Community Funding
Last updated: 25 Jun, 2025 10:46am
Our Community Funds
These include:
- Community Grants Fund
- Creative Communities Scheme
- Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund
- Carterton and Districts Returned and Services Memorial Trust Fund
- Waste Minimisation Grant
Details on each fund are available below.
News & Updates
Applications Now Open for Carterton District Community Grants
Carterton District Council is inviting applications for our annual community grants, with funding available to support projects that make a positive difference in our district and across the Wairarapa region. Local and regional community groups, organisations, and...
Community Grants allocations
Carterton District Council has backed community programmes with investment of more than $77,000 in the 2024 round of its Community Grants Fund allocations. The Community Grants Fund is an annual fund managed and distributed by Carterton District Council. These funds...
Our Community Funds
Community Grants Fund
Carterton District Council facilitate two community grant funds, our Local Community Grants Fund, and a Wairarapa Wide Regional Grants Fund.
The Council’s Long-Term Plan sets the funding available for community support through grants, this is reviewed and renewed at each Annual Plan.
Our Grants Policy provides the framework for allocating grants to groups and organisations that benefit the people of Carterton. Download the Policy here.
How to apply
Smarty Grants is a user-friendly platform which enables you (or your organisation members) to enter your application details, save and exit, then add more at a later date, upload supporting documents and review previous applications or funds awarded.
2025 Grants
Opening date
- 9am, Monday 23 June, 2025
Closing date
- 5pm, Thursday 31 July, 2025
Need help?
Contact us ASAP for assistance if you don’t have a computer or need help with the online forms.
Email grants@cdc.govt.nz or call 06 379 4081
Need more information?
Take at look at the Community Grants – SMARTY GRANTS help guide.
Sport New Zealand Rural Travel Fund
This grant provides support for rural sports clubs and rural school teams with young people aged between 5 and 19 years who require subsidies to assist with transport expenses to local sporting competitions. There is one funding round per year held in February.
For more information, contact grants@cdc.govt.nz or 06 379 4081.
Forms and guidelines
Application Guidelines
- Download the Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund guidelines [PDF version]
Creative Communities Scheme
The Creative Communities Grants Scheme [CCS] helps to fund local arts projects. Each year Creative New Zealand provides funding to Carterton and other city and district councils to distribute in our area.
Visit the Creative NZ website for more information.
2024 – 2025 Grants
Opening date
-
9am, Monday 3 February
Closing date
- 11.59pm, Monday 17 March
Application Guidelines
- Creative Communities Scheme Application Guide
- Application Guide [smartygrants.com.au]
- Creative Communities DIY kit A great resource for applicants, developed by David Engwicht, founder of Creative Communities International, and trialed in Palmerston North.
Carterton & Districts Returned & Services Memorial Trust Tertiary Grant
This grant provides a Tertiary fund for residents of the Carterton District who are direct descendants of veterans and servicemen.
The grants are provided by the Trust to students under 25 years of age to assist with expenses related to their tertiary education. There is one funding round per year held in February.
For more information, contact grants@cdc.govt.nz or 06 379 4081.
Waste Minimisation Grant
The fund, which provides practical support for innovative solutions that reduce waste, is supported by money raised by the national waste levy and awarded through Council.
Funding is available for community groups, not-for-profit organisations, schools/educational institutions, Iwi/Māori organisations, neighbourhood groups of at least five households.
Applicants must be based in and running their proposed activity in the Carterton District.
Rapid Fund
Applications to the Rapid Fund will be considered monthly as they are received for the 2025 – 2026 financial year.
Up to $2,000 is available for each individual project/application.
Please apply at least 6 weeks prior to project’s start date. This ensures application is processed in time. An assessment and decision will be made within four weeks of your application.
Annual Contestable Fund
The annual contestable fund is for medium and large projects over $2000.
How to apply
Smarty Grants is a user-friendly platform which enables you (or your organisation members) to enter your application details, save and exit, then add more at a later date, upload supporting documents and review previous applications or funds awarded.
6025 – 2025 Grants
Opening date
- Monday 1 July, 2025
Closing date
- Rapid Fund: Applications will be considered monthly as they are received. Must apply at least 6 weeks prior to project’s start date. Applications close 31 May 2026.
- Annual Contestable Fund: Applications close 31 October 2025. This is to ensure that the funding is spent within the 2025 – 2026 financial year.
Need help?
Contact us ASAP for assistance if you don’t have a computer or need help with the online forms.
Email Sandra Burles at grants@cdc.govt.nz or call 06 379 4030
What you will need to do to apply & helpful hints
- Take at look at our Community Grants – SMARTY GRANTS 10 steps to help you fill out the form PDF guide
Questions?
- Take at look at our SMARTY GRANTS help guide for Applicants
How To Apply
The portal includes help and guidance on each grant process.
Each fund may have slightly different application processes, so please follow the guidance carefully. You can contact us for further information.
Grant applications FAQs
What is the web address for the online portal?
What if I forget my login or password?
Will the platform remember information I have already entered?
[For Community Grants] What do I do if I don’t have a community group bank account?
How do I upload files?
format.
Policy, Forms, and Documents
| Title | Date | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Contestable Grants Funding Policy | 23 June 2025 | |
| Sport NZ Rural Travel Fund Guidelines 2024-2028 | 1 April 2025 | |
| CCS Festivals Fund FAQs | 31 January 2024 | |
| Carterton And Districts Returned and Services Memorial Trust Grant application guidelines | 15 January 2024 | |
| Hints to help fill out SMARTY application form | 7 November 2023 | |
| FAQs: Applications to the CDC Waste Minimisation Grants | 7 November 2023 | |
| Wellington Region Waste Management and Minimisation Plan 2023 to 2029 | 7 November 2023 | |
| Waste Minimisation Fund Guidelines 2023 | 7 November 2023 | |
| Community Grants Committee Minutes [2023 Round 1 funding decisions] | 16 October 2023 | |
| Creative Community Scheme Project Completion Report | 31 August 2023 | |
| 10-Year Plan 2021-2031 Appendix A Funding and Finance | 1 July 2022 |