Community-Led Initiatives Fund

The Community-Led Initiatives Fund helps local people bring great ideas to life. It provides funding for small community projects and events that make Palmy a more creative, connected, safe and sustainable place to live.

The fund is now open for 2026-27

This fund supports new and innovative initiatives that are by the community, for the community.

We can fund small projects and community events, such as celebrations, educational activities, competitions, commemorations and exhibitions.

What we're looking for

When we assess applications, we'll give priority to initiatives that:

are led by, or mainly benefit, Māori, Pasifika, ethnic and former refugee communities, disabled people, rainbow communities, children and young people, or older people
take place within the Palmy city boundary, or clearly benefit Palmy residents
show collaboration by working with other groups and exploring other sources of support, such as fundraising, sponsorship, grants, volunteer time or donations
are small in scale (this fund isn't intended for large projects or events)
are open to the public.

How to apply

Please submit your application at least 2 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.

Apply now

Successful applications for 2024-25

We allocated $182,420 to 33 initiatives. Grants ranged from $1,100 to $15,000. The successful recipients are listed below:

Applicant	Initiative	Grant
Alliance Francaise Palmerston North Incorporated	Fête de la Musique 2025	$3,925.00
City Mission Palmerston North	Space Parenting Programmes x 2	$8,000.00
City Mission Palmerston North	City Mission’s YouTube Community Cooking Kitchen	$7,000.00
Digits Charitable Trust	Manawatū Digifest	$4,170.54
Epic Music Foundation	Equitable Music Program	$15,000.00
Iranian Cultural Society of Manawatū	Celebrating Persian Culture Through New Year Events	$7,000.00
Just Brass - The Salvation Army, Palmerston North	Just Brass	$4,000.00
Kerala Association of Manawatu Inc.	New Zealand-Australia Tug of war competition	$8,200.00
Kerala Association of Palmerston North	Onam celebration 2024	$3,715.00
Kind Hearts Trust	Kind Hearts Regional Schools Event	$4,057.00
Kind Hearts Trust	Kindness Benches	$1,100.00
Legacy Centre	Summer Vibes Family Day Out	$4,500.00
MANAWATU AFGHAN SOCIETY INCORPORATED	Nowruz Festival 2025 – Celebrating Afghan Culture in Palmerston North	$6,200.00
Manawatū Refugee Resettlement Forum (MRRF)	World Refugee Day 2025 Celebration	$6,028.00
Manawatu Woodworkers Guild	The Central Districts Woodworking Expo	$2,500.00
Nepalese Society of Manawatu Incorporated	Nepalese new year celebration	$2,100.00
Ngā Toi Harakeke	Ngā Toi Harakeke	$10,000.00
Niue Palmerston North Community (NPNC)	Niue Language Week and 50th Constitution Celebrations	$6,970.00
Niusina A Le Pasefika Trust	Samoa Language Week Closing Celebration	$5,000.00
Palmerston North Chinese School	PN Chinese School 20th Anniversary Celebrations	$6,044.27
Palmerston North Fijian Community Inc.	Fijian Youth Support Group	$1,635.00
Palmerston North Theatre Trust	Pacifica workshops	$4,950.00
Papaioea Pasifika Community Trust	PPCT Pasifika Night Market	$11,280.00
Papaioea Pasifika Community Trust	Pasifika Community Open Day	$8,500.00
Pathways Presbyterian Church	Alive in 2025	$4,360.00
Philippine Central Association Inc.	Festival of Talents	$2,000.00
Roslyn Education And Community Health (REACH)	Wacky Water Day	$6,527.47
Snapback Gym 'Toe a'e se tofa' Trust	Rangatahi Toa Programme	$9,500.00
Te Aroha Noa Community Services Trust	Christmas in Farnham 2024	$8,700.00
Te Aroha Noa Community Services Trust	Aqua Day	$4,023.71
Te Wakahuia Manawatu Trust	Tamaariki Takiwātanga wānanga	$2,300.00
The House Next Door	Roslyn Community Movie Night	$2,120.00
WAI - the Women's Art Initiative	Facilitating creative connections	$14,450.00

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

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:

Health promotion policy