Apply for Funding
Need some funds for your next project?
The Eastern Bay Community Foundation has several ways it provides funding for our community, with a number of funds available.
The Foundation has an annual funding round where we are honoured to make modest grants to support charitable projects that align with our donor's wishes.
Our funding applications open on June 1st and close on June 30th each year.
Applications for our Eastern Bay Women's Impact Fund are open in August each year.
Applications for our Scholarships are open in August each year.
Applications for the Opotiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund close at the end of May and the end of September each year (contact us if you are outside these dates).
Tindall Funding applications open on 1 April through to 30 April, for more information see below
2026 Opotiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund Applications
Supporting the Opotiki Community
How to Apply for Funding
Applying for funding as quick and simple as 1—2—3.
Sign In to access your existing account.
If you are a new user, click Sign Up to create a new account.
Review our Funding Programs for current opportunities.
Select a Funding Program to learn about the program’s requirements, then click Apply to start your application.
Have questions? Reach out to us directly.
Committee Review
The Distribution and Grants committee consider all applications, then make a recommendation to the full board, following site visits and undertaking due diligence and personal interviews.
Successful grant applicants will be advised late July - early August and if successful will be expected to attend the presentation at the Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Bay Community Foundation.
Distribution
Funds are distributed to successful community organisations across the EBOP.
All grants are paid out in August/September.
Accountability
Successful grant recipients will be required to physically attend a 'round table reporting' meeting in Opotiki or Whakatane, in February or March each year to update the Eastern Bay Community Foundation on the progress made with the funds granted.
FAQs
Who can apply?
Charities, organisations and community groups based in the Eastern Bay of Plenty or who deliver services in the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
Requests may include salaries, operating costs, equipment, resources, programme costs, travel and accommodation. Grants made for these purposes are unlikely to be more than $5,000.
Request exclusions: political parties, diverse religious activities, activities outside the Eastern Bay of Plenty regional boundaries and emergency relief (except where a major crisis affects all or part of the communities within the region), retrospective projects.
When to apply?
Grant applications are open From June 1st to June 30th each Year.
Applications may be accepted outside the grant/scholarship round if they are time critical or urgent.
How do I apply?
Fill out an application form (click on the Apply now link on this page), you'll also need to supply:
verified bank account details
copy of accounts, set of audited accounts should be included with each application.
cover letter and more information about project/programme details if you think it will assist your application
Charities services or incorporated society number (if applicable)
Who has received funding in the past?
See below for past awardees.
What else to consider?
Grant recipients are requested to recognise the source of all funding from EBCF or a Named Donor Fund in their external communications, including social media, newsletters, press releases, websites etc.) A copy of our logo should be requested.
Grant recipients will provide a receipt and updates/photos of their funded project or activity throughout the year for marketing and PR purposes.
Successful grant recipients will be required to physically attend a 'round table reporting' meeting in Opotiki or Whakatane, in February or March each year to update the Eastern Bay Community Foundation on the progress made with the funds granted.
Do you have scholarships?
Yes we also provide scholarships, see our scholarships page for more info.
Grant and Fund Recipients 2025
Alzheimers EBOP
Arts Whakatane
Opotiki Performing Arts Academy
Whakatane Golf Club Junior Golf
Complex Chronic Illness Support Inc
Parent to Parent Coastal Bay of Plenty
Opotiki College Music Department
Te Ariroa Evolutions Charitable Trust
St Johns Union Parish - Little Bears Music
Rangimarie Trust
Look Good Feel Better
Opotiki St Johns Health Shuttle
PMG Charitable Trust (Financial Literacy Programme)
Opotiki Deluxe Theatre
Kagutai Taiko Drumming Group
Whakatane High School
Womens Impact Fund
Waka Eastern Bay
Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Suppport
Opotiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund
Kura Ki Tai Waka Ama Club Incorporated
Opotiki Sports Inc
Opotiki College (Girls Rugby Team)
Opotiki Cadets
Outward Bound experience - Katarina Smith and Destiny Patchett.
Scholarships
Rod McPherson Rural Scholarship Fund - Alex Iremonger
Dick Anstis STEM Scholarship recipient - Hugh Oyanagi
Jean Smithson Nursing Scholarship recipient – Beverley Taare, Jess Newton-Green
Opotiki College Bridger Family Trades Scholarship - Antoine Howse, Mau Jerry
Tūkahikatea Scholarship - Ella Castles
Grant and Fund Recipients since 2015
House of Hope Kawerau Foodbank
Whakaatu Whanaunga Trust Opotiki Food Bank
Opotiki College Music Department
Opotiki Museum
Alzheimers EBOP
Look Good Feel Better
EBOP Riding for the Disabled
East Bay Reap literacy workshop
Zoe Botha – Representing NZ overseas, Inner Wheel Opotiki
Thornton Park
Ashbrook School Library
Sustainability Options East Bay Reap House of Science Kits
St Johns AED
Outward Bound sponsorship – Opotiki College Student
Spirit of Adventure sponsorship – Opotiki College Student
Opotiki Blue Light
Junior Rugby BBQ
Opotiki Sports
Riding for the Disabled EBOP
SOZO Project
Opotiki College Music Department
Art House
Opotiki Neighborhood Watch
Community Gardens
Outward Bound and Spirit of Adventure sponsorship
Laash Go
Motu Trails
Young Leaders
Defibrillator in Te Kaha, St Johns Waihou Bay
Opotiki College Sailing Trip
Little Bears preschool programme music equipment
Tautoko Tane – Male survivors of Abuse
Arts Whakatane Youth Grants
De Luxe Theatre, Opotiki
Opotiki Museum
Heart 2 Home
Waiariki whanau Mentoring Trust
Kawerau and Districts Ageing in Place
NZ Fire and Emergency (Whakaari Fund)
St John Ambulance (Whakaari Fund)
Whakatane Coast Guard (Whakaari Fund)
Whakatane Land Search and Rescue (Whakaari Fund)
Friends of the Emergency Department (Whakaari Fund)
Waiariki Maori Women’s Welfare League (Whakaari Fund)
Victim Support (Whakaari Fund)
Te Manuka Tutahi Marae (Whakaari Fund)
Whanau-Awhina Plunket
Riding for the Disabled (EBOP)
Opotiki Blue Light
Waikato University Scholarship
Waterwheel Historic Trust
Opotiki Agricultural and Pastoral Association
Womans Refuge
Opotiki Cadets
RSE worker support
East Bay REAP Science Kits
Alzheimers EBOP
Look Good Feel Better
Arts Whakatane – Youth Grants Waiotahe Valley School Edgecumbe School St Johns Church – Panna Soccer Cage Motor Neurone Disease NZ Thornton Park Rest Home Local survivors of Whakaari eruption East Bay Reap House of Science Kits
RSE family support Kiwi English classes - English Language Partners Financial Mentoring Services Mums4Mums Mona Lickfold Charitable Trust (cancer support)
Email: admin@ebcf.nz
Call: 021 336 226
Registered Charity Commission: #CC42087
Find us:
15 George Street, Whakatane
PO Box 435, Whakatane 3159
