Manaaki Tangata grant

Following manaakitanga principles, we fund initiatives that focus on improving individual or communities’ financial wellbeing.

We proactively look for organisations to fund and therefore don’t have defined funding rounds. If you meet our funding criteria, get in touch.

Guide for funding

Why financial wellbeing

We believe that improving financial wellbeing is critical to building confidence in the future for communities and their people. Improved financial wellbeing offers choice and opportunities for home ownership, access to basic services, and planning for the long term.

When financial wellbeing is nurtured, individuals, whānau and communities thrive. We aim for a New Zealand where everyone has financial security, stability, the opportunity to pursue life goals, and can participate fully in their communities.

To achieve this, we focus on two key areas: enhancing financial access and capability, and supporting affordable, secure, and appropriate housing. By addressing these areas, we strive to create pathways to financial independence and homeownership for those who might otherwise be excluded.

Guide for funding

The Manaaki Tangata grant supports projects that help improve financial wellbeing for people and communities, giving them more confidence in their future.

Grant funds can only be used to support initiatives addressing BNZ Foundation’s focus areas, and cannot be used for the direct benefit of shareholders, owners, or members. The benefit must be for the public or communities.

We provide funding to:

  • New Zealand for-purpose organisations, either: 
    • registered as a New Zealand charity, or
    • a purpose-driven social enterprise with social or environmental impact at the core of your business, that has been operating for at least a year
  • organisations based in, and working in New Zealand, for the benefit of New Zealand and New Zealanders. 

We prioritise organisations that focus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities.

We fund initiatives that focus on

Affordable, secure, and appropriate housing

Our main priority is to fund the pathways and support that enable individuals and whānau to access affordable, secure and appropriate housing, with a particular emphasis on promoting homeownership.

We prioritise multi-year funding of long-term projects that scale effective models, support innovative programmes, or develop new solutions. Our goal is to empower individuals and whānau to achieve homeownership through educational programs and innovative financial services.

We will also fund research, data collection, and collaboration efforts that help organisations advocate for change, shape policy, and build knowledge to influence broader systems.

Enhancing financial access and capability

We also offer smaller funding opportunities with flexible grants for initiatives that focus on the following areas:

  • expanding access to low-cost, fair financial products such as social lending and affordable credit
  • providing digital tools and platforms to enhance financial capability and access to financial services.

Innovation

New or innovative products or services that improve financial wellbeing, such as technology innovation (these could be in design, test, or launch phases).

What we don’t fund

  • Day-to-day services, such as financial mentoring, budgeting or financial counselling.
  • Financial education programmes that are not part of broader initiatives addressing causes of financial hardship. 
  • Initiatives or programmes that don’t align with BNZ Foundation’s focus areas.
  • Initiatives or programmes that BNZ is sponsoring.
  • Non-charitable or commercial ventures (except for social enterprises).
  • Individual applications or personal expenses.
  • Schools, early childhood services, medical and health research initiatives.
  • Infrastructure where the local or central government would be the natural source of funding. 
  • Projects that promote religious or political objectives (except for organisation with a religious foundation that are furthering other charitable purposes).
  • Retrospective requests, debt repayment, fundraising activity appeals, commercial sponsorships or projects that create private benefit.

What makes a great partner

  • An organisation that is community-led.
  • Collaboration with other stakeholders such as community-based organisations, landowners, iwi/hapū, government bodies, and other funders.
  • Strong connections with other community services for referrals and support.
  • Values te ao Māori perspectives on the importance of relationships and connections between people, communities and the environment.
  • Considers manaaki taiao (our other focus area).

We’re proud of our partnerships and the work being done to improve financial wellbeing and regenerate the natural environment. 

Funding from BNZ Foundation can be used for programme funding (for example, to pilot new initiatives, or scale an existing programme), or can be used to cover operational expenses (for example, we will fund what it takes for you to do your mahi, or work), or a mix of both.

If successful, you’ll be asked to sign a grant agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of the grant. We will ask you to make a commitment that the funds we will give are used for these purposes only.

If you are a social enterprise, we will need to see evidence that you are purpose-driven with social or environmental impact at the core of your business (for example, in your organisation’s governing document such as a deed, constitution, or charter), and have been in operation for at least a year. You are welcome to contact us to discuss these requirements before submitting an expression of interest.

You do not need to be a BNZ customer to be eligible for a grant from BNZ Foundation.

The decision on funding is solely at the discretion of BNZ Foundation trustees and these decisions will be final. Each grant awarded will be based on its own merit, and final amounts will depend on the nature and needs of the successful applicants.

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