New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) is a Class 4 charity gaming society which means we acquire our funds through Class 4 gaming. NZCT has gaming machines in about 200 pubs and venues throughout New Zealand and with their partnership we support a wide range of sporting and community activities.

NZCT started in 1998 and the industry has really changed since then. In the early days, there was a lot of publican influence involved in which groups got funding. Now we’re heavily regulated by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) and publicans cannot be involved in the grants process. Funding decisions are increasingly based on the benefit to the community.

NZCT is the largest supporter of amateur sport in New Zealand. We contribute around 75% of our funds to a huge number of amateur sports groups. The remainder of our funding goes to worthy community causes. Last year we were able to grant $38.4 million in total and this year that figure will again be around $40 million.

Our grants are not sponsorship. They’re unconditional and are not reliant on any benefit back to NZCT. The primary focus is increasing the benefits to the community from our investment.

We fund incorporated societies, clubs and trusts with charitable purposes. Our grants officers look for costs that are identifiable, auditable and result in a discernable community benefit. We are very focussed on partnerships with promising, proactive groups who can produce great outcomes.

NZCT is about local gaming and local funding. We have a commitment to return funds to the communities in which they are raised.

If you want funding from a trust and fulfil the basic criteria, the best plan of attack is to head to the DIA website (www.dia.govt.nz) for information on all trusts. Almost all gaming trusts look to return funds to the areas in which they are raised. You should establish if there are any gaming venues generating funds in your area.

Visit websites for specific trusts, ensure what you require is within the trust’s grant criteria and download an application form. If you go to the NZCT website (www.nzct.org.nz) you can actually submit your application online and receive immediate confirmation of receipt.

Each trust has their own criteria for grants but no trust can fund the following:

• retrospective applications – the application must be for a future cost
• professional sports teams and athletes
• applications with commercial elements
• third party applications

Some important tips for applying:

• Complete your application in full. The NZCT online application form will not let you submit it if you have missed any information out.
• Make sure your request is within NZCT criteria, you can read our guidelines at http://www.nzct.org.nz/grants_applications.php. It’s no use applying for something we don’t fund.
• Make sure you have returned any receipts or unspent funds from previous grants and that if an audit should be carried out, it runs smoothly.

While you may have satisfied all requirements, there is a chance you will still be declined. This could be because NZCT hasn’t generated enough funds in your area to meet all requests, we believe your group has received appropriate funding from NZCT already or you simply haven’t convinced NZCT that your project or cause is of a wider benefit to the community.

The decisions are made, ultimately, by our Net Proceeds Committee. Before they get to that stage they are reviewed by the NZCT Grants team. If everything is in order the application moves to the appropriate Regional Advisory Committee. NZCT has six Regional Advisory Committees and is the only trust to use them. These committees are made up of four local members of the community who offer recommendations to the Net Proceeds Committee. With their help NZCT is confident its funding is really helping the regions in which we operate.

If your grant application is approved and your group has received funds, the commitment doesn’t end there. We require you to agree to a DIA audit, should one be conducted. Recipients of NZCT grants must also return receipts and bank statements within three months of the grant being paid.  These two commitments are vital to avoid having to pay a full refund or having further grant applications suspended from consideration.

You can find more information and even apply online at the NZCT website – www.nzct.org.nz or call us on 0800 44 6928. One of our friendly, experienced grants officers will be more than happy to answer your questions.