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Community Grants Schemes
Digital Strategy Community Partnership Fund
Significant Community Based Projects Fund
Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS)
Community Development Scheme
Community Based Youth Development Fund
Support for Volunteering Fund
Community Internship Programme
Maori Community Development Worker Scheme
Youth Worker Training Scheme
Crime Prevention Scheme
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Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS)
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PurposeThe Community Organisation Grants Scheme (COGS) is a community-driven government-funded scheme providing essential support to non-profit, voluntary and community organisations.
Key informationEvery year, over $14 million of COGS funding is distributed to more than 3000 community groups. Most grants are for $3000 or less, and contribute to ongoing running costs (such as rent, travel, volunteer and administration expenses), to hosting hui, fono or community workshops, or toward project development costs.
Applications open on 1 June and close on the last Friday of July each year.
BackgroundCOGS was established in 1986. Since its inception, more than 50,000 grants totalling over $200 million have been distributed throughout New Zealand.
The scheme is an example of the community and government working together to build strong, sustainable communities, and to provide strong social services.
Scheme guidelinesServices or projects will be considered for funding that
- respond to locally identified priorities that have been established at Public Meetings held in that community, each year in April
- are initiated by local community groups and organisations
- delivers to one or more of the COGS priority sectors (i.e. Mäori, women, Pacific communities, other ethnic communities, older people, the rurally isolated, people with disabilities, families, youth and children, and unemployed people)
- have limited access to other government funding.
2009 COGS Information Sheet (.pdf) 467k*
37 Local Distribution Committees (LDCs), served entirely by volunteers, consider and make decisions on grant applications from groups within their local communities. Each LDC sets local priorities, which are determined at the public meetings held in each local LDC area prior to the opening of the funding round.
The 37 LDCs are administered by the Local Government and Community Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs. See also: Further information.
* This document is in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe website.
Eligibility requirementsWhat COGS will fund
A contribution towards
- The costs of running community organisations that provide community based social services. This may include personnel, operating or programme costs. Eligible items are listed in the budget table within the application form.
- Services or projects that
- encourage participation in communities
- promote community leadership
- promote social, economic and cultural equity.
What COGS will NOT fund
- Capital items such as land, building/alterations, plant and machinery, vehicles, furniture and office equipment
- Duplication of existing services, unless there is a good reason for both services to exist
- Social functions
- Political advocacy
- Activities or programmes taking place outside of New Zealand
- Retrospective funding for activities that have already happened by the application closing date.
What are the funding limits?
- To receive grants of over $10,000 organisations must be a legal entity (for example an incorporated society or charitable trust)
- Organisations that are not a legal entity may apply for a maximum of $10,000.
Goods and Services Tax (GST) implications
- All grant payments will be paid on a GST inclusive basis
- If your organisation is GST registered then your requested amount must exclude GST
- If your organisation is not GST registered then your requested amount must include GST.
What are the COGS accountability requirements?
If you receive a grant, you will be required to complete an accountability report. The Department of Internal Affairs may audit grant recipients, and require any grant funding that is not accounted for be paid back.
Previous recipientsCOGS Record of Grants
Case storiesThis collection of case stories profiles COGS initiatives.
Each story features background information on COGS, and also provides an overview of the project and its goals.
* This document is in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe website.
How to applyApply for funding by entering an online application at Grants Online, or by requesting a paper application from the nearest office of the Local Government and Community Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs or phone 0800 824 824.
If you wish to apply to more than one LDC, please complete a separate application for each committee to consider.
Applications open on 1 June and close on the last Friday of July each year.
To assist with processing over 4,000 applications received annually, we urge you to submit your application as one package with all supporting documentation well before the closing date.
Our policy is that you have 10 working days from the date of submitting your application to send all supporting documentation. Failure to provide the information within this timeframe will almost certainly result in the LDC considering your application to be ineligible for the funding round.
After your application is received an advisor from Local Government and Community Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs and / or a COGS committee member may contact you to discuss your application. The COGS committee will consider applications and make its decision, generally within three months of the closing date.
Further informationCOGS Profile
The COGS Profile sets out some of COGS achievements over the year and outlines plans for the future.
* This document is in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe website.
COGS Local Distribution Committees
There are 37 Local Distribution Committees (LDC) throughout New Zealand. They are made up of volunteers who consider and make decisions about funding applications from organisations within their local communities. LDC members are nominated and elected by registered community organisations. Background information about the 2008 COGs Local Distribution Committee elections is available here.
Frequently Asked Questions2009 COGS FAQs (.pdf) 136k*
* This document is in Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. You need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. You can download a free version from the Adobe website.
Contact details
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