Lottery Funding for Community Facilities
The Lottery Fund distributes profits of New Zealand lotteries, for community purposes only to projects, initiatives and activities that deliver community benefit of a public nature, and contribute to the building of strong, sustainable communities in New Zealand.
Applications for funding can be made for planning or delivery of community facilities.
What is a community facility?
A community facility is a building or permanent place that enables people to gather, connect, and participate in community life eg, multi-purpose or shared community centres, marae and associated infrastructure, and heritage buildings that preserve cultural and historical value.
Facilities must support regular and accessible community use that provides evidence of community benefit, participation, connection and wellbeing.
Applicants will need to demonstrate:
- who will use the facility
- the types of activities it will support
- how frequently it is expected to be used.
For marae projects, the marae must be located on land designated or legally recognised for marae purposes. Shared infrastructure that also benefits adjacent papakāinga or other community uses may be considered where the primary benefit is to the marae and its community.
Where the applicant does not solely own the land or facility, they must demonstrate appropriate rights to occupy and use of the site, including clear arrangements for ongoing access, use, and responsibilities e.g. leases, shared ownership, or multi-party arrangements.
I am planning a community facility
Funding is available to assess whether a community facilities project is needed, feasible, affordable, and capable of being delivered.
What may be funded
Funding may include one or more, but is not limited to, the following costs.
- Feasibility studies and technical supports must be based on a project brief prepared by the applicant organisation
- Needs assessments
- Business cases
- Concept designs
- Preliminary architectural drawings
- Engineering assessments
- Quantity surveying estimates
- Conservation plans and heritage assessments
- Geotechnical investigations
- Site investigations and surveys
- Project planning and scoping
- Professional advice required to assess feasibility
What is not funded
In addition to the Lottery Grants Board exclusions lists, the following activities or services cannot be funded for a community facility.
- Studies or reports that have commenced before the application is submitted.
- Detailed construction drawings not required to establish project feasibility.
- Construction work.
- Purchase of materials for construction.
- General organisational planning or fundraising activities.
- Legal costs associated with disputes, litigation, or general organisational business.
Project brief requirements
A project brief must:
- describe the project scope and intended outcomes
- Assess the need for the project
- assess technical and financial feasibility
- provide evidence supporting the viability of the project
- assess the likelihood of successful delivery
- include planning appropriate to the scale and complexity of the project.
Development funding requirements
Feasibility plans and technical reports must:
- include a project brief and scope
- include one written quote
- be prepared by a suitably qualified, independent professional or organisation with expertise in the not-for-profit, governance, business planning, project management, financial analysis, or fundraising sector.
- be submitted separately from any related community facilities delivery application, and
- feasibility studies must be based on a project brief by the applicant organisation.
Heritage conservation requirements
Conservation plans or reports are required for projects involving the restoration or conservation of a heritage place or significant built asset. These must be prepared by a suitability qualified, independent professional and should:
- outline the history of the land or building
- assess its aesthetic, aesthetic, scientific, social and historical significance or value
- identify appropriate conservation approaches
- recommend actions for preservation and restoration.
I am delivering a community facility
Funding is available to build, acquire, restore, upgrade, or redevelop a community facility or marae.
What may be funded
- Construction of new facility (e.g. community buildings, marae infrastructure).
- Upgrades, extensions, and redevelopment of existing facilities.
- Restoration and conservation of heritage buildings and significant built assets.
- Accessibility improvements (eg, ramps, accessible toilets).
- Acquisition of existing buildings (supported by a feasibility study demonstrating value for money).
- Site works within the legal site boundary.
- Essential fit-out items required for the facility to be operational and available for its intended community use.
- Landscaping forming part of the approved project.
Funding may also include.
- Built-in infrastructure and fixtures integral to the facility and not easily removed (eg, kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing, electrical systems and heating systems).
- Professional fees directly related to project delivery, including architectural, engineering, quantity surveying, and independent project management).
- Fixed equipment that is integral to the facility (ie, commercial kitchens, built-in appliances).
What is not funded
In addition to the Lottery Grants Board exclusions lists, the following activities or services cannot be funded for a community facility.
- Activities outside the legal site boundary eg, public roads, or unrelated services.
- Establishment of a marae on land that is not reserved or legally recognised for marae purposes.
- Housing or residential accommodation.
- Replacement furniture, office equipment, consumables, and movable assets that are not required to make the facility operational.
- Standalone equipment that is not directly related to the approved facility or project or intended community use.
- Legal services not directly related to the project.
- Reports or studies that have commenced or been completed before the application is submitted.
- General operating costs.
- Costs not directly related to the approved project.
Requirements
This table sets out the requirements for projects, based on the value of funding requested.
Requirements may vary by project, scale, complexity, and risk. Additional information may be requested where needed.
| Requirement | <$100,000 | $100,000 - $250,000 | >$250,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project management | |||
| Overall oversight | One person must oversee the project (paid or unpaid) | ||
| Project manager | Not required | Maybe requested | Required |
| Quotes | Two quotes for each major cost item | Two quotes for each major cost item | Quantity surveyor's report or two quotes for each major cost item |
| Partnership funding (minimum contribution to total project cost) | No contribution required | 10% | 20% |
| Feasibility studies/technical reports | Atleast one written quote for each major cost item | ||
Projects must also comply with:
- the New Zealand Building Code
- applicable building and regulatory standards
- the ICOMOS New Zealand Charter for the Conservation of Places of Cultural Heritage (where relevant).
Core supporting documents
This table sets out requirements for community facilities based on request value. Requirements may vary by project, scale, complexity, and risk. Additional information may be requested where needed.
| Requirement | <$100,000 | $100,000-$250,000 | >$250,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project plan | Yes | Yes | |
| Timeline | Yes | Yes | |
| Budget | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Insurance cover (appropriate) | Yes | Yes | |
| Land ownership or permission | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Concept drawings or plans | Yes | Yes | |
| Partnership funding secured | Yes | Yes | |
| Maintenance plan | Yes | ||
| Completed feasibility study | Yes | ||
| Conservation plans | Where required | ||
| Resource consent approval | If required, must be in place | ||
| Building consent approval | Where required | ||
Consents and approvals
Applicants must provide evidence that any required resource consents, building consents, or other approval are in place or are being progressed.
Where required, resource consents and building consents should be in place before funding is released. Funding may be approved subject to the necessary consents being obtained.
Partnership funding
Partnership funding is when the applicant must provide a portion of the project’s funding.
This is required for projects applying for $100,000 or more in funding. Partnership funding must be secured before applying.
Partnership funding may include (with evidence):
- cash donations and confirmed sponsorships amounts
- grants (excluding previous Lottery grants)
- loans that can be serviced independently of the grant
- internal funds
- cash contributions
- in-kind contributions supported by evidence of their value
- verified project costs already incurred (e.g. consents obtained within the past two years)
- land acquired for the project, where ownership and the value can be evidenced
- land must be owned by the applicant and supported by appropriate valuation evidence.
In-kind contributions
In-kind contributions relate to works, goods, services, or materials that would otherwise be purchased.
Applicants should provide evidence of the market value, such as contractor quotes, supplier estimates, or professional fee schedules.
Where a market value cannot reasonably be established, volunteer labour may be valued at the current New Zealand Living Wage.
Funding must be confirmed, available, and allocated to the project.