead.
Examples include Wellington Community Trust and Nikau Foundation
Philanthropic Sector Response
Philanthropy New Zealand have shared some ideas and resources on what philanthrophic funders can do to respond to COVID-19 - https://philanthropy.org.nz/helpful-resources-covid-19/
PNZ have also published an open letter to funders to guide how they can support their grant recipients during this time - https://philanthropy.org.nz/covid-19-and-philanthropy-open-letter/
Philanthropy New Zealand have shared some ideas and resources on what philanthrophic funders can do to respond to COVID-19 - https://philanthropy.org.nz/helpful-resources-covid-19/
PNZ have also published an open letter to funders to guide how they can support their grant recipients during this time - https://philanthropy.org.nz/covid-19-and-philanthropy-open-letter/
DIA Funding
If your organisation has received DIA (including Lotteries or COGs) funding and your initiative has been affected due to COVID-19, Community Operations have committed to actively work with you to find the best solution whether that is a time extension, change of purpose, etc.
Contact them at 0800 824 824 or community.matters@dia.govt.nz.
If your organisation has received DIA (including Lotteries or COGs) funding and your initiative has been affected due to COVID-19, Community Operations have committed to actively work with you to find the best solution whether that is a time extension, change of purpose, etc.
Contact them at 0800 824 824 or community.matters@dia.govt.nz.
MSD Funding
Please be aware, you can apply for funding help from MSD even if you are not currently funded by Government.
You will need to show the current situation has left your organisation in a bad financial position.
For More information contact: community_information@msd.govt.nz
Or go to the link below
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/s/redirect?collection=msd-workandincome-web&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.workandincome.govt.nz%2Fproducts%2Fa-z-benefits%2Fcovid-19-support.html&auth=KiG6TkYIeGXY5RzSIJAlFg&profile=_default&rank=2&query=charities
Please be aware, you can apply for funding help from MSD even if you are not currently funded by Government.
You will need to show the current situation has left your organisation in a bad financial position.
For More information contact: community_information@msd.govt.nz
Or go to the link below
https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/s/redirect?collection=msd-workandincome-web&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.workandincome.govt.nz%2Fproducts%2Fa-z-benefits%2Fcovid-19-support.html&auth=KiG6TkYIeGXY5RzSIJAlFg&profile=_default&rank=2&query=charities
WCC Funding
The main message is that we want to reassure you about funding that has already been allocated and funding from 1 July 2020. We want to support organisations in the city, to help them through this.
Grants already paid out or approved already
If you have already received a grant but are not able to hold the event or deliver the project,
Multi-year funded organisations
We can confirm that funding will be available for you from 1 July and we can work out reporting with you on a one to one basis, we appreciate that some stuff hasn’t happened and can work out outcomes. We are reaching out to organisations to find out what they plans are, so will be in contact in the coming weeks if we haven’t been in touch already. My colleagues in Community Services and Felicity and Natasha in the City Arts and Events team will be in touch with you.
Creative Communities Funding Scheme
We had our Creative Communities panel due to meet on Monday next week, this fund closed at the end of February- we have been in contact with applicants and are working on having the meeting remotely within a couple of weeks.
Future funding rounds- Arts and Culture and Social and Recreation Funds
The social and recreation fund webpage is now live with new priorities
https://wellington.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/funding/council-funds/social-and-recreation-fund
For arts organisations we know that CNZ are rolling out their packages and we will work alongside them, for the Arts and Culture Fund we have added a priority (alongside our existing focus areas) we have changed the closing date to 30 April 2020.
The additional priority is:
Resilience and recovery of arts and cultural sector impacted by COVID-19
We will give priority to applications that meet one or more of our four focus areas and can;
· Support the resilience, sustainability and recovery of organisations in Wellington City
· Re-frame and adapt projects, programmes and initiatives in the light of COVID-19
· Develop new works to be presented later or to reach audiences in new ways.
For organisations working in the community and social wellbeing sectors we have added and additional priorities for the next funding round now closing on 30 April 2020, our website will be updated over the weekend.
The additional priority is:
Resilience and recovery of community/social well-being sector impacted by COVID-19
We will give priority to applications that meet one or more of our Social and Recreation Fund focus areas and can;
• Support the resilience, sustainability and recovery of organisations in Wellington City
• Re-frame and adapt projects, programmes and initiatives in the light of COVID-19
For both we hope to have decision in May, our Grants subcommittee is due to meet on 20 May 2020. We will review this in the coming weeks depending on how things play out.
We have added this information to our website for Social well-being and Arts and culture funding links here ARTS and SOCIAL.
Venue Subsidies
We have put this on hold for now, given the guidance about events and public gatherings, we will be in contact with applicants to discuss projects, appreciating some have been delayed. Like the other funds we want to support the work you all do.
Yell out if you have any questions, best via funding@wcc.govt.nz
For arts and culture; Felicity Birch via felicity.birch@wcc.govt.nz
For social and community organisations; ask me and I can either answer or direct you to the best person.
For Council funded community centres; ask Donna Wilson donna.wilson@wcc.govt.nz
For our COVID-19 welfare response we are using this email cd.welfare@wcc.govt.nz which is monitored 0900 to 1600 hours Monday - Friday
The main message is that we want to reassure you about funding that has already been allocated and funding from 1 July 2020. We want to support organisations in the city, to help them through this.
Grants already paid out or approved already
If you have already received a grant but are not able to hold the event or deliver the project,
- We won’t be asking for you to return the funds - unless you think that is the best option.
- Think about how you might be able to direct the funds to other activities that are aligned with the grant or contribute to our criteria, and when you are ready, contact us to discuss these changes and get approval.
