The purpose of this fund is to assist community groups with emergency or unforeseen situations. Applications will support community-focused projects that contribute to the strengthening of community wellbeing in the Christchurch city area.

Apply for the Discretionary Response Fund

Please check the availability of funds and the eligibility of your project before filling out an application form.

As we are changing to a new system you do not need to register for funding each year. However, you will need to set up a one-time Smarty Grants login which will allow you to view and apply for any open Council funding.

Email communitygrants@ccc.govt.nz for assistance.

Please note: You will now need to select whether to apply for Discretionary Response Funding from your local Community Board, or from the Citywide fund.

If a majority of the participants of your project/programme or organisational activity are from a specific part of the city, please apply through the 'Community Board' link.

If your project/programme or organisational activity is across several Christchurch City Council area locations, please choose 'Citywide'.

For guidance on Council's Community Board areas view our interactive Community Board map(external link).

Community Board Citywide
Community Board
Citywide

Purpose

The purpose of this fund is to assist community groups with emergency or unforeseen situations.

Applications will support community-focused organisations whose projects contribute to the strengthening of community wellbeing in the Christchurch city area.

Process

This fund operates differently at a metropolitan and local level.

Applications to local funds are open from 1 July each year.

Metropolitan applications can be submitted from July but will not be considered until September. 

Once the annual allocation of funds is exhausted the fund is closed.

The funding period is for 12 months after the date of submission.

What this fund covers

Local Discretionary Response Fund

Community Boards can grant funds to any group or person for any purpose except for those listed below.

Metropolitan Discretionary Response Fund

Applications are being accepted for this fund, the next meeting will be January 2024.  The metropolitan fund covers activities where the benefit is not just for residents in a defined area but far reaching.  The focus is in assisting with unforeseen or unexpected costs that could not be predicted.

What this fund does not cover

Neither fund will usually cover:

  • Entertainment costs (including food) except for costs directly linked to volunteer recognition.
  • Funding of individuals.
  • Purchase of land and buildings.
  • Building maintenance or facility design, development and renovation costs.
  • Fundraising or general income growth purposes.
  • Costs to remedy, rectify, upgrade, retrofit or replace equipment, vehicles or premises as a result of action by central or local government departments or other agencies who hold regulatory or enforcement powers.
  • Purchase of vehicles and any related ongoing maintenance repair, overhead costs or road user charges.
  • Air travel, accommodation hotel or motel expenses.

Local Discretionary Response Fund

The Local Discretionary Response Fund will also not cover:

  • Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives or commercial profit-orientated interests.
  • Debt servicing or re-financing costs.
  • Stock or capital market investment.
  • Gambling or prize money.
  • Payment of fines or court costs.
  • Payment for IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments.
  • Legal challenges against Council, Community Boards, Council-controlled organisations or Environment Court decisions.
  • Projects or initiatives that change the scope of a Council project.
  • Projects or initiatives that will lead to ongoing operational costs to the Council.

Metropolitan Discretionary Response Fund

The Metropolitan Discretionary Response Fund will also not cover:

  • Debt servicing or re-financing costs.
  • Stock or capital market investment.
  • Projects that are considered to be the primary responsibility of the central government.
  • Gambling or prize money.
  • Funding of individuals.
  • Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives, and commercial or profit-oriented interests.
  • Payment of fines or court costs.
  • Payment for IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments.
  • Legal challenges against Council, Community Boards, Council-controlled organisations or Environment Court decisions.
  • Projects or initiatives that change the scope of a Council project.
  • Projects or initiatives that will lead to ongoing operational costs to the Council.
  • Retrospective costs or project or purchase costs incurred or settled before the agreed commencement date of the funding agreement.

Accountability and compliance
  • Funding received is to be spent 12 months from the decision meeting.
  • Any alterations to the use of the funding must be discussed with council staff and agreed to or funding may be required to be returned.
  • A community grant funding report(external link) must be completed when funding is spent or 13 months after the money was granted.

Future funding can be withheld if accountability requirements are not met.

Previous recipients