Community Building Projects

Our funding for community-building projects is available every two years and has, over time, supported the development of many facilities and buildings, such as arts, heritage, and cultural spaces, recreation and sport centres, church facilities that are open to the community (not for worship), and emergency services and accommodation.

This funding is for requests over $100,000 to go towards the construction of new community buildings or major renovations to existing community buildings.

The application process happens in two stages, with Expressions of Interest (EOI) being invited from April 2026. We look for many different types of documents to support your EOI, so it is important to allow yourself time to prepare them.

Stage 1 - Expressions of Interest (EOI). Opens 1 April and close 5 June 2026. Submit an EOI detailing the proposed project. We will do site visits with groups that have applied from 22 June to 3 July 2026.

Stage 2 - Full Application. Opens 21 August and close 30 October 2026. In August, successful EOIs will be invited to complete a full application.

Final funding decision – March 2027. For those invited to submit a full application.

To help you prepare, we recommend that applicants look at the application guides, including 2026 Information and Instructions, and 2026 Documents to Submit.

Your EOI will need to be accompanied by documents showing us that your project is already well-advanced.

For example, you have:

• completed a feasibility study with a timeline, including a business operating forecast/plan and a utilisation profile to demonstrate that there has been thinking and planning already undertaken.
• a fundraising plan (including confirmed income) for construction and landscaping
• received or have lodged resource consent, building consent, and landowner permission
• detailed designs, QS, and a construction price

The proposed building/facility would demonstrate social benefit plus wide and/or deep community use.

We are interested in projects that consider sustainability (in construction and operations), universal design (accessibility and inclusivity), and social procurement.

EOI's from organisations committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their approach to this project and their wider mahi will be looked upon favourably.

Project readiness: well-advanced projects that have other confirmed funding and are likely to be completed with Foundation North support.

Across our 39-year history, we have supported the development of many facilities and buildings across a broad range of sectors:

• arts and cultural/heritage spaces (for example, museums and theatre spaces)
• areas of church facilities that are open to the community and not dedicated to worship (for example, church halls and recreation facilities)
• recreation, community facilities, and service centres (for example, multi-sports club buildings, recreation centres, social services providers)
• emergency services such as Surf Lifesaving clubhouses and temporary/emergency accommodation facilities such as James Liston Hostel

Foundation North wants to support projects that align well with our  Focus Areas.  

We will prioritise EOIs for projects that positively impact our priority regions/communities: Tangata Whenua, Pacific peoples, communities of Northland, communities of South Auckland, children and young people, Rainbow communities, people living with a disability, former refugees, new migrants.

We also prioritise initiatives, actions and activities which focus on:

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi - increasing understanding and giving effect to Te Tiriti
• Climate change action – mitigation and adaptation to the threats posed by climate change.

Step 1: If your Organisation is new to Foundation North, register in Foundation North's Funding Hub (online portal). Already registered? Make sure your Organisation profile is up to date.

Step 2: Contact our Team to let us know you intend to submit a Community Building Project Expression of Interest ​info@foundationnorth.org.nz​ 0800 272 878.

Step 3: If you're eligible, we will create a Community Building Project EOI request form for you ​in the Funding Hub, and notify you when it is ready. You can download the Information and Instructions Sheet in the application guide section to help you complete the request form.