Strategic Partnership Fund

Overview

The Strategic Partnership Fund is designed for forward-thinking organisations ready to collaborate with Council to deliver real impact. This fund supports groups that:

Align with and advance Council’s key strategic outcomes
Provide us with expert advice, leadership and support on core programmes, projects, and business-as-usual activities

$300,000 is distributed annually to five recipients.

Applications to this fund are not currently being accepted.

Our Current Partners

Sport Waikato

Sport Waikato is helping us to plan for the future of our district’s sport and recreational facilities, and parks. They’re connected to regional and national insights and provide us with a range of data to drive our decision making. Sport Waikato also supports organisations to collaborate, a concept called “hubbing”, and administers the Waikato portion of the Sport New Zealand Tū Manawa Fund.

Check out more and contact Sport Waikato here: https://www.sportwaikato.org.nz/

Creative Taupō

Creative Taupō champions community expression by making the arts, culture and ngā toi accessible, inclusive and alive across our district. They’re growing creative communities through their arts coordinator, and uniting the district through workshops, developing an arts hub and a central spot for people to connect, share and collaborate online.

Check out more and contact Creative Taupō here: https://creativetaupo.org.nz/

Greening Taupō

Greening Taupō is on a mission to improve environments across Taupō for people and native wildlife. They’re connecting people and looking after our place through planting days, educational sessions, pest management and creating ecological corridoors.

Check out more and contact Greening Taupō here: https://www.greeningtaupo.org.nz/

Bike Taupō

Bike Taupō works to get people on bikes – no matter their age, stage or ability. The mahi is grounded in the five T’s – trails, traps, trees, tamariki and transport. This holistic approach means they not only create and care for world-class biking infrastructure, but also protect native biodiversity through pest control, restore ecosystems through tree planting, and foster a love of cycling in young people through their Kids Bike Taupō programme.

Check out more and contact Bike Taupō here: https://www.biketaupo.org.nz/

Waiora Community Trust

Waiora Community Trust is a cornerstone of Taupō’s social services ecosystem, providing a collaborative, inclusive space for community-focused organisations to thrive. The trust offers co-working spaces, meeting rooms, and leased offices for not-for-profits, social enterprises, and charitable groups from Waiora House in Taupō.

With a kaupapa grounded in people, community, connection, and collaboration, Waiora facilitates monthly Social Services Hui, delivers capability-building workshops, and coordinates sector-wide initiatives that foster innovation and shared impact.

Check out more and contact Waiora Trust here: https://www.waiorahouse.org.nz/

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 Strategic Partnership 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	Selected priority	Amount Allocated*
Sport Waikato	To support operational costs for Sport Waikato to provide Council with a breadth of strategic leadership to influence outcomes for play, active recreation, and sport across the Taupō District.	Sport, Recreation and Reserves Planning	$50,000
Lake Taupō District Sports Advisory Council	To support operational costs for the Kiwi Sport Taupō programme and Taupō Sports Services.	Sport, Recreation and Reserves Planning	Declined (received the Accelerator Fund)
Oruanui Pony Club	To support operational and project costs for the Oruanui Pony Club	Sport, Recreation and Reserves Planning	Declined
Creative Taupō AKA Taupō Community Arts Council	To support operational costs for Creative Taupō to create a vibrant, inclusive, and dynamic arts and cultural ecosystem, in the Taupō District.	Arts, Culture, Nga Toi and Cultural Well – being	$50,000
Creative Waikato	To support operational costs for Creative Waikato to implement a strategic partnership with Council	Arts, Culture, Nga Toi and Cultural Well – being	Declined
Towncentre Taupō	To support costs associated with the "Graffiato: Taupō Street Art Festival"	Arts, Culture, Nga Toi and Cultural Well – being	Declined
Greening Taupō	To support operational costs to enable the success of Greening Taupō.	Climate Risk and Environmental Wellbeing	$60,000
Sea Cleaners Trust	To support operational costs to enable operation in the Taupō Lake and waterways	Climate Risk and Environmental Wellbeing	Declined
Taupō Community Gardens Trust	To support operational costs for the Taupō Community Gardens Trust	Climate Risk and Environmental Wellbeing	Declined
Waiora Community Trust	To support operational costs for Waiora Community Trust	Community Well Being	$70,000
Mangakino Central Charitable Trust	To support operational costs for Mangakino Central Charitable Trust	Community Well Being	Declined (received the Accelerator Fund)
Taupō Blue Light Ventures	To support operational costs for Blue Light Taupō	Community Well Being	Declined
Waikato River Trails Trust	To support operational costs for the Waikato River Trails Trust	Community Well Being	Declined
Taupō Family Centre Inc	To support operational and event costs for Taupō Family Centre	Community Well Being	Declined
The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals	To support wage costs for the SPCA Taupō Centre Manager	Community Well Being	Declined
Maru Energy Trust	To support operational costs for the Maru Energy Trust to increase support for vulnerable homeowners in Tūrangi, Mangakino, Whakamaru and surrounds.	Community Well Being	Declined
Bike Taupō Advocacy Group Incorporated	To support operational costs associated with trail management and maintenance, the delivery of Kids Bike Taupō and planting and environmental works	Sustainable Transport Choices	$70,000

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.