Members of the community have one week left to apply for grants from Your West Support Fund and Your West Innovation Fund.
Our new community funding round closes at midnight on Monday 15 April. Applications opened on 18 March 2024 for a total of $1 million through a new charitable funding model set to help address inequity in The West.
This funding will back projects and organisations that can contribute towards long-term positive change in The Trusts’ region. The grants focus on initiatives that support or are led by communities experiencing inequity in the area. The goal is to enable everyone to reach the starting line to lead a good life in The West. This means having the ability to participate, to access opportunities, resources, networks, and supports, that enable people to do well on their own terms.
The grants focus on four key focus areas:
- Improving the lives of young people
- Connected, resilient and thriving communities
- Sustainable environments
- Partnering with Māori and supporting Pacific Communities
Funding Information
Members of the community can apply for their share of $750,000 through Your West Support Fund. The Trusts has set aside one-off grants to support community initiatives associated with key focus areas. This can include support for project, operating or capital costs.
The debut Your West Innovation Fund will see community groups applying for their share of $250,000. This fund is designed to support investment in initiatives aligned with key focus areas and having a high potential for impact. This could include investment in seed funding, testing of small-scale innovations, co-design, social enterprises, and evaluation.
What we are noticing so far
Because we have changed the way that we fund, the applications that are scoring higher during assessment are clearly demonstrating how their initiative/organisation aligns with The Trusts Funding Strategy.
Ensure your application addresses:
- How it will contribute towards increased equity.
- Does it contribute to long term impact, involve collaboration and / or contribute to increased connection and inclusion? How will you know?
- Who are the beneficiaries and what is the evidence of need?
- Which of the four Key Focus Areas does it support?
It is always good to provide some statistics to back up your application.
Go to www.thetrusts.co.nz to learn more about both grants and to apply for funding.