Grants aim to boost community groups
AMI Community Grants is back for a third year with a pool of prizes to help Kiwi community groups get their projects off the ground.
After a record response to last year’s campaign, AMI Insurance and Neighbourly are joining forces again to provide funding to local organisations and community projects needing a little helping hand.
Neighbourly members are being encouraged to apply alongside registered Neighbourly organisations for a slice of the $30,000 prize pool.
Judging criteria will be focused on projects that reduce crime and/or make their communities stronger, safer and more connected places to live.
Eve Whitwell, AMI’s Community Engagement Manager says AMI is ‘‘looking forward to helping more great community groups to achieve their goals this year.’’
‘‘It’s exciting to see some of the things people are doing in their community, and to be able to help out,’’ she says.
‘‘We’re looking forward to another good response this year, and reaching in to new communities across Aotearoa’’.
The grand prize winner of last year’s campaign was Kidz need Dadz Charitable Trust.
The team used the Grant to continue supporting Dads in their local Hawkes Bay region, as well as providing community events to raise awareness and connect with families in their communities.
This year’s prize draw will be split into two categories: grants for Community Projects and Grants for Community Organis- ations / Not-for-profits.
There will be two rounds of applications - in January and July. Each round offers the chance for organisations and community projects to receive a share of $15,000.
Members and organisations are invited to apply for the first round of applications between until 16 February 2018.
After submissions close, finalists will be shortlisted, and then Neighbourly members will be asked to vote on the organisations and member projects.
Neighbourly’s co-founder and managing director Casey Eden says he is thrilled to working with the team at AMI to deliver Community Grants for a third year.
‘‘We’ve seen a huge increase in the quality and quantity of entries year on year,’’ he says.