Community Trust South

Dates

No fixed rounds: apply any time.

What it funds

Projects, programmes, facilities, services and events across three pou (Strong Foundations, People & Places, Sustainability & Climate)
Vibrant Spaces & Places
Whakapapa and cultural identity
Kapa Haka and other cultural uniforms
Guarantees Against Loss

What it will not fund

More than one approved application in 12 months
Projects outside the area
Repeat requests for the same project
Projects already started or completed
Fundraising events
Private financial benefit
Religious instruction or lobbying
Uniforms (except cultural), travel and accommodation
Curriculum activities and school capital projects
Professional grant writers
Judicial, political, lobbying or legal activities
Centenaries, jubilees and reunions
Commercial organisations
Earthquake strengthening
Debt repayments
Sponsorships
Endowments
Public playgrounds
General repairs and maintenance

Good to know

Applications go to the next board meeting. One approved application per 12 months.

General Grants can be applied for at any time and go to the next board meeting (2026 meetings left: 17 November and 16 December); decisions in up to 6 weeks for requests of $10,000 or under and up to 8 weeks for $50,000 or under. Requests under $75,000 can be made any time.

Checklist

What Community Trust South says you need:

Non-profit legal entity operating in the area
Asset Management and Maintenance Plan for capital grants over $50,000
Non-legal entities: rules, minutes and bank account (up to $2,000)

Common things funders ask for, worth having ready:

What exactly is the money for, and when will you spend it?
How much do you need, and do you have quotes under three months old?
Who benefits, and how many people?
Your legal name, registration number and bank account in the group's name.
A committee or board decision approving the application (some funders want a signed resolution).
Your latest financial statements or annual return.
Other funders you have applied to for the same thing.

Ticks are saved on this device only.

Sources

What we relied on, in the funder's own words.

General Grants can be applied for at anytime during the year.communitytrustsouth.nz/meeting-dates/ · read 15 October 2026
17 November Board Meeting (Invercargill)communitytrustsouth.nz/meeting-dates/ · read 15 October 2026
Notification of decision is up to 6 weeks for requests $2,000 & Under and $10,000 & Under and up to 8 weeks for requests $50,000 & Under.communitytrustsouth.nz/meeting-dates/ · read 15 October 2026
You can apply anytime for requests under $75,000, but you need to apply before the project has started as we don’t fund projects that have already happened.communitytrustsouth.nz/before-you-apply/how-to-apply/ · read 15 October 2026
We provide funding throughout the south covering Southland, Queenstown, Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Tapanui and Heriot areas.communitytrustsouth.nz/before-you-apply/are-you-based-in-our-area/ · read 15 October 2026
An incorporated society or an incorporated charitable trust. You can check if you are incorporated at Societies & Trustscommunitytrustsouth.nz/before-you-apply/can-you-apply/ · read 15 October 2026
You can apply for up to $2,000 and you will need to have a set of rules, minutes of meetings and have a bank account in your group’s name.communitytrustsouth.nz/before-you-apply/can-you-apply/ · read 15 October 2026
Whakapapa - Genealogy & cultural Identitycommunitytrustsouth.nz/before-you-apply/what-we-fund/ · read 15 October 2026
Centenaries, jubilees and reunionscommunitytrustsouth.nz/before-you-apply/what-we-dont-fund/ · read 15 October 2026
If you are applying for a grant over $50,000 for a project that involves capital works, the purchase of a building, structure or land, as part of the application we’ll ask you to include an Asset Management and Maintenance Plan.communitytrustsouth.nz/before-you-apply/how-to-apply/ · read 15 October 2026

Report a mistake

Spot something wrong? Reporting opens when the site launches. Until then, check the funder's own page linked above.