News

Strengthening Communities Fund applications open

30 April 2025

Need funding for a community project? Applications for the Strengthening Communities Fund are open 1-30 May for projects starting after 1 September 2025.

Not-for-profit groups working on projects and initiatives that help to connect and strengthen communities in the Papanui-Innes Central area may be able to get help with their costs.

Each year Christchurch City Council puts money aside in its Strengthening Communities Fund so that it can provide financial support to the many groups and organisations who are working to build community wellbeing. Each Community Board is allocated a portion of the funding to distribute locally.

Applications open on 1 May 2025 and close at noon on Friday 30 May 2025. Please note this is a shorter time frame than previously. Decisions are expected to be made to allocate this year’s funding at the Board’s August meeting.

Organisations will be able to apply to for Strengthening Communities Fund for locally based projects and will now apply to the one Community Board area that most of their participants come from.

Council is changing its current funding platform to a new system called Smarty Grants. This new system will be used for the 2025/2026 Strengthening Community Funding round. Applications must be made online.

Go to: Strengthening Communities Fund : Christchurch City Council to learn more or to apply.

Poster