Local Impact Funds Open for Applications
A new chapter in community-led giving is taking shape in the Western Bay of Plenty, with five Local Impact Funds open for applications from 1 February to 14 March. Designed to be simple and accessible, these funds create a pathway for local people to support the grassroots projects, neighbourhood initiatives and everyday good sorts who help make their communities stronger.
The concept is rooted in a straightforward idea: when people give locally, the local community benefits directly. Each fund has been established through the generosity of donors who wanted their contributions to make a long-term difference close to home. Gifts of any size are invested through Acorn, with the original donation preserved in perpetuity. Over time, the investment income helps grow each fund and creates annual distributions that can be granted back into the community, offering lasting support where it’s needed. Katikati offered the first look at what place-based funds could achieve when it launched its Local Impact Fund (previously the Katikati Acorn Fund) in 2024.
Supported by remaining Project Generate funds and the generosity of a local couple, Katikati became the first Western Bay community to distribute grants through this new model. Funding was awarded to initiatives such as Katikati Men with Cancer, Scouts Katikati, POTS Katikati Primary, Matahui Road School, Reach Out Trust and the Katikati Community Centre, showcasing the fund’s purpose of backing practical, locally informed projects created by people who know their community best.
Building on Katikati’s early success, four additional communities, Waihī Beach, Tauranga Moana, Te Puke and Kaituna (Maketu–Pukehina), have now established their own Local Impact Funds. Their first granting round has begin in early 2026, supporting a wide range of local priorities from youth and wellbeing initiatives to feel-good grassroots projects, all aimed at strengthening the community and bringing people together.
A focus on accessibility has shaped the application process from the outset with a simple application form developed to make applying less intimidating, especially for those new to funding. Through a partnership with Socialink, applications are open to non-registered groups and everyday locals doing good mahi in their communities, ensuring volunteer-led and informal initiatives can easily seek support.
Each Local Impact Fund is guided by a small committee of local volunteers whose community connection helps shape distribution decisions and their insight keeps the process firmly rooted in the needs of their community. Together, the five Local Impact Funds will create a positive shift in grassroots community giving and support, this year, and for many years to come.
To find out more about how to apply, or how to donate, please visit the funding section of our website.