Impact100 Canterbury Opening Grant Round - 2026
Our very first grant round has officially opened! We invite all eligible charities to express their interest before 30 April 2026.
Impact100 is a global giving model for women that turns individual generosity into collective impact. Members pool their donations to fund a yearly grant to an outstanding local charity, enabling high-impact projects that create real community change.
This year, our focus is supporting nonprofits committed to improving the wellbeing of women/wāhine and families/whānau in need within the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri districts. This may be through a national organisation with qualifying initiatives in this region.
Application process
-
Read the eligibility criteria below and ensure your organisation and project are both eligible.
-
Complete the EOI form at the bottom of this page before 30 April 2026.
-
EOIs will be evaluated in the first two weeks of May and a longlist created. If you make the longlist, you will be asked to complete a grant application in our online grant portal.
-
You will create a profile in our grant portal and submit a formal application and supporting documents by the end of May.
-
A panel of Impact100 Canterbury members will assess all grant applications and choose three organisations/projects to proceed to the next stage.
-
If you are one of the three organisations chosen by our panel, you will be invited to a breakfast event in Christchurch City to present your project in person to our Impact100 Canterbury members.
-
Members will vote on the winning organisation the following day.
Impact 100 Canterbury expects to award three grants annually. The largest grant goes to the organisation that meets the criteria and receives the most member votes at the end-of-year event.
In recognition of the time and effort involved, two smaller grants are awarded to the second- and third-ranked presentations.
Eligibility
Please carefully read the following criteria before submitting an expression of interest.
Organisational criteria
-
You are a registered charity in Aotearoa New Zealand under the Charities Act 2005, or an incorporated not-for-profit organisation with an eligible charitable purpose.
-
You operate independently, or demonstrate clear governance and financial accountability if part of a national or federated organisation.
-
You primarily serve communities within Canterbury, with priority given to Christchurch City, Selwyn District, and Waimakariri District.
-
You demonstrate organisational maturity, sound governance, and financial capability, including recent annual financial statements.
-
You can provide detail of key personnel delivering the project
-
You are able to enter into a funding agreement with Kura Tāwhiti – Canterbury Community Foundation and meet reporting and accountability requirements.
We guarantee:
-
a total project budget aligned to the full Impact100 grant amount awarded. If this is not feasible, we can outline how the gap for funding will be filled.
-
our capapbility of fully expending grant funds within 24–36 months of the grant award date.
-
where appropriate, reflection of te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, including partnership, participation, and protection.
Project criteria
Your project must:
-
deliver clear, measurable benefit to wāhine and/or tamariki and rangatahi, or serve to strengthen whānau in Canterbury communities, with grant funds expended entirely within Aotearoa New Zealand.
-
be transformational in nature, enabling a step-change in impact, reach, or sustainability rather than incremental improvement.
-
include one or more of the following: a new programme or service, expansion of an existing programme, a capital or infrastructure project, a collaborative initiative between organisations, or a capacity-building initiative that enables the organisation to scale its impact.
Funding exclusions
-
General operating costs not directly related to the approved project.
-
Debt reduction, operating deficits, interim or bridge funding, or endowment funding.
-
Grants to individuals or private trusts.
-
Partisan, legislative, lobbying, or political activity.
-
Fundraising events, annual appeals, or general capital campaigns.
-
Capital improvements where the organisation does not own the asset or hold a minimum five-year lease or formal use agreement.
-
Projects that require participation in religious activity as a condition of benefiting from the project.
Expressions of interest are open from
01 April – 30 April 2026.
If you have any questions, please email:
Expression of Interest Form
