The Opotiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Endowment Fund is one of many endowment funds held by the Eastern Bay Community Foundation.

The Opotiki Kiwifruit Growers Community Fund was established in 2018 and was setup to enable local growers to give back to the community together.

With growers choosing a contribution of 1 or 2 cents per tray of export fruit to build the fund held by the Eastern Bay Community Foundation. This fund is a hybrid fund- supporting both immediate and long term goals.

The fund has been borne out of a desire by local growers to support and grow their community and its facilities. The fund will be directed towards projects which create opportunities to grow and build a strong, resilient, and cohesive community.

This fund in its establishment phase is intended to support:

• Educational and vocational training in primary industries
• Youth engagement & leadership opportunities
• Sporting and recreational facilities
• Community conservation projects
• Historical conservancy and preservation
• Encouragement of the Arts: Visual, Performance, Design, Language & Literature
• Support for community initiatives and facilities
• Support for senior citizens and retirement projects
• Health initiatives that benefit the district
• Support for charitable organisations providing a service to the district.

This fund will not support:

• Groups whose base is outside of Aotearoa New Zealand
• Groups whose main purpose is to promote a message e.g.: political & religious groups.
• Capital funds for the creation of loans.

Individuals and organisations are also able to donate to this fund.

The core focus of the fund for the first three years, as identified in the Vital Signs Research in the Opotiki District, will be two-fold:

• to encourage projects that support safety and security in the Opotiki community,
• to provide positive leadership opportunities for youth in the Opotiki District to realise their full potential.

       Applications to this fund for small projects under $2,000 open on May 1^st

There is one funding round each year commencing on May 1^st and closing on May 31^st.

Please note: All applications need to be received during this time to be considered.

The Opotiki Growers Representative Panel meet to consider applications and after due diligence, and site visits, make a recommendation to the Foundation Board of Trustees. 

All applicants will be advised mid-August as to the status of their application. 

Grants will be paid out in the first week of September, and all successful applicants are required to attend 'round table reporting ' in Opotiki in February of each year, updating the Foundation of progress with the allocated funds. 

Applications forms can be accessed here- https://www.easternbaycommunityfoundation.nz/sites/www.easternbaycommuni...

If you wish to discuss your funding application or to discuss funding for a larger project, please contact admin@easternbaycommunityfoundation.nz