Community group funding

We aspire to see a strong and resilient Waikato, founded on social justice and equity. We want everyone to live a healthy and well life, feel safe, included and valued for who they are, to have genuine choice in and control over their lives, and to be able to reach their potential and achieve their aspirations, despite the barriers created by the society they live in.

We direct our funding towards community groups in the Waikato region working with vulnerable or disadvantaged people, and those facing significant hardship, for whom this vision is not a reality.

We support groups that are committed to enhancing wellbeing in the Waikato, who are deeply embedded in, understand, are led by and deliver directly to the communities they serve in order to:

Address inequity and social injustice

Champion inclusion, choice and wellbeing

Benefit disadvantaged and vulnerable groups

Stockmans Grants: 2025/2026 funding rounds: Opening and closing dates:

Grant round 6, 2025: Opens 10 October 2025 - closes 21 November 2025

Grant round 1, 2026: Opens 12 December 2025 - closes 23rd January 2026

Grant round 2, 2026: Opens 13 February 2026 - closes 13 March 2026

Grant round 3, 2026: Opens 10 April 2026 - closes 15 May 2026

Online grant applications

The Trust uses the Smarty Grants on-line grants system. You will need to register with Smarty Grants in order to begin your application or EOI. Please read the information on how we share our funds before you begin your application.

If your grant application is equal to or less than $20,000, please apply for a Stockmans Grant

Stockmans Grant

From February 2025 the Trust will consider expressions of interest from groups providing projects and programmes of significant benefit to the Waikato who are seeking funding of more than $20,000.

EOI form

Along with your Stockmans grant application please have the following documents ready to include:

Budget - Project or current year budget, applicable to your application
Annual financial accounts - Recent annual financial accounts, reviewed or audited, as applicable.
Bank account - one of the following: i. Bank deposit slip ii. Bank issued account number verification document iii. Copy of recent bank statement – showing account name and number
Any supporting documents – e.g. annual report, photos, quotes, references etc.

How we share our funds

The Trust welcomes applications for Stockmans grants from new and existing groups operating within the Waikato region once in any 12-month timeframe. Our Stockmans grants are for applications up to and including $20,000. Based on the number of applications we receive in each grant round and the amount of funding we have to distribute the typical Stockmans grant is $3,000 - $5,000.

The Trust invites groups whose programmes and projects align with our strategic focus and who are seeking funding over $20,000 to complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. It is likely that the trust will only make a small number of grants through the EOI process each year so we will be looking for very clear alignment with our focus as a funder. The majority of our funding will be through the Stockmans grant application pathway.

We don't support groups seeking funding for:

Activities that don't specifically and directly benefit communities in the Waikato
Political purposes
Faith based ministry work
Sport and recreation facilities or participation except where it seeks to address inequity of outcomes for groups experiencing disadvantage or hardship
Creative and performing arts facilities or participation except where it seeks to address inequity of outcomes for groups experiencing disadvantage or hardship
Mainstream educational learning and facilities (ECE through to tertiary level) except where it seeks to address inequity of outcomes for groups experiencing disavantage or hardship
Projects from or benefitting an individual, projects outside the Waikato region or overseas projects/travel

The Trust Board meets six times per year and considers applications received by the closing date in the previous month.

While we don’t have any formal reporting requirements, we consider our funding part of an ongoing relationship and value the opportunity to hear about the difference your mahi is making within the community.

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