Grants
Use public, gaming trust, council and philanthropic grants for eligible projects, equipment, facilities and community outcomes.
New Zealand club fundraising toolkit
Find grants, sponsors, event tools and fillable committee forms in one place.
The operating model
Most clubs fail because they chase one grant, one sausage sizzle or one sponsor at a time. A durable club runs five funding lanes at once, with a clear target and evidence pack.
Use public, gaming trust, council and philanthropic grants for eligible projects, equipment, facilities and community outcomes.
Sell visibility, community connection and measurable value to local businesses. Do not beg. Package the offer.
Run events only when the unit economics work. Start with contribution margin, not enthusiasm.
Use donations and donor campaigns properly, especially if the club has approved donee status or a charitable arm.
Membership subscriptions, merchandise, working bees and internal campaigns should support the plan, not replace it.
All five lanes need the same evidence pack: budget, quotes, outcomes, photos, governance documents and bank details.
90-day plan
One meeting to set the target. Two weeks to build the evidence pack. Four weeks to approach sponsors. Eight to twelve weeks to lodge grants and run the first event.
Fast start
| Step | Action | Output | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define one fundraising target, not ten vague wishes. | Target, deadline, budget, reason. | Chair / treasurer |
| 2 | Build the evidence pack once. | Quotes, photos, budget, bank verification, legal status, impact story. | Secretary / funding lead |
| 3 | Match projects to funders. | Grant pipeline with fit score and due dates. | Funding lead |
| 4 | Package sponsors before approaching businesses. | One-page offer, tiers, sponsor list, email script. | Sponsorship lead |
| 5 | Run one event with known margin. | Profit target, run sheet, risk register, post-event report. | Event lead |