Need support for higher learning?

Scholarship Opportunities

The Eastern Bay Community Foundation currently has nine 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 click here for information on the application process, including when to apply.

Arts Whakatane Youth Scholarship

Arts Whakatane Youth Scholarship For Whakatāne District youth aged 15-20 for excellence in the Arts

Rod Mcpherson Memorial Rural Scholarship

Rod Mcpherson Memorial Rural ScholarshipScholarship for tertiary agricultural studies or cadetships

Jean Smithson Nursing Scholarship

Jean Smithson Nursing ScholarshipFor registered or trainee Ōpōtiki nurses wanting to upskill

Dick Anstis Family STEM Scholarship

Dick Anstis Family STEM ScholarshipSTEM Scholarship for tertiary students in their second or subsequent years of study

The Bay Education and Research Scholarship

The Bay Education and Research ScholarshipFor Eastern BOP students studying at Victoria University

Ōpōtiki College Alumni Scholarship

Ōpōtiki College Alumni ScholarshipTu Kahikitea Scholarship for Excellence

Rendall Family Scholarship

Rendall Family ScholarshipTertiary Scholarship for Tarawera High School Students

Bridger Family Trades Scholarship

Bridger Family Trades ScholarshipTrades scholarship for Ōpōtiki College students

EBOP Music Development Grant

EBOP Music Development GrantMusic development grant for youth aged 10-25

EBCF Scholarship Applications

Most scholarships open for applications on 1 August 2026.

Our Scholarship Application Form will be available online during the application period. If no application link is provided below, check back again closer to the closing date.

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

Eastern Bay Community Foundation manages and reviews applications for the:

Jean Smithson Nursing Scholarships
Rod McPherson Memorial Rural Scholarship
Dick Anstis Family STEM Scholarship
Rendall Family Scholarship
EBOP Music Development Grant (opens in July)

Other Scholarship Applications

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.

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

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.

Learn more