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Community funding

Supporting community organisations, local events, and initiatives that strengthen the wellbeing and resilience of Christchurch and Banks Peninsula.

Fund Status
Business Improvement District Grant Fund Open
Canterbury Waste Minimisation Grant Closed. Opens May 2026
Christchurch Biodiversity Fund Closed.  Opens October 2025
Community Board Small Funds Check with your Community Board
Community Organisation Loan Scheme Open
Community Waterways Partnership Fund Opens 1 August 2025. Closes 29 August 2025
Computers to the community scheme Open
Creative Communities Scheme(external link) Open. Closes at noon on Friday 22 August 2025
Discretionary Response Fund Citywide closed. Opens 18 August 2025.
Community Board open
Environmental Partnerships Fund Closed. Opens October 2025
Events and Festival Sponsorship Fund Closed
Events Seeding Fund Open
Place Partnership Fund Open
Small Sports Events Fund(external link) Closed
Strengthening Communities Fund(external link) Closed. Opens May 2026
Sustainability Fund Closed. Opens late 2025
Youth Development Fund Check with your Community Board

Changes to the Incorporated Societies Act require that relevant organisations update their constitution and re-register between October 2023 and April 2026, or risk deregistration. Deregistration would impact funding from the Council and other funders. 

For more information on the changes to the Incorporated Societies Act and how to re-register, visit the Companies Office(external link). 

Funding process and reporting

The application process and reporting requirements are different for each fund.

Business Improvement District Grant

Provides seed funding to establish a Business Improvement District (BID) under the Council's BID Policy.

Canterbury Waste Minimisation Grant

Apply for a grant to fund a waste minimisation project in the Canterbury region.

Christchurch Biodiversity Fund

Supports custodians of biodiversity through a contestable fund of up to $200,000 per annum.

Creative Communities Scheme

Supports local communities in creating and presenting diverse opportunities in arts activities.

Community Board Small Funds

Grants to assist groups in their local area to undertake small community projects.

Community Organisation Loan Scheme

Helps to develop or improve facilities and other major projects.

Community Waterways Partnership Fund

Improving and protecting the health of our urban waterways.

Computers to the community scheme

Personal computers and laptops available free of charge to not-for-profit groups.

Discretionary Response Fund

Where funding requests fall outside other funding criteria or closing dates.

Environmental Partnerships Fund

Supports environmentally focused activities on publicly accessible land and waterways.

Events and Festivals Sponsorship Fund

Providing sponsorship for a city-wide calendar of events to enhance Christchurch.

Events Seeding Fund

Provides sponsorship for new events taking place in Christchurch.

Mayor's Welfare Fund

Provides assistance to families and individuals who are in extreme financial distress.

Place Partnership Fund

Strengthening connections between communities and their places and spaces.

Small Sports Events Fund

Provides funding opportunities to National and South Island sporting events.

Strengthening Communities Fund

Supports community-focused organisations that contribute to strengthening community wellbeing.

Sustainability Fund

Encourages projects that help meet our climate change objectives and targets.

Youth Development Fund

Funds young people in their local community.

Related news

Spotlight on community boards

Voters will be electing six new community boards in October’s local elections, but what does a Community Board actually do? Retiring Community Board chairperson Emma Norrish explains what the job can involve.

16 Sep 2025

Green light for Bower Park improvements and wetland restoration

A project to restore a significant wetland and deliver a long-planned expansion of Bower Park will get underway in 2026, following endorsement from the Waitai Coastal-Burwood-Linwood Community Board.

9 Sep 2025

Getting down in the weeds with coastal lagoons

Christchurch City Council Rangers have been getting hands-on to restore coastal lagoon environments to their natural state.

5 Sep 2025

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