Spark New Zealand : Applications now open for Spark Foundation grants

Applications are now open for charitable groups and community organisations in need of funding. Organisations from around the country are encouraged to apply, whether operating at a community, regional or national level.

Spark Foundation, the charitable organisation funded by Spark, is looking for new projects to invest in, with the intent of providing long-term social benefit to New Zealand. A total of approximately $1 million is available annually to invest in a range of projects.

Through these investments, Spark Foundation hopes to help community organisations make a meaningful step-change for a better New Zealand. Spark Foundation is looking for opportunities where it can build meaningful partnerships with a small number of mid to long-term projects, to increase the impact of the grant.

Funding will be offered at several levels of investment to a small number of projects that share a vision of unleashing potential through supporting young New Zealanders and a more generous society. Most importantly, Spark Foundation is looking for opportunities that enable significant social change. Organisations are encouraged to apply whose programmes relate to:

• young people

• education

• digital enablement

Spark Foundation Chair Nick Leggett says this is an exciting phase for the charity. 'It's the first time we've been in a position to look for new investment opportunities since we set up Spark Foundation in 2011. We're really interested to hear about initiatives happening all around New Zealand, big and small in scale.'

The funds have come about following the end of a five-year commitment to Manaiakalani Education Trust which successfully achieved its funding objectives and a reduced funding commitment required by Givealittle, with a service fee now largely self-funding the crowdfunding platform.

Applications will be reviewed in early March and a short-list of organisations will be contacted. Spark Foundation will begin talking with candidates once a shortlist is determined.

Interested organisations should refer to the information on http://www.sparknz.co.nz/what-matters/funding/ and complete the expression of interest form by 5pm Friday 23 February.

For more information please contact:

Sera Jeong

Marketing & Communications Advisor, Spark Foundation

021 0277 0597

Sera.Jeong@spark.co.nz

Notes to the editor:

Spark Foundation is a charitable trust funded by Spark New Zealand. Key activities of the Foundation include:

• Creating Spark Jump, a platform for online learning at home which provides subsidised broadband and a free modem for low-income families who otherwise lack suitable internet at home.

• Owning and operating crowdfunding platform Givealittle, via which generous New Zealanders have now donated more than $70 million to deserving causes.

• Operating a best practice payroll giving programme that has benefited schools and charities with donations totaling almost $5 million, through the generosity of Spark employees and donation matching by the Spark Foundation.

• Organising volunteering programmes under which Spark employees can spend a work day helping in the community each year.