Community Investment Fund Guidelines

2026-2027 Guidelines

1. Introduction

Nelson City Council has been working with community organisations for many years in a variety of ways such as funding agreements, one-off grants, rates remissions, intermediary loans, and community leases and licenses. The Community Investment Fund (CIF) was established in 2015, providing grants that contributed to Council’s social development outcomes. Council refined the CIF priorities in 2021 to reflect the LTP 2021-2031, with a greater focus on supporting vulnerable communities in Nelson. The Community Funding Committee, comprises three community members and two Council members as Chair and Deputy Chair. The committee can also co-opt other community members in a non-voting capacity.

2. Available Funding

Total funding budgeted for the Community Investment Fund in 2026-27 is $450,000. This is allocated as follows: $315,000 is available for strategic grants $135,000 is available for small grants.

3. Funding categories

The Community Investment Fund has two categories:

Strategic Grants

• Grants are up to three (3) years
• Maximum grant of $30,000 p.a.
• Focus: improving wellbeing in communities of greatest need focusing on
  • Reducing social isolation
  • Reducing housing vulnerability
  • Improving access to work and learning opportunities
  • Reducing the impact of poverty
• Strategic grants will be allocated in one funding round:
  • Funding round opens 25 January 2027 and closes 6 June 2027
  • Grants will be paid from August 2027

Small Grants

• Focus on addressing emerging issues and social development projects focusing on supporting communities of greatest need in Nelson.
• Applications for new and innovative projects are welcomed.
• Maximum grant: $10,000 (most are likely to be much smaller)
• Two funding rounds p.a.
• First round opens in August with grants paid in December 2025.
• Second round opens March 2026 with grants paid in June 2026.

4. Funding Priorities

A. Overall CIF funding priorities

CIF funding is to achieve Social development outcomes. Grants are not for arts, sport, or recreations projects, except as they may contribute to social development outcomes.

B. 2026-27 priority areas:

Council agreed to the following priorities for CIF from 2021, in line with the proposed Long-Term Plan 2021-2031: Funding allocations will be guided by the priorities set out in the Community- Partnerships Activity Management Plan 2021-2031 i.e.

To prioritise funding towards improving wellbeing in communities of greatest need, focusing on

• reducing social isolation
• reducing housing vulnerability
• improving access to work and learning opportunities
• reducing the impact of poverty
• to respond to changing and emerging needs in the community

The Community Investment Funding Committee will allocate up to 70% of the available funds towards strategic projects once every three years. The remaining funding allocation will be allocated via small grants of up to $10,000 as part of a twice-yearly funding round.

5. Additional general criteria for funding:

• Other factors that will be considered when allocating the funding include:
• The level of wider community involvement in the project, with preference given to projects that show elements of partnership or collaboration.
• The value of the project to the community in comparison with the cost to council
• The ability of the organisation to successfully administer the grant/contract and deliver the outcomes.
• The past achievements and potential of the organisation
• Contribution to other Council policies/strategies
• Applicants to the community investment fund must be registered charities (registered in the Charities Register) or be able to supply a tax exemption certificate to show that they have a ‘non-profit’ status.
• Non-profit organisations without this status can nominate an umbrella organisation to receive and administer the funds on their behalf. In this case the umbrella organisation would be legally accountable to Nelson City Council for any grant received
• Applicants can submit more than one application, provided additional applications are collaboration projects, in partnership with other community organisations
• Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the Community Investment Funding Panel, but in general will not be accepted
• Retrospective funding will not be considered
• The project/activity must provide a public benefit and be open to members of the public within the Nelson City boundaries and/or benefitting Nelson residents, with Nelson- based projects preferred.
• Successful applicants must acknowledge Nelson City Council support in their annual accounts and in promotional material wherever possible.
• Accessibility considerations. Nelson City Council encourages applicants to consider ‘accessibility’ as Part of the application process. Further information is available via this link to an accessibility checklist which can be filled out and uploaded as part of your application as required.

6. What won’t be funded

• Individual people.
• Individual businesses, government agencies or departments, or political parties.
• Duplication of existing public or private programmes operating close to each other.
• Purchase or improvement of privately owned facilities.
• Funding activities that involve any alcohol, tobacco, illegal substances and gaming.
• Expenses incurred out of the region such as transport or accommodation.
• Professional fundraising services.
• Activities already completed.
• Projects already funded by Council.
• Public services that are the responsibility of central government (e.g. core education, primary health care).

7. Accountability and feedback reporting

• Grant recipients will need to complete an accountability report within a year of receiving the grant, with annual progress reports for multiyear grants. The accountability report is also a chance to celebrate what you have achieved and provide feedback to Council. Photos and stories are welcome.
• Accountability reports will be submitted online.
• Staff will also meet with recipients of multi-year grants six-monthly to discuss progress, and issues encountered, and how they may be addressed.
• Note that Council may use photos and extracts from the accountability reports for promotional purposes. 2025-2026 Community Investment Fund Guidelines (Updated June 2025) Page 3 of 4

8. 2026/2027 timeline and process (provisional)