Lottery Funding for Operational Costs for Community Support Services
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.
This page has information about applying for Lottery funding for operational costs for community support services.
What is a community support service?
Community support services help people, families, whānau, or communities overcome barriers, improve wellbeing, increase participation, strengthen capability, or improve their ability to meet their needs. Organisations are eligible to apply for operational costs, including multi-year funding for up to three years.
Eligibility
In addition to the general eligibility requirements on the Lottery fund page, your organisation also needs to meet the following criteria:
- The service’s main activity or outcome must be to support individuals, families, groups, communities, to overcome barriers, improve wellbeing, strengthen capability, or increase participation.
- The service must provide ongoing support, guidance, advocacy, connection, mentoring, information, navigation, capability building, or early intervention.
- The benefit the service provides extends beyond individual members and contributes to strong more sustainable communities.
National organisations whose primary purpose is outdoor, or water safety may also be supported for ongoing operational costs where these activities provide a recognised community benefit.
What is not funded?
In addition to the Lottery Grants Board list of exclusions, the following activities or services cannot be funded as operational costs.
- Activities or services that do not meet the definition of a social service.
- Sport or recreation activities where the primary purpose is participation, training, or competition rather than delivering structured support outcomes.
- Arts, cultural, heritage, or environmental activities where the primary purpose is participation, preservation, education, events, collections, facilities, or advocacy rather than community support outcomes.
- Emergency response, rescue, and public safety services whose primary purpose is responding to immediate risks to life or property, except those delivered by national organisations whose primary purpose is outdoor or water safety.
- Costs that are intended to cover funding gaps, operational deficits, or shortfalls arising from government-contracted services, rather than supporting additional or complementary community outcomes.
Application requirements
- An organisational budget for the current financial year, clearly showing how the funding requested supports the delivery of the community support service.
- Applicants must describe the services delivery, who benefits, and the intended community outcomes.
- Completed application form.
- Financial accounts
- Completed organisation profile.
- Completed reporting requirements, as required.
- Bank account details.