Community Discretionary Fund
Is your community club, organisation or not-for-profit group looking for support for its next project or event? We provide discretionary funds for the Cambridge and Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Boards and the Pirongia Ward Committee to allocate to groups who offer services, support and benefits for Waipā.
Applications has now closed for the 2024/25 funding
If you applied for funding, we'll be in touch with successful applicants once decided at community board and committee meetings.
With the council’s back-to-basics approach on spending, the Community Discretionary Fund was reduced as part of the 2024/25 Enhanced Annual Plan. As a result, the criteria has changed and there will be only one funding round this financial year with the priority going to support grassroots projects.
Total available allocations
| Cambridge Community Board | $19,500 |
| Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board | $20,000 |
| Pirongia Ward Committee | $13,000 |
Eligibility for 2024/25 funding round
Please carefully view the criteria to check if your group is eligible for funding before applying.
Cambridge Community Board funding criteria
- Applications are only open to not-for-profit groups, clubs or organisations who provide a local service for the benefit of the Wider Waipā community,
- Funding groups, clubs or organisations must have a base in Cambridge or Maungatautari
- Applications will not be considered for expenses or events that have already happened (the Cambridge Community Board meeting to consider applications is on November 20, the expense or events must not have occurred before then),
- If grants are not spent within twelve months, this funding must be returned,
- Not completing an accountability form after your event may jeopardise future funding.
Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board funding criteria
- Applications are only open to not-for-profit groups, clubs or organisations who provide a local service for the benefit of the community within the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi area,
- Funding groups, clubs or organisations must have a base in Te Awamutu, Kihikihi or Kakepuku,
- The maximum level of funding that can be applied for is $2,000 plus GST,
- Capital or operational projects/expenses will be considered,
- Applications will not be considered for expenses or events that have already happened (the Te Awamutu and Kihikihi Community Board meeting to consider applications is on November 12, the expense or events must not have occurred before then),
- If grants are not spent within twelve months, this funding must be returned,
- Not completing an accountability form after your event may jeopardise future funding.
Pirongia Ward Committee funding criteria
- Applications are only open to not-for-profit groups, clubs or organisations who provide a local service for the benefit of the wider Waipā community,
- Funding groups, clubs or organisations must be based in the area covered by the Pirongia Ward Committee or currently deliver services there,
- The maximum level of funding that can be applied for is $2,000 plus GST,
- Applications will not be considered for expenses or events that have already happened (the Pirongia Ward Committee meeting to consider applications is on December 12, the expense or events must not have occurred before then),
- If grants are not spent within twelve months, this funding must be returned,
- Not completing an accountability form after your event may jeopardise future funding.
Accountability report for completed project
Successful grant recipients are required to submit an accountability report once their grant has been spent before 30 June of the year following the grant.
Previous grant recipients
Cambridge Community Board
2023/24 funding rounds
| Recipient | Amount |
| Cambridge Town Hall Trust | $1500.00 |
| Cambridge Bowling Club Inc | $500.00 |
| Cambridge Brass Band Inc | $750.00 |
| Cambridge Committee of Social Services Inc | $1000.00 |