Multi-year funded organisations
We can confirm that funding will be available for you from 1 July and we can work out reporting with you on a one to one basis, we appreciate that some stuff hasn’t happened and can work out outcomes. We are reaching out to organisations to find out what they plans are, so will be in contact in the coming weeks if we haven’t been in touch already. My colleagues in Community Services and Felicity and Natasha in the City Arts and Events team will be in touch with you.
Creative Communities Funding Scheme
We had our Creative Communities panel due to meet on Monday next week, this fund closed at the end of February- we have been in contact with applicants and are working on having the meeting remotely within a couple of weeks.
Future funding rounds- Arts and Culture and Social and Recreation Funds
The social and recreation fund webpage is now live with new priorities
https://wellington.govt.nz/services/community-and-culture/funding/council-funds/social-and-recreation-fund
For arts organisations we know that CNZ are rolling out their packages and we will work alongside them, for the Arts and Culture Fund we have added a priority (alongside our existing focus areas) we have changed the closing date to 30 April 2020.
The additional priority is:
Resilience and recovery of arts and cultural sector impacted by COVID-19
We will give priority to applications that meet one or more of our four focus areas and can;
· Support the resilience, sustainability and recovery of organisations in Wellington City
· Re-frame and adapt projects, programmes and initiatives in the light of COVID-19
· Develop new works to be presented later or to reach audiences in new ways.
For organisations working in the community and social wellbeing sectors we have added and additional priorities for the next funding round now closing on 30 April 2020, our website will be updated over the weekend.
The additional priority is:
Resilience and recovery of community/social well-being sector impacted by COVID-19
We will give priority to applications that meet one or more of our Social and Recreation Fund focus areas and can;
• Support the resilience, sustainability and recovery of organisations in Wellington City
• Re-frame and adapt projects, programmes and initiatives in the light of COVID-19
For both we hope to have decision in May, our Grants subcommittee is due to meet on 20 May 2020. We will review this in the coming weeks depending on how things play out.
We have added this information to our website for Social well-being and Arts and culture funding links here ARTS and SOCIAL.
Venue Subsidies
We have put this on hold for now, given the guidance about events and public gatherings, we will be in contact with applicants to discuss projects, appreciating some have been delayed. Like the other funds we want to support the work you all do.
Yell out if you have any questions, best via funding@wcc.govt.nz
For arts and culture; Felicity Birch via felicity.birch@wcc.govt.nz
For social and community organisations; ask me and I can either answer or direct you to the best person.
For Council funded community centres; ask Donna Wilson donna.wilson@wcc.govt.nz
For our COVID-19 welfare response we are using this email cd.welfare@wcc.govt.nz which is monitored 0900 to 1600 hours Monday - Friday
Wellington Community Trust
In response to the challenges Communities are facing due to the COBID-19 Virus, We have simplified our usual funding process for the next 6 months.
Our key focus is to enable those communities most impacted to get funding more quickly and easily. This unprecedented situation is resulting in different and immediate needs for communities in this new environment. We’ve listened to both grant seekers and grantees to help inform us in making these changes to our current funding. This fund will have a strong equity focus, and priority will be given to organisations supporting whānau and community wellbeing, particularly for those most impacted by direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19.
Read More and Apply
Key Questions & Commitments
Q: We’ve received a grant but our event/project/project can no longer go ahead or has to change in some way?
In response to the challenges Communities are facing due to the COBID-19 Virus, We have simplified our usual funding process for the next 6 months.
Our key focus is to enable those communities most impacted to get funding more quickly and easily. This unprecedented situation is resulting in different and immediate needs for communities in this new environment. We’ve listened to both grant seekers and grantees to help inform us in making these changes to our current funding. This fund will have a strong equity focus, and priority will be given to organisations supporting whānau and community wellbeing, particularly for those most impacted by direct and indirect consequences of COVID-19.
Read More and Apply
Key Questions & Commitments
Q: We’ve received a grant but our event/project/project can no longer go ahead or has to change in some way?
- We understand that things are changing rapidly for the organisations we fund, for example, events have been cancelled and community needs are changing. If your organisation has received funding from Wellington Community Trust and your funded initiative cannot go ahead, we won’t be asking for funds to be returned – unless you feel this is the best option. Instead we invite you to reconsider how the funding can best be used to serve our communities in this new environment, and, when you are ready, to have a conversation with us.
- We’ll be simplifying our accountability reporting to ask you simply - “How did your work/project/event go?”. There will also be relaxed time frames for reporting – this is low priority right now. So if you have reporting due and need extra time, please feel free to take another two or three months to complete this, and to contact us informally via email.
- We will not be reducing our grant budget for the 2020 – 2021 financial year, despite a challenging investment environment.
- We commit to listening, to adapting, and to working together for our communities.
- In addition, we have simplified our online grant application process to make it easier to apply for funding. While these times are difficult and unprecedented, we will get through this together.
- We are currently considering this. However we already have in place our Quick Response Fund for initiatives that need a quick decision and $10k or less in funding, our LIFT fund for supporting capability in the not-for-profit sector and our Community Grants. We welcome COVID-19 related applications into all of these funds.
- Admin@wct.org.nz - For Fluxx/technical and general eligibility questions.
- Chiara@wct.org.nz / Whetu@wct.org.nz (021365628) - For updates about changes to your work/event/project, discussions abut new applications and suggestions for how WCT can respond to emerging community needs.
- Our office number (04 499 7966) is being diverted to a team member – however this won’t be a full-time line, so please email if possible and we will call you back.