To assist community groups where their project funding request falls outside other Council funding criteria and/or closing dates. This fund is also for emergency or unforeseen situations.

For assistance, please contact a Grants Advisor or email communitygrants@ccc.govt.nz.

Apply for funding 

If you wish to make an application to this fund please contact a Grants Advisor to check the availability of funds and the eligibility of your project.

Make an application to the Discretionary Response Fund
Apply

All organisations applying for funding must also complete a Community Organisation Registration (external link) form. Organisations only need to complete one registration form for the year, no matter how many grant applications they intend to make. 

Purpose

To assist community groups where the project and funding request falls outside other council funding criteria and/or closing dates. This fund is also for emergency funding for unforeseen situations.

Process

Applications are open from 1st July each year. Once the annual allocation of funds is exhausted the fund is closed.

Funding period is for 12 months after date of submission.

What this fund covers

Note: This fund operates differently at a metropolitan and local level.

Local Discretionary Response Fund

Community Board’s can grant funds to any group or person for any purpose except for those listed below.

Metropolitan Discretionary Response Fund

Applications are invited from eligible not-for-profit groups whose activities provide opportunities in the areas of community, social, recreation, sports, arts, environment or heritage to the wider community or to specifically defined communities of interest.

Applications can be for operational or project costs, incurred in the provision and delivery of the agreed initiative.

What this fund does not cover

Local  Discretionary Response Funds will not cover:

  • Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives or commercial profit orientated interests
  • Projects or initiatives that will lead to ongoing operational costs to the Christchurch City Council
  • Debt servicing or re-financing costs
  • Stock or capital market investment
  • Gambling or prize money
  • Payment of fines or court costs
  • Payment for IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments 

The Metropolitan Discretionary Response Fund will not cover:

  • Debt servicing or re-financing costs
  • Stock or capital market investment
  • Gambling or prize money
  • Funding of individuals (except for Youth Development Fund)
  • Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives, commercial or profit oriented interests
  • Payment of fines, court costs 
  • Payment for IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments
  • Projects or initiatives that will lead to ongoing operational costs to the Christchurch City Council 

Accountability and compliance

  • Funding received is to be spent 12 months from the receipt of the grant.
  • Any alterations to the use of the funding must be discussed with council staff and agreed to or funding may be required to be returned.
  • An accountability form must be completed when funding is spent or 13 months after the money was granted

Future funding can be withheld if accountability requirements are not met.