OUR WORK
Grants
We love to help our community.
Rainbow Wellington operates a small grants programme to support individuals experiencing hardship, and people or groups that work with Rainbow and Takatāpui people in Pōneke.
Funds for these grants come directly from our Members’ annual fees and our fundraising campaigns.
If you need financial support for your project or event, please fill out the form below and one of our team will be in contact. Please note we consider grant applications quarterly.
If you are a rainbow person in the Wellington region personally experiencing financial hardship, and need an emergency hardship grant, please email us directly at hello@rainbowwellington.org.nz.
Please note that we are a small charity, with a grants budget of approximately $15,000 per year. Grants are therefore generally under $1,000, unless it is a large project or event that will benefit hundreds or thousands of people in Pōneke.
What we fund.
Rainbow Wellington provides small grants to support rainbow and takatāpui people and communities in Pōneke. Applications are welcome from individuals, community groups, and grassroots initiatives.
We fund:
- Community projects, events, and initiatives
Activities led by and for rainbow communities that build connection, provide support, enable advocacy, or celebrate culture and identity - Accessibility supports
Costs that improve access and inclusion for rainbow people (for example, interpreters, accessibility equipment, or transport where justified) - Hardship support (separate to funding rounds)
Limited support for individuals experiencing hardship, where costs impact health, safety, or ability to participate in community
- Commercial or for-profit activities or organisations
- Wages, salaries, or ongoing staffing costs
- Travel for people who are not based in Wellington
- Food and travel costs are considered on a case-by-case basis
- Applications must clearly demonstrate why these costs are necessary for the success or accessibility of the project
We prioritise applications that:
- Benefit rainbow communities in Wellington
- Demonstrate a clear need and meaningful impact
- Are well planned, achievable, and ready to deliver
- Improve accessibility, inclusion, or connection
- Show alignment with Rainbow Wellington’s purpose
- Make thoughtful and appropriate use of requested funds
- Alignment with Rainbow Wellington’s mission
How well the project supports advocacy, support, or connection for rainbow communities - Need and impact
The strength of the need for the project and the benefit to the community, including how many people will be impacted - Project design and organisation
Whether the project is well planned, achievable, and supported by clear logistics - Engagement with Rainbow Wellington
How the applicant will actively engage with Rainbow Wellington (for example, through events, membership, or partnerships) - Promotion of Rainbow Wellington membership
How the project will increase awareness of, or participation in, Rainbow Wellington membership - Budget and use of funds
How clear and realistic the budget is, and whether it aligns with what we fund - Funding leverage and additional funding
Whether other funding is confirmed or being sought - Sustainability and legacy
Whether the project has outcomes that continue beyond the grant period, where relevant
- All applications should include a clear budget outlining expected income and expenses
- Requests of $500 or more must include a detailed budget breakdown and where possible, quotes or estimates for costs you want us to cover (for example, venue hire, equipment, marketing)
Application Requirements.
To ensure your application has the best chance of success, please:
- Submit your application before the end of the grant round (applications are considered quarterly). Late applications will not be considered.
- Provide a clear budget (a detailed breakdown is required for requests of $500 or more)
- Include quotes or estimates for costs where possible
- Clearly describe how your project supports rainbow communities in Wellington
- Outline the expected impact, including who and how many people will benefit
- Ensure your project is not-for-profit, or clearly explain how any profits will be used
- Review our Grant Terms and Conditions before applying
Information is gathered in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Before you apply.
- Your project takes place in Wellington
- Your request aligns with what we fund
- You will include a budget (and quotes where possible)
- You will clearly explain the need and impact of your project
- You have read our Grant Terms & Conditions
Key Dates & Grant Rounds.
We have now moved to a quarterly Grant Round system to alleviate admin pressure on our volunteer committee members.
Round One
Opens 15 November – Closes 16 January
Applicants notified by 31 January
Round Two
Opens 1 April – Closes 15 May
Applicants notified by 30 June
Round Three
Opens 1 July – Closes 15 August
Applicants notified by 30 September
Round Four
Opens 1 September – Closes 15 October
Applicants notified by 30 November
Ready to apply?
Once you are ready to apply, please complete the online form, by clicking the button below.
Urgent Funding
We only consider urgent funding requests outside of our standard grant rounds in exceptional circumstances (e.g. urgent health or safety needs where no other funding is available).
Missing a deadline or planning outside our funding rounds does not qualify as urgent.
If you have any questions about eligibility or timing, please contact us at hello@rainbowwellington.org.nz
Communities we have previously supported.
2025
- Indian Origin Pride parade float $160
- InsideOut pride stall – $160
- Glamaphones pride stall – $160
- EndoWarriors pride stall – $160
- Rainbow Team Wellington pride stall – $160
- Model United Nations – $300
- Wallflower Productions play – $350
- Katherine Mansfield House pride event – $500
- Ginger’s Lesbian Pop Ups pride event – $500
- Georgina Beyer Musical development – $1,000
- Wellington Pride Parade accessibility – $2,000
- Wellington Pride Festival Picnic – $4,300
2024
- Quilted Bananas radio show – $110
- Interference – Documentary about Homosexual Law Reform stall – $300
- Rainbow Team Wellington pride stall – $300
- Glamaphones pride stall – $300
- Endo Warriors pride stall – $300
- Naming NZ pride stall – $300
- InsideOut pride stall – $300
- Te Ngakau Kahukara pride stall – $300
- Wellington Pride Festival Hīkoi – $500
- Wellington Pride Parade start up grant $6,000
- InsideOut Be Iconic Youth Ball makeup – $1,000
- Kawe Mahara Te Ao Kahukura publication $1,700
- Sapphic Affair Ball – $3,000
- Raroa Intermediate Schools’ Pride Week – $105
- Wellington Girls College Schools’ Pride Week – $150
- Weaker Leg short film $475
- Willy SmacknTush Wedlock drag show – $1,400
- City Gallery Derek Jarman exhibition – $500
- Queer