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Eastern Bay Women's Impact Fund

Collective Giving. Community Impact.

The Eastern Bay Women's Impact Fund is a collective giving initiative that brings together local women to fund projects that make a meaningful difference for women and children across our region.

Each year, funding is awarded to initiatives with the potential to create lasting impact in the communities of Ōpōtiki, Whakatāne, and Kawerau. If your project aligns with the fund's purpose, we encourage you to explore the funding criteria and submit an application.

The funding application process

1. Submit an Expression of Interest

As this is a large annual grant, expressions of interest are welcome throughout the year (see the form below). Any forms received after 15 August will be considered for the following year's funding.

2. Application review and due diligence

The Fund's steering committee reviews all applications and undertakes due diligence to identify projects that align strongly with the Fund's purpose and have the potential to create meaningful impact for women and children in our region.

3. Finalist presentations

A shortlist of around five applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal and present their project to Women's Impact Fund donors and supporters.

4. Donor vote - winning application announced

Following these presentations, donors vote to determine which project will receive the annual Impact Grant. The successful recipient is typically announced in September or October.

Each year, approximately $50,000 is awarded to one project.

In some years, additional funding may be available. Where appropriate, the Committee may recommend distributing supplementary grants to other shortlisted projects.

If the Committee and donors determine that no project sufficiently meets the Fund's criteria in a particular year, funding may be retained and carried forward to increase the impact of a future grant.

Expressions of Interest

Do you have an impactful project or initiative that supports women and children in the Eastern Bay of Plenty? If so, we want to hear from you.

Please read our funding criteria below and complete the form for review by the Women's Impact Fund steering committee.

Expressions of interest will be reviewed annually in August & September.

Applications received after 15 August will be considered for the following year.

Criteria to access funding:

The funds must go to (or through) a charitable organisation. There is a national organisation – ‘The Gift Collective’ - that can assist with that status for applicants who don't currently hold charitable organisation status.
The funds must be primarily used for the benefit of women and children in the Eastern Bay of Plenty region, with a flow on effect into the larger community.
Projects must be sustainable beyond the current year.
The funds must be allocated to the project within the year they are distributed. If they are not, then the Foundation (on behalf of the Women's Impact Fund) has the right to request that the funds be returned.
Any applicant must be able to provide evidence that the organisation already exists. Ideally this would consists of two years' financial records, as well as evidence that the project they have requesting funding for can be maintained going forward.
The committee may request a thorough breakdown on how the funds are planned to be used.
A successful applicant may apply again after five years of the initial major grant being awarded.

Grant recipients must:

Allow the Women’s Impact Fund and the Foundation to use their name and or photo in social media and other publicity.
Hold a zoom meeting with representatives of the Women's Impact Fund in February the following year for an update.
Provide a written report of their project's progress in June the following year.
Attend the annual luncheon in October/early November to report back to the donors – either in person or via video.
Failure to meet grant conditions may result in repayment being required

Past awardees

In 2025 two charities were supported. Waka Eastern Bay received funding for their Wahine on the Move project, helping women across our district with transport and helping with social isolation. Tautoko Mai Sexual Harm Support received funding for a new series of wananga that help support healing and rebuilding lives after completion of Sexual Harm counselling.

In 2024 four charities were supported. Mums 4 Mums who support new mothers in our community, Financial Mentoring Services helping women and families with finances, Mona Lickfold Cancer Support assisting cancer patients in the Eastern Bay of Plenty and English Language Partners / Kiwi English facilitating English language classes for new migrants.

In 2023 funds went to two local Charities, Eastern Bay of Plenty Riding for the Disabled for an accessible toilet/bathroom facility at the Awatapu arena and to the SOZO project, funding went towards a Lymphoedema screening and prevention machine to be housed at Whakatāne Hospital.

In 2022 Whanau Awhina Plunket, Eastern Bay of Plenty was voted the project of choice by the 50 donors to the fund. This project aims to improve the maternal mental health of isolated rural mothers by providing positive connections and supporting structured mother and child groups in communities all across the Eastern Bay. Over 500 new mothers have been identified as being of significant risk. This project engaged with mothers to build a positive future for their families.

Interested in being part of the Women's Impact Fund?

Join our community of donors and help fund projects that improve the lives of women and children across our region. Read more about the Eastern Bay Women's Impact Fund here.

Become a donor