We’re so pleased you’re interested in our Community Investment Programs. We’d love you to apply and contribute towards our thriving local community.

We help build community

Our Community Investment Program has returned over $2 million to local community groups and organisations.

We’ve funded meaningful and impactful projects across Gisborne and district and strengthened community connections in the process. See our 15-year impact map for some of our major contributions to Gisborne and district.

We’re focused on significantly investing in purposeful projects over the coming years.

We’re for a prosperous Gisborne and district

We know successful communities mean successful businesses and we’re all about our region thriving so everyone benefits.

We’re focused on developing partnerships with local community organisations to leverage our funding sources and ensure we’re a key community asset for all.

Community and not-for-profit organisations can apply for projects and activities that offer clear public benefit for the community and align with our 3 Key Impact Pillars.

1. Community Connection and Good Health

• We love what’s fun, keeps us active, creative, engaged, feeling like we belong, friendships, community services, and volunteerism.
• We recognise that mental health and suicide prevention are forefront issues for our community along with access to affordable services for all, when and where they need them

2. People, Capacity and Resource Building

• We champion our community organisations and their members and seek to help them with what they need to grow, be diverse and inclusive, and provide access for all.
• We know that practical assistance through equipment, training, and assets is fundamental to enabling services to grow, expand, and reach more people.
• We invest in our local people so they can build strong and purposeful careers and develop financial well-being and futures for their families and those they care for.

3. Climate, Environment and Energy

• We care deeply for our local environment, plants, and animals and support efforts toward a low-carbon future

However, we need you! Our jam is operating banking services and while we can enable your project, we need your community group to deliver it.

Where do funds come from

Community banking is a ‘profit-for-purpose’ model, meaning profits are returned directly to the community that has generated them. In our case, the beautiful Gisborne region.

Community banking is designed to feed a positive cycle of good business, community and giving back.

To run a successful Community Investment Program and return as much as possible, we first need to run a successful business. That’s why it’s important customers bank with us in the first instance.

Our community investment funding is made possible by the profit generated from banking services provided at our branch in Gisborne.

How does the program work

Simply, we invest in local community groups and organisations that undertake projects to build and strengthen our community.

When we invest, we’re also enabling community groups to leverage our funding and implement sustainable practices for future proofing their organisation’s success. That’s sustainability at its core.

Get Involved

If you’re part of an eligible community group doing great things, making change and delivering exciting projects, please apply for community investment funding.

Imagine what your community organisation can do for the betterment of Gisborne and surrounds. We’re looking for bold ideas, clever ideas, creative ideas and projects your local community group can bring to life with our support.

The following are invited to apply for funding:

• Any not-for-profit community group or organisation based in postcode 3437, 3431, 3438, 3440, 3441 or 3442 that actively banks with Community Bank Gisborne & District, is open to the community, and holds regular group meetings or events in Gisborne and district.
• Groups that actively bank with us and provide a unique benefit to residents in Gisborne and surrounds but are not based locally may be eligible. Groups in this category as well as political and religious organisations are requested to contact mrcepublicrelations@gmail.com to confirm their eligibility prior to submitting an application.
• Schools and select government and large community support organisations are exempt from the requirement to bank at Community Bank Gisborne & District.

Apply Today

The types of organisations we typically support (but are not limited to) include community interest groups or organisations, sporting clubs, schools, and/or community service projects. The aim of the Community Investment Program is to achieve impact widely across many industry sectors.

Community Investment Funding

Grants

Our grants are paid to an organisation to address a social issue within the community or to enable them to deliver a specific, standalone project that will benefit local residents.

Sponsorships

We sponsor events, projects or organisations through the provision of money, goods or services in return for customer acquisition opportunities and brand recognition.

Funding round schedule:

• Autumn Community Investment Round:  Applications open in March, results announced in May, funds available from June.
• Spring Community Investment Round: Applications open in September, results announced in November, funds available from December.

Applicants are encouraged to apply in a community investment round well before their event as funds will only be made available after formal announcement has been made and a partnership meeting has taken place.

We understand that in some instances funding applications need to be made outside of our autumn and spring community investment rounds. Contact our Community Engagement Officer on the contact details at bottom to discuss out-of-round funding applications.

Scholarships

We provide three types of scholarships to residents of Gisborne and district:

• Scholarships for 14-to-17-year-olds to attend the Magic Moments Youth Leadership and Business Summit in Sydney in July each year
• Community Bank Gisborne & District Early Tertiary Scholarships to support recent secondary school graduates/leavers starting university or TAFE
• Scholarships for adults to participate in the Loddon Murray Community Leadership Program

The Process

The actual process itself is quite simple:

1. Review the eligibility criteria
2. Develop your project proposal or submission
3. Complete and submit your online application 
4. You will be notified by email whether your application was successful, unsuccessful or requires more information or
5. Successful applicants will be required to sign an Agreement
6. Funds will be paid on submission of a Tax Invoice (grants and sponsorships) or provision of banking details (scholarships)
7. You’ll deliver the project as proposed
8. You’ll submit the acquittal and impact story once the project is completed.

Before you start

Before you begin make sure you are eligible to apply and have:

• Your organisation's administration & contact details
• All the project details
• Your project budget Project partner details
• Supporting documents for upload.
• If you are applying for sponsorship please contact mrcepublicrelations@gmail.com 

Keep up to date with our upcoming community investment programs, by visiting our Facebook page.

Questions

We understand applying for funding can be challenging for volunteers. Please contact our Community Engagement Officer, Corinne Shaddock (workdays Monday and Wednesday), on mrcepublicrelations@gmail.com  with any questions on our community funding programs and she’ll be in touch to help you.