Funding
Spectrum Foundation distributes philanthropic funding to projects that support disabled people and their whānau.
The Foundation has one open funding round per year and aims to distribute over $1M of philanthropic funding each year.
Applications for the 2024 funding round open on June 10, and close on July 26th.
Final funding decisions will be announced on September 24.
Application information
Before you apply, please note that Spectrum Foundation will not generally fund organisations or providers:
for political purposes
to build endowments (i.e. to build capital bases)
for the repayment of debt
to solely support the spiritual activities of religious organisations. This includes facilities and halls on church/mosques/temple grounds, etc.
to only create profit
Spectrum Foundation prefers to fund registered charities. Please contact the team if you would like to apply for funding but are not a registered charity.
Funding Criteria
Spectrum Foundation will usually fund activities that are unavailable or where there are significant barriers to access for people with disabilities. The funding focus areas of the Foundation are:
Empowering access to health and wellbeing - removing barriers such as cost and accessibility for primary and oral healthcare.
Empowering access to housing - providing adequate housing for disabled children and their whānau.
Empowering access to education - implementing systemic and individual approaches to promote children’s right to attend school.
Empowering access to employment - focusing on the transition time between leaving school and entering the workforce.
Empowering mana and self-determination - providing opportunities for people to take part in their community and intentionally build natural networks.
Other areas of consideration
Whether the programme is based on Enabling Good Lives (EGL) principles and characteristics and designed with participation from and through consultation with user groups including tangata whaikaha.
Whether the programme and organisation can show understanding and respect for the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in its governance
Whether the programme can demonstrate impact
If the programme is enduring or short-term
What community the programme will reach
How to apply for Spectrum Foundation Funding
1. Send us an Expression of Interest (EOI)
An EOI gives us brief information about why you need funding.
We assess EOIs based on our funding criteria (see above). We will contact all applicants promptly about their suitability for Spectrum Foundation funding.
Please download and complete the form below. Please do not save the file as a PDF.
When it is complete, email it to info@spectrumfoundation.org.nz by the deadline (see below).
Please note that:
All projects seeking Spectrum Foundation funding will need to measure their impact.
All costs in your EOI should include GST.
Late EOIs will generally not be accepted for consideration. However, Spectrum Foundation reserves the right to accept applications after this deadline.
If you have any queries, please contact the team by emailing info@spectrumfoundation.org.nz
2. Complete the Funding Application form
If your project meets Spectrum Foundation funding criteria, we will ask you to fill in a Funding Application form. We will send you this form. We may also need:
Financial information
Personnel information
Impact information
We will contact you about what information you need to include. Our team may assist you to complete it.
When your funding application is complete, please send it back to us. We may come back to you with more questions. When it is ready, the funding team will submit your application for funding and will update you on its progress.
How Spectrum Foundation decides what it funds
Spectrum Foundation works with a Philanthropy Moderation Panel to select and assess applications for funding.
Final funding approval is by the Spectrum Foundation Board. The Board is not obliged to approve any application. The Board has complete discretion in the allocation of funds.
Spectrum Foundation reserves the right to alter application deadlines and funding dates. We will inform any applicants in the event of deadline or funding changes.
Funding Round Deadlines
Funding applications open Monday 10th June 2024.
Completed application forms due before 5pm, Friday 26th July 2024.
Successful funding applications announced by Tuesday 24th September 2024.
FAQs
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Spectrum Foundation distributes funding to projects that support disabled people and their whanau. The Foundation usually funds projects that are either not available or where there are significant barriers to accessing services.
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Spectrum Foundation funding comes from investment income, fundraising and service fees from sister companies - Spectrum Care and Homes of Choice.
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Spectrum Foundation aims for its funding to have the greatest impact. Applications are selected for funding by a Philanthropy Moderation Panel. This group represents the communities we wish to serve. Selected applications then proceed to the Board.
We take our funding responsibilities seriously. We want to ensure we fund the most impactful projects in the most impactful way. We allow time to give feedback on funding applications and if necessary to make adjustments.
We acknowledge that funding decisions can have far-reaching consequences. We want to give time to make these important decisions.
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Once funding is approved, we make every effort to transfer approved funding in a prompt manner. We will contact you as soon as possible after a Board meeting to update you on your application and discuss these details.
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Spectrum Foundation aims to distribute up to $800K of philanthropic funding in this funding round.