Accelerator Fund

Applications now closed

Applications for the Accelerator Fund closed at 4.30pm on Tuesday 10 December 2024. Please note late applications will not be considered.

Thank you for all of the applications received.

Decisions on funding were made in February 2025 and a list of funding recipients are shown below.

Overview

The Accelerator Fund is a launchpad for impact. Designed to empower up to eight visionary community groups or organisations, this multi-year fund offers the momentum you need to turn bold ideas into lasting change.

Whether you're dreaming of revitalising local spaces, sparking youth initiatives, driving cultural connection, or so much more, the Accelerator Fund is here to supercharge your journey. Over three years, groups receive a powerful mix of financial backing and in-kind support tailored to help you scale your aspirations and deliver meaningful outcomes for community wellbeing.

This isn’t just funding - it's a partnership for progress. If your group is prepared to dedicate the time and ready to accelerate its mission to make waves in the community, consider this fund.

Things to know

The Accelerator Fund has been designed for groups who need that extra boost of support to achieve aspirations. As well as providing financial support, we will also work alongside groups to provide advice and facilitate opportunities to learn about planning, strategic direction, governance, and sustainable funding.
$160,000 is distributed annually to eight recipients.
Community groups or organisations can receive up to $20,000 per year under this fund, for three consecutive years.
Funding may be used to support operational costs.
Agreements under this fund are for three years and will be decided after Council’s long-term planning process.
An organisation is not eligible to reapply after receiving a grant under this fund.
Applicants must demonstrate eligibility and alignment to at least one of Council’s community funding priorities (see "Community outcomes" section below).

The application process

Step 1: Plan

You need to start by getting your ducks in a row and evidencing the need for your project before our funding rounds open.
Check out our funding calendar to know when our funding rounds are next open.
Our Funding Toolkit will also support you to create a funding plan for your project.
Sign up to our Community Kōrero newsletter to keep up to date with funding news and opportunities.
Familiarise yourself with our eligibility requirements and funding criteria which outlines how we consider and prioritise applications to TDC funds.
If you haven’t submitted a request with us before, we recommend you use this time to create an account and familiarise yourself with our Funding Portal.

Step 2: Prepare

Once you’ve created an account in our Funding Portal, you will be able to view our application form to get an idea of the types of questions we will ask in an application.
In addition to our written questions, you will also need to provide the below information as part of your application:
- Evidence of Bank Account
- A budget
- A copy of your latest financial statement (if you are an individual applying this is not required)
- Two quotes, or reasoning for why two quotes cannot be provided
- Any other documentation you think will support your application.

Step 3: Apply

When funding rounds open, you will be able to submit an online application through our Funding Portal.
Funds will generally be open for one month. Unfortunately late and/or paper applications cannot be accepted.
We recommend submitting well before the closing date to allow us to review and come back to you if any additional information is required. We will message you through the Funding Portal if any additional information is sought.
Once you submit your online application, you’ll instantly receive an automated email confirming we’ve got it – no need to wonder if it went through!
We hope to get back to you within eight weeks of the application period closing.

Step 4: Assessment

Your application is considered against different criteria and funding framework depending on what fund you’re applying to.
The Accelerator Fund uses this criteria.

Step 5: Decisions

Different committees consider funding applications.
If you wish, you may be present at these meetings to answer any questions of clarification decision makers may have.
Where this applies, we will ask as part of your application if you wish to be present at the decision meeting. If you select ‘yes’ we will be in touch to let you know of the details at the application closing date.
Committee members, meeting times and locations are available to view here.
Once decisions have been made, we’ll let you know the outcome through the Funding Portal. You’ll also receive an email notification with a letter confirming the decision.

Step 6: Payment

If your organisation is GST registered, you will need to send an invoice for the amount offered plus GST to funding@taupo.govt.nz.
If you are not GST registered, there is nothing you need to do! You will receive the grant payment within one month.
Don’t forget – we’d love for you to show our support of your project by displaying our logo on your promotional material. Our logo and brand guidelines can be accessed here.

