Apply for Grants

There are three ways Momentum Waikato makes grants to community organisations;

• Our donors themselves choose to support the charity or cause that matters most to them;

• The governance team of one of our dedicated funds; such as the Waikato Women’s Fund, Waikato Cultural Inclusion Fund or Hamilton CBD Development Fund, makes a grant;

• Our donors enable the Momentum Waikato Distributions Committee, which is made up of Momentum Waikato Trustees, to make strategic decisions on the greatest impact their gifts can have through the Vital Impact Grant.

Momentum Waikato’s Vital Impact Grant is informed by initiatives that address the top community priorities for action as identified by the Waikato Vital Signs community consultation process, carried out every four years.

Successfully funded projects by the Vital Impact Grant will be made in the following impact areas over a three-year period:

• Children and Youth;

• Strong Communities;

• Arts and Culture;

• Economic Vitality;

• Education;

• Environment;

• Health;

• Recreation and Sport.

Applications for the Vital Impact Grant will be assessed by an independent Advisory Panel of subject-matter experts who, following a thorough due-diligence process will make funding recommendations to the Momentum Waikato Distributions Committee.

Momentum Waikato will consider funding initiatives by applicants that meet all the following five-criteria:

• Respond to a clear need in the Waikato – the challenge is significant and deeply rooted in the Waikato community;

• Be inspirational – the outcomes are visible and inspire greater community generosity;

• Be transformational – the outcomes disrupt the status quo to catalyse and accelerate much needed change;

• Demonstrates leadership – organisations have a track record and the organisational capacity to deliver the outcomes at governance, management and initiative levels;

• Be scalable and sustainable – the outcomes have the potential to be delivered across the Waikato, and possibly nationally with other players, beyond the time that funding ceases.

In meeting these criteria, it is anticipated that initiatives will be in some way new or innovative. We also actively encourage collaboration across two or more organisations.

Momentum Waikato is focused on helping Waikato-based community organisations who have bold ambitions and/or a track record of making a transformational impact in our region.

Specifically this means initiatives in the local authority areas of Hamilton City, Waikato District, Thames-Coromandel District, Hauraki District, Matamata-Piako District, Waipa District, South Waikato District, Otorohanga District, and/or Waitomo District – see Local Government boundary map.

Technically we can distribute funds to anywhere in New Zealand, however we will normally only make grants to individuals or to non-Waikato organisations where either our donors direct us to do so, or where a project or initiative driven from elsewhere will have a significant impact in the Waikato.

Grants are available to organisations that are either:

• A registered charitable trust or company

• A registered incorporated society

• An education institution

• A social enterprise

• Organisations should have a governing document (such as a constitution, rules, memorandum and articles of association) and a bank account in the organisation’s name with at least two independent signatories.

• Grants will not normally be available to support day-to-day operating costs.

We will not fund requests to support:

• Contributions to general appeals or circulars

• Religious activity which is not for wider public benefit

• Public bodies to carry out their statutory obligations

• Activities which have already taken place

• Grant making by other organisations

Momentum Waikato will advise the Vital Impact Grant round is open through communication channels such as; E-newsletter and social media.

You can like us on social media, at:

If you’d like to go onto our e-newsletter database, please email your request to info@momentumwaikato.nz.

The Vital Impact Grant Application form will be available here in early 2020. You can also request a hard copy be sent to you by post or email.

We appreciate the time and effort that organisations put into completing comprehensive grant applications, when only a few will be successful. You will be informed along the process at the following stages:

• Vital Impact Grant round opens and closes;

• Shortlisted and unsuccessful applicants notified;

• Shortlisted applicants to present to the Distribution Committee & Advisory Panel;

• Grant recipients and unsuccessful shortlisted applicants notified.

Informed by the Waikato Vital Signs Report, Momentum Waikato expects to fund up to three initiatives over a three-year period in the Vital Impact Grant round, and will draw on the knowledge and experience of an Advisory Panel of subject-matter experts to support the Momentum Waikato Distributions Committee which is made up of Momentum Waikato Trustees, in the robust decision-making process.