Skip to main content

September is Wills Month: Your wishes, your legacy.  Learn more here

Scholarship Opportunities

Need support for higher learning?

The Eastern Bay Community Foundation currently has ten scholarships available through various endowment funds, covering a wide range of study areas. Scholarship applications are managed either through the Foundation or directly with the provider (ie: Ōpōtiki College, Victoria University).

You can read more about the funds that support our scholarships below, or scroll down for information on the application process - including when to apply.

How to apply

Click the "apply now" button below and sign in to access your existing account.
If you are a new user, sign up to create a new account.

Select a Scholarship to learn about the program’s requirements, then click Apply to start your application (step-by-step instructions here).

Make sure you include a cover letter, and if you wish to add any further information you can upload extra files when completing the application.

Most scholarships open for applications on 1 August 2026. 

Thank you to our generous donors for making these funds available.

For updates about scholarships and other grant opportunities please follow our Facebook page or subscribe to our newsletter (link in footer).

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Victoria University Scholarship

Scholarship applications for The Bay Education Fund are managed by Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington - click here for more information and to apply.

Ōpōtiki College Scholarships

The Bridger Family Trades Scholarship and the Tū Kahikatea Scholarship are managed directly by Ōpōtiki College. Please contact them for more information. 

Outward Bound
& Spirit of Adventure Scholarships

These scholarships are administered by the Ōpōtiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund and managed directly by Ōpōtiki College. Please contact the College for more information. 

Arts Whakatāne Scholarship

Applications for the Arts Whakatāne Youth Scholarship are managed by Arts Whakatāne. You can find out more and apply here.

The Eastern Bay Community Foundation helps connect you with causes you care about.

Funds can be setup to celebrate excellence, improve health and social wellbeing of our residents, reduce inequality in our communities, preserve our precious environment, our heritage and taonga, support music, the arts and cultural activities, and encourage education and learning for all ages.

If you would like to create a named fund, support a scholarship opportunity, or donate to an existing fund, please contact us - we would love to chat with you about how we can help you give back to our community.

Every donation made to the Eastern Bay Community Foundation is invested, protected and grown - meaning our donor’s generosity will support our communities needs well into the future. Read more about how this works here.

New environmental scholarship launched

Monkey Puzzle Tree is a weird name isn't it? The generous donor who established this fund spend time marveling at a Monkey Puzzle Tree in Glasgow, Scotland, wanted to name the scholarship somethingRead more

New Grants Hit the Right Note

A new fund established by one of the Eastern Bay’s most dedicated music advocates is set to help inspire the next generation of local musicians.  Applications opened this week for the EBOP MusicRead more

New Funding Opportunities Target Key Needs

Mental health, the environment and youth support are key community needs being targeted in the Eastern Bay Community Foundation’s latest round of grants, which are open for application from JuneRead more

How to Complete a Grant Application

Having trouble with your grant application? Here's a step by step guide to using our online portal.Read more

Celebrating the Next Generation of Rural Leaders

On 8 May, the Eastern Bay farming community gathered to honour the life of Rod McPherson and to celebrate the enduring legacy that continues through the Rod McPherson Memorial Rural Scholarship. HeldRead more

Scholarships making a difference in the Eastern Bay

Article supplied by Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington and printed in The Whakatāne Beacon on 7 January 2026.Read more

2025 Scholarship Awards

At the recent Eastern Bay Community Foundation Annual Dinner and at the recent Ōpōtiki College Prizegiving we had the pleasure of celebrating and announcing some of the 2025 Scholarship recipients.Read more

Our Scholarship Recipients

The Bay Education & Research Scholarship

Libby Millar - Bachelor of Midwifery (2025)

Bridger Family Trade Scholarships (Ōpōtiki College)

Antoine Howse (2025)
Mau Jerry (2025)

Charlie Hayward (2024)

The Dick Anstis STEM Scholarship

Hugh Oyanagi - University of Canterbury (Bachelor of Mech. Engineering (Hons)) (2025)

Jean Smithson Nursing Studies Scholarship

Beverley Taare - University of Auckland (2025)
Jess Newton-Green - Toi Ohomai Insitute of Technology (2025)

Kayla Norton (2024)
Jess Newton-Green (2024)

Moana Wilson (2023)

Ōpōtiki College Alumni Fund
Tu Kahikatea Scholarship

Ella Castles (2025)

Ōpōtiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund
Outward Bound & Spirit of Adventure Scholarships

Katarina Smith (2025)
Destiny Patchett (2025)

Rod McPherson Memorial Rural Scholarship

Alex Iremonger - Growing Future Farmers Cadet Programme (2025)

Emma Rose Black - Massey University (2024 & 2023)

 

This product has been added to your cart

CHECKOUT