Step 7: Tell us how you got on!

While we haven’t met anyone who loves written reporting just yet, this is a really important part of the process to help us account for how funds are being spent!
All reporting will be completed online, in our Funding Portal under the “milestones” tab.
All funding recipients are required to spend and account for the funds within 12 months of being successful.
Your reporting asks for updates on how the project went, as well as evidence of how the grant was spent (e.g. receipts, media promotion etc).

Further information

We are here to help! For further information please contact our Taupō District Council funding team. We aim to reply within three working days:

Email: funding@taupo.govt.nz

Funding recipients

Decisions on funding for applications made in November and December 2024 were made at a Council meeting on 25 February 2025.

*Note the funding amounts allocated shown in the table are per annum until June 2027.

Applicant name	Project title	Amount allocated*
Mangakino Central Charitable Trust	To support operational and initiative costs for the Mangakino Central Charitable Trust	$20,000
Tūrangi Rangatahi Hub	To support operational costs for the Rangatahi Hub	$20,000
Taupō School of Music	To support operational costs for the Taupō School of Music	$20,000
Safe Tūrangi	To support operational costs for Safe Tūrangi	$20,000
Lake Taupō District Sports Advisory Council	To support administration and wage costs for the delivery of the KiwiSport Programme, Taupō Sport Services and the Taupō District Sports Awards	$20,000
Volunteer Great Lake Taupō	To support operational costs for Volunteer Great Lake Taupō	$20,000
Taupō Sculpture Trust	To support a community engagement plan and marketing campaign for the Taupō Sculpture Trust	$20,000
Kids Greening Taupō (under Tongariro Natural History Society)	To support administrative costs for the Kids Greening Taupō programme	$20,000
Great Lake Taupō Fillipino Basketball	To support invitational games and local tournaments	Declined
Sea Cleaners Trust	To support Sea Cleaners to operate within Lake Taupō's shores and waterways	Declined
Graeme Dingle Foundation Waikato	To support operational costs for the Graeme Dingle Foundation to operate in Marotiri and Whakamaru Primary School	Declined
Life Education Trust Central Plateau	To support operational costs for the Healthy Harold programme in local schools	Declined
Brain Injury Waikato Inc.	To support wages for a community educator and navigator to deliver services to the Taupō District	Declined
Creative Taupō	To support Creative Taupō with costs associated with three major projects: a website, portable art space, scholarship and internship opportunities	Declined (Received Strategic Partnership Fund)
Oruanui Pony Club	To support operational and project costs for Oruanui Pony Club	Declined
Horserusnz Charitable Trust	To support operational costs to run programmes in partnership with Mangakino and Whakamaru School	Declined
Te Hokinga ki tō Mauri	To support operational costs to deliver services for whanau through Rongoa tikanga and holistic practices	Declined
Taupō Community Gardens	To support costs for a coordinator role for the Taupō Community Gardens	Declined
The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals - (SPCA Taupō Op Shop)	To support the SPC Taupō with operational costs for the op shop	Declined
Real Southern Lakes	To support with operational costs associated with the development of 'Youth Week'	Declined
Lakes and Waterways Action Group Charitable Trust (LWAG)	To support with operational costs associated with establishing a 'lake protection' community	Declined
Tūrangi Toy Library	To support with operational costs, including the purchase of new toys.	Declined
Tūrangi Tongariro Sports Foundation Inc	To support operational costs of the Tūrangi Tongariro Sports Foundation	Declined
New Zealand Collective of Abused in State Care Charitable Trust	To support operational costs to deliver wananga to state care survivors	Declined

Transparency matters

Please note that all information provided in your application will be made available to relevant funding committees for assessment purposes. Select details - including your name, organisation name, and the amount applied for will also be made publicly available on the Council website.