Environmental Leaders Fund

The online form will be available from here when applications open in 2025.

When completing the application form, you'll need to have:

• details of your project
• breakdown of the funding requested
• answers to the criteria questions.

The full criteria will be available here when applications open in 2025.

The Environmental Leader's Fund now has an increased focus on climate action. We are looking for applications for projects that fall into one or more of the following categories:

• Exploring alternative energy and sustainable transport
• Improving biodiversity
• Supporting a circular economy and reducing waste
• Protecting and preserving water
• Growing Kai.

If you interested in funding and support for traps and pest control in your school or centre, please contact our Education team directly - E: education@nrc.govt.nz or P: 0800 002 004 as funding for traps isn’t included in our criteria this year.

We only have limited funding available, so we cannot guarantee all applications will be successful.

We have a limit of $3000 available per project, as well as a total budget of $35k for the Environmental Leaders Fund.

The ‘entry criteria’ document will provide detailed information on the judging criteria.

Yes! Here are a few projects that were granted funding from the Environmental Leaders Fund last year.

• 2023 ELF Recipients | Story
• Ngataki School | Story
• Example ELF Application (Early Childhood Centre) (PDF 88 KB)
• Example ELF Application (High School) (PDF 91 KB)

No, only one application will be accepted per school / centre.

No, we encourage you to work with community groups in your local area.

Applicants will be advised of funding decisions in November 2024. Funding will be processed on receipt of an official invoice, which must be from the school / centre awarded the funding.

We require a project completion report from all successful projects by 31 December 2025.

Contact:
The Environmental Leaders Fund Team
E: elf@nrc.govt.nz | P: 0800 002 004