| Cambridge Community House Trust | $1000.00 |
| Cambridge Historical Society and Museum | $1130.43 |
| Cambridge Lifeskills Institute Trust Inc | $1000.00 |
| Cambridge Model Engineering Society Inc | $2000.00 |
| Cambridge Netball Centre | $500.00 |
| Cambridge Safer Community Charitable Trust | $500.00 |
| ChildPlayWorks Charitable Trust | $500.00 |
| Children 1st Charitable Trust | $1000.00 |
| Destination Cambridge Inc | $1500.00 |
| Diabetes New Zealand | $500.00 |
| InterlockNZ Trust | $800.00 |
| Kids in Need Waikato | $1000.00 |
| La Leche League New Zealand Inc | $350.00 |
| Leamington Gardeners Inc | $400.00 |
| Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust | $1000.00 |
| MS Waikato Trust | $300.00 |
| Raleigh Street Christian Centre Inc | $800.00 |
| Showjumping Waikato | $350.00 |
| The Rotary Club of Cambridge Charitable Trust | $5000.00 |
| True Colours Charitable Trust | $500.00 |
| Cambridge Tree Trust | $2000.00 |
| Harbour City Rod Club | $1000.00 |
| House of Science | $1000.00 |
| Riding for the Disabled - Cambridge Incorporated | $2750.00 |
| Roto O Rangi Memorial Hall Society Inc | $3683.00 |
| Ko Wai Au Trust | $500.00 |
| Cambridge Safer Community Charitable Trust | $7500.00 |
| Leamington Croquet Club Inc | $1000.00 |
Te Awamutu-Kihikihi Community Board
2023/24 funding rounds
| Recipient | Amount |
| Riverlea Theatre and Arts Centre Inc | $500.00 |
| Rotary Club of Te Awamutu | $5000.00 |
| Te Awamutu Association Football Club | $2000.00 |
| Te Awamutu Bible Chapel | $1200.00 |
| Te Awamutu Brass Band | $600.00 |
| Te Awamutu Community Health Transport Trust | $477.39 |
| Te Awamutu Community Menz Shed Inc | $4000.00 |
| Te Awamutu Community Toy Library | $850.00 |
| The Girl Guides Association New Zealand Inc | $1800.00 |
| The Theatre Beautiful Limited | $1407.72 |
| True Colours Charitable Trust | $650.00 |
| Kihikihi Residents and Ratepayers | $1500.00 |
| Feasibility Study | $2000.00 |
| Kainga Aroha Community House | $2000.00 |
| Alpha Restoration Trust | $1200.00 |
| Pirongia Forest Park Lodge | $250.00 |
| Te Awamutu Association Football Club | $1000.00 |
| Te Awamutu Brass Band | $320.00 |
| Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce | $1200.00 |
| Te Awamutu Community Cadet Unit | $750.00 |
| Te Awamutu Community Health Transport Trust | $230.00 |
| Te Awamutu Croquet Inc | $500.00 |
| Te Awamutu Light Operatic Society (TALOS) | $1700.00 |
| Te Awamutu Rose Society Inc | $1000.00 |
| Waikato Role-Playing Guild | $250.00 |
Pirongia Ward Committee
2023/24 funding rounds
| Recipient | Amount |
Mangahia Catchment Charitable Trust | $2,000.00 |
Maungatautari to Pirongia Ecological Corridor Inc Soc | $1,000.00 |
Melville Rugby & Sports Club | $525.00 |
MS Waikato Trust | $500.00 |
Ōhaupō Community Sport & Recreation Centre Trust | $2,000.00 |
Ohaupo Ngāhinapōuri Lions Club | $750.00 |
Pirongia Forest Park Lodge | $2,000.00 |
Pirongia Playcentre | $1,000.00 |
Pirongia School Board of Trustees | $1,000.00 |
Te Awamutu Bible Chapel | $500.00 |
Te Awamutu Brass Band | $500.00 |
Te Awamutu Community Menz Shed Inc | $1,000.00 |
Te Pahū Hall Society Inc | $1,000.00 |
Te Pahu Preschool Group Inc | $737.39 |
The Girl Guides Association New Zealand Inc | $500.00 |
True Colours Charitable Trust | $1,000.00 |
Pirongia Fire Service | $3,149.36 |
Pirongia Scouts | $789.31 |
Te Awamutu Brass Band | $1,000.00 |
Te Pahū Hall Society Inc | $1,000.00 |
Pirongia Forest Park Lodge | $1,000.00 |
Ko Wai Au Trust | $1,441.50 |
Te Awamutu Association Football Club | $1,000.00 |
Ohaupo Rugby Sports Club | $750.00 |
Promoting your community day or event
If you are hosting an event, workshop, fundraiser or open day and you need some extra promotion that's affordable, then head along to What's on Waipā and promote your event for free!
The site offers promotion, venue ideas and tips and tricks for a successful event.
All you need to do is sign up, list your event details, add a photo and it's good to go!
