Community-Led Initiatives Fund

The Community-led Initiatives Fund supports the community to deliver their own small-scale initiatives, including events and projects that will contribute to Palmy’s goals of being creative and exciting, connected and safe, and an eco-city.

Applications are open now

It's all about supporting initiatives that are by the community, for the community.

For this fund, events are defined as celebratory, educational, competitive, commemorative or exhibition gatherings. It is not intended for arts or sports. We will prioritise projects that are new and unique, or which might not be achieved without funding.

There are priorities for the Community-led Initiatives Fund that will be assessed when applications are considered. These include that the activity should be:

delivered by and/or primary benefit the following communities – Māori, Pasifika, ethnic, refugee background, disabled people, rainbow communities, children and young people, or older people
locally focused, by taking place within the Palmy city boundary, or by showing a clear benefit to Palmy residents
collaborative, demonstrating partnerships and connections with other groups. This includes exploring funding options and sources, such as fundraising, sponsorship, other grants, volunteer effort and donations
of appropriate scale – this fund is not for large-scale events or projects
open to the public.

How to apply

Please submit your application at least 3 months before your event or project’s start date.

Applications are open throughout the year until the fund is fully allocated (the average grant range is $500 to $10,000).

They must be made by a registered organisation, such as a charitable trust, incorporated society or a social enterprise. An unregistered group can apply under an umbrella organisation. The umbrella organisation must be registered and willing to oversee and monitor the use of grants made to an unregistered group.

Apply online using the link below, which will open a page on our SmartyGrants community funding website. Alternatively, you can submit an enquiry and we'll get in touch to discuss your options.

Apply now

Successful applications for 2023-24

We allocated $183,144.07 to 29 initiatives. Grants ranged from $1,350 to $15,000. The successful recipients are listed below:

Story Walk Awapuni (RiverStop Awapuni): $6,288.50

Afternoon Tea Dance to celebrate international day of the older person (Age Concern Palmerston North and Districts Charitable Trust): $1,800.00

Moon Festival and Chinese Language Week 2023 (Palmerston North Chinese School): $11,427.00

Raise Up Palmerston North 2023-24 (Y Central): $9,929.00

Light Party 2023 (Legacy Centre): $2,298.53

Palmy Pride in association with MaLGRA (Manawatu Lesbian & Gay Rights Association): $10,594.00

Equitable Music (Tuition Epic Music Foundation): $15,000.00

Music Festival (Philippine Central Organisation, Inc): $1,350.00

Niue Language Week and Independence Day Celebration (Niue Palmerston North Community (NPNC) $6,000.00

Jolly Jamboree 2023 (Philippine Central Organisation, Inc): $1,500.

Pasifika Community Open Day (Papaioea Pasifika Community Trust): $8,500.00

Marae Visit (Manawatu Multicultural Council): $2,915.00

4412 PA!A Free Whanau Concert (Best Care Whakapai Hauora Charitable Trust): $5,738.80

Christmas in Farnham 2023 (Te Aroha Noa Community Services Trust): $7,500.00

REACH Whacky Water Day 2024 (Roslyn Education And Community Health (REACH): $5,416.84

Pasifika Fun (CENTREPOINT THEATRE): $5,650.00

Manawatū Schools Coordinator (InsideOUT Kōaro): $10,000.00

Aqua Day (Te Aroha Noa Community Services Trust): $3,980.00

"SPACE - For you and your baby" Parenting Programme (City Mission Palmerston North): $10,044.10

Nawruz (Manawatu Afghan Society): $6,027.00

Supporting Tenants with Lego Play (Manawatu Tenants' Union): $5,000.00

2024 Volunteer Recognition Event( Whatunga Tuao Volunteer Central): $6,655.00

Fete de la Musique 2024 (Alliance Francaise Palmerston North Incorporated) : $5,000.00

Ātea (Ngā Toi Harakeke) : $9,918.49

Connection of my Vaka to my Tribe (Kuki Airani o Manawatu Trust) : $6,500.00

Seasons for Growth (Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Trust) : $7,400.00

Papua New Guinea Language Week Celebration Palmerston North (Papua New Guinea Community Trust) : $5,879.00

Mid-winter social gathering (Philippine Central Organisation, Inc): $1,560.00

Rongomai Project (Best Care (Whakapai Hauora) Charitable Trust): $3,272.81

Successful applications for 2022-23

We allocated $148,290.63 to 28 initiatives. Grants ranged from $500 to $15,000. The successful recipients are listed below.

Best Care Whakapai Hauora: 4412 Paia Free Whanau and Community Concert, $6,207.50

Legacy Centre: Light Party 2022, $2,500

Age Concern NZ Palmerston North & Districts Branch Inc: AgeConnect Manawatū Art and Craft, $5,702.51

Te Aroha Noa Community Services: Christmas in Farnham Park 2022, $6,538.81

Philippine Central Association, Inc.: Pistang Pilipino sa Palmerston North 2022, $6,398.61

RiverStop Awapuni: Tales, Tea and Music 2022, $500

Roslyn Education And Community Health (REACH): Reach Whacky Water Day 2023, $7,280

Niuvaka Trust: Vaka Festival, $6,680

Digits Charitable Trust: Our Kids Online, $1,437.50

Manawatū Performing Arts Competition Society Incorporated: Centenary Celebrations, $9,645.50

River Stop Awapuni: Tea, Tales and Tour 2023, $700

Palmy Drag Fest: Rainbow Fair & Palmy Drag School, $10,800

Alliance Francaise Palmerston North Incorporated: Fete de la Musique 2023, $9,000

Building good & healthy relationships: Inspire ME talk show, $2,933.50

Manawatū Multicultural Council: World on Stage 2023, $6,000

Kuki Airani o Manawatū Trust: Toku piri’anga ki toku reo, peu, peu Tupuna, $7,017.70

Manawatū Multicultural Council: Welcoming Schools Programme, $13,500

Centrepoint Theatre: Pasifika: Improve Classes, $3,770

Manawatū Lesbian & Gay Rights Assn Inc (MaLGRA): The Rainbow Artmaking Group, $7,575

Manawatū Young Chamber (a branch of Manawatū Business Chamber): The Workplace Culture of the Future – Organisational culture panel discussion, $600

Manawatū Young Chamber (a branch of Manawatū Business Chamber): Building an online presence, modern marketing & branding workshop, $850

Manawatū Young Chamber (a branch of Manawatū Business Chamber): International business panel discussion, $1,070

Manawatū Young Chamber (a branch of Manawatū Business Chamber): Sustainability Made Easy, $1,500

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Manawatū: Little Sisters BIG Camp, $3,200

Best Care Whakapai Hauora: Flip, $15,000

Manawatū Multicultural Council: Poipoia Te Pitomata, $2,617

Manawatū Multicultural Council: Celebration of Ethnic Songs and Praises, $4,424

Palmerston North Papua New Guinea Community Trust: Celebrating 47th Papua New Guinea Independence, $4,843

Get in touch

We'd love to meet you and discuss your project. We can advise on whether this fund is for you, and answer any questions you may have before you submit your application. Please contact our Community Funding Advisor on phone: 06 356 8199 or email: communityfunding@pncc.govt.nz

Council guidelines for funded events

Applying for funding for an event? Please review the following Council policies, designed to keep our community safe and healthy. To qualify for funding, you'll need to demonstrate your event complies:

Auahi Kore Smokefree and Vapefree Policy

Healthy Beverage Policy

Sun Protection Policy