Your West Innovation Fund
Your West Innovation Fund exists to seed or scale innovative initiatives with high community impact.
Through innovation we aim to foster equity by addressing barriers faced by underrepresented groups. Committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the focus is on creating sustainable, inclusive communities by disrupting systemic inequities.
Applications for this year’s $375,000 Your West Innovation Fund are closed. Keep an eye out for future grant round announcements.
For all information about the fund check out our Community Funding Guidelines and register for our Fluxx granting system so you’re ready to submit your next application.
Your West Innovation Fund recipients for May 2026!
The 2026 Your West Innovation Fund delivered $373,262 across five bold, community-led initiatives designed to seed or scale long-term change in The West. With an average grant size of $74,652, the Innovation Fund is built to back projects with the scope and ambition to shift outcomes for entire communities.
Four of this year’s five recipients are brand new to The Trusts Innovation Fund, which is exactly what this fund was built to do. It’s about backing fresh thinking from new corners of The West and giving innovative ideas the resources to grow.
This year’s funding has been allocated across two sectors:
- Community Wellbeing: $209,313 (56%) across three grants
- Education: $163,949 (44%) across two grants
The largest grant this year is also the largest in the round overall, $112,896 to Te Hononga Akoranga COMET to deliver Growing Guardians, an environmental science and ngahere education programme rolling out across six West Auckland schools.
Drowning Prevention Auckland received $99,313 to develop a community-led rescue training programme designed specifically for rock-based fishers along the west coast, a community-driven response to a long-standing problem.
Kindness Collective Foundation received $95,000 to expand Ara Rangatahi, supporting Māori and Pasifika youth affected by homelessness and family violence into education, employment, and independence.
Ministry of Inspiration received $51,053 to bring RoboCup Jr, NZAquabots, and coding and robotics programmes to more West Auckland schools.
Generations Connect NZ received $15,000 for a feasibility and co-design phase exploring how intergenerational connection can strengthen diverse West Auckland communities.
Together these five projects represent the kind of ambitious, community-rooted work the Innovation Fund was created to support.
| Grant Recipient | Total Funded | Sector | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Te Hononga Akoranga COMET | $112,896.00 | Education | Growing Guardians: a STEM and ngahere programme across six West Auckland schools. |
| Drowning Prevention Auckland | $99,313.00 | Community Wellbeing | Rock-Based Fishers Rescue Programme for one of the most dangerous coastal activities on the west coast. |
| Kindness Collective Foundation | $95,000.00 | Community Wellbeing | Ara Rangatahi: pathways to education, employment, and independence for Māori and Pasifika youth. |
| Ministry of Inspiration | $51,053.07 | Education | STEM expansion across West Auckland schools, including RoboCup Jr, NZAquabots, and coding and robotics. |
| Generations Connect NZ | $15,000.00 | Community Wellbeing | Feasibility and co-design for intergenerational connection in diverse West Auckland communities. |
