Otago Community Trust has a proud involvement in many wonderful community projects around the Maniototo. 

When we travel across the beautiful landscape we don’t have to go too far to catch a glimpse of the array of projects or community groups that at some point in time we have helped support.

The Maniototo Hospital undoubtedly has been a fabulous addition to the community, Otago Community Trust was pleased to have made a $500,000 grant to support the community services areas in the new hospital.

However, it is not only large capital grants we are proud of.  

The small grants to the Ranfurly Bowling Club to refurbish club seating, the Maniototo Golf Club to help with purchasing a new mower, St John’s School to support their new turf development are all equally important to ensuring facilities are maintained for the wider community.

We think the people of Otago would agree there is something special about visiting Naseby and the Otago Community Trust is proud to have funded on several occasions the Naseby Development Charitable Trust to assist with mountain bike track restoration and development.

As the Trust embarks on a new year of funding, we would like to remind Maniototo community groups we are here to help and are always happy to answer any questions the community may have on initiatives and projects.  

Our grants large and small can provide valuable resources for community groups to carry out projects or provide services they otherwise would not be able to.

We encourage community groups, volunteers and interested members of the public to learn more about the Trust via our website www.oct.org.nz.  

Otago Community Trust is a community-owned charitable trust that provides grants to not-for-profit community groups and projects that make a positive contribution to Otago communities.

We make grants to not-for-profit organisations delivering community benefits across the spectrum of education, health, sport and recreation, the arts, social services, environment, heritage, community development, and community economic development.

Annually, approximately $7-9 million is granted to community groups throughout Otago. 

We fund our grants from the reinvestment of proceeds from the sale of Trust Bank New Zealand shares in the mid-1990s.

Through our grants, we endeavour to make Otago communities stronger, more vibrant, and better connected.

The Otago Community Trust will run a range of funding grant workshops, for more information visit: 

• Alexandra Funding Workshop: Alexandra Funding Clinic
• Maniototo Funding Workshop: Maniototo Funding Clinic

Story written by Sue Stewart, Grants Manager at Otago Community Trust