Community funding and awards

At different times of the year, we offer awards and funding to individuals and organisations across a variety of areas. Find out what funding is available to you and information about the awards we sponsor and support.

Sport Travel Fund and Waitaki Heritage Fund are open for application now.   

Community Group Grants

Community Group Grants are here to help non-profit groups with funding for special projects and programmes that benefit the Waitaki community.

Creative Communities Scheme

Funding for local arts projects that benefit the Waitaki community and promote participation in the arts.

Donald & Nellye Malcolm Trust

Applications to the Donald & Nellye Malcolm Charitable Trust are invited from charitable and not-for-profit organisations in North Otago.

Waitaki Heritage Fund

Help for heritage place owners to retain, preserve, and maintain historic buildings and sites in the district.

Waitaki Citizens' Awards

These annual awards celebrate Waitakians who go above and beyond for their community. Find out how to nominate someone great.

Sport NZ Rural Travel fund

Help your school or club sports teams participate in local sporting competitions. The Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund subsidises travel for junior teams aged 5-19 years.

Waitaki Biodiversity Fund

Our Biodiversity Fund supports landowners who are taking steps to protect and enhance indigenous biodiversity in the Waitaki District.

Waitaki Waste Minimisation Fund

The Waitaiki Waste Minimisation Fund supports individuals, community groups, businesses, Iwi/Māori organisations and education providers who want to deliver a waste minimisation project for their community in the Waitaki district.

Waste Minimisation Education Fund

A small project fund to enable schools and ECE’s to carry out waste minimisation initiatives.

Safer Waitaki funding directory

Find a list of potential funding, grants and scholarship opportunities to support people, families, community groups and service providers.

Other funding options

Waitaki District Council has access to the GivUs and GivMe nationwide database of funding. Use this database to guide you to a scheme that you can benefit from.

Aspiring Leaders Forum Nominations

Waitaki District Council and Otago Community Trust are offering two sponsorships for young leaders to take part in the Aspiring Leaders Forum for 2023.

Fund grant schedule

Community Group Grants

  • opens Monday 6 February 2023 -  closes Friday 10 March 2023   
  • opens Monday 3 July 2023 -  closes Friday 4 August 2023

Creative Communities Scheme

  • opens Friday 4 November 2022 -  closes Friday 2 December 2022   
  • opens Monday 6 February 2023 -  closes Friday 10 March 2023
  • opens Monday 3 July 2023 - closes Friday 4 August 2023 

Donald & Nellye Malcolm Trust

  • opens Tuesday 1 August 2023 and closes Thursday 31 August 2023

Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund

  • opens Monday 20 March 2023 and closes Friday 21 April 2023

Citizens' Awards

  • opens Monday 3 July 2023 and closes Friday 28 July 2023

Waitaki Heritage Fund

  • opens Tuesday 1 November 2022 -  closes Monday 16 January 2023  
  • opens Wednesday 1 March 2023 -  closes Monday 15 May 2023
  • opens Monday 3 July 2023 - closes Friday 15 September 2023

Waitaki Biodiversity Fund

  • opens Tuesday 1 November 2022 - closes Friday 24 Feb 2023
  • opens 1 April 2023 - closes Friday 25 August 2023

Waitaki Waste Minimisation Grant

  • opens Tuesday 1 August 2023 - closes Wednesday 30 August 2023

Throughout the year other potential funding and grants opportunities for our community are identified which will be published on the Stronger Waitaki Funding web page on a regular basis. This initiative has been developed by the Waitaki District Council to support our people, families, community groups and service providers, especially those impacted by COVID-19. Find a list of funding opportunities here.

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