WWF-New Zealand Community Conservation Fund

WWF-New Zealand, in partnership with the Tindall Foundation, supports communities and educational facilities to run projects that conserve and restore Aotearoa New Zealand's natural environments and the native species in these habitats.

Who can apply?

The Community Conservation Fund is targeted at local community and educational conservation groups based and working in Aotearoa New Zealand, engaged in projects which involve the community in conservation or education initiatives. We do not fund individuals, national or regional umbrella groups, for-profit organisations, Government authorities, Government agencies, or overseas organisations.

What kind of projects are funded?

The Community Conservation Fund gives preference to projects that: 

  • Are community driven, involve local communities, bring people together for shared conservation initiatives
  • Engage and educate children/young people through action based projects
  • Encourage others to learn through experience and participation
  • Have relationships with hapū /iwi and promote mātauranga Māori and indigenous knowledge
  • Restore native habitats, especially those with threatened indigenous species
  • Make meaningful contributions to improving connections to local environment
  • Promote others to gain skills and are encouraged and/or supported to take future action for the environment as a result of participating

For more information on eligibility and funding priorities please download and read the application guidelines (below).

How much can I apply for?

A maximum of NZ$15,000, for a funding period of one year. Previous recipients may re-apply to consecutive funding rounds up to three years, or in some circumstances five years, but repeat funding for recipients is not guaranteed and WWF should not be considered an on-going source of funding. New applications will need to be made for each successive year.

How to apply

The fund is open for applications once a year. The 2023 round has closed and details of the funded projects can be found here. For updates on the Fund and future rounds please subscribe to the WWF-New Zealand newsletter (link in Footer).

For more information contact:

WWF-New Zealand Grants Administrator,
Phone: 022 029 2852 
Email: Community@wwf.org.nz

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The Tindall Foundation

Community Funding Partner

WWF acts as a Local Donation Manager for The Tindall Foundation, a philanthropic family foundation working throughout Aotearoa to support families, community and the environment.

As Environmental Donation Manager, we distribute donations on behalf of TTF to local environmental education and community involvement programmes.

Other sources of funding

If your project does not meet the criteria for the WWF-New Zealand Community Conservation Fund, you might like to check out these other funders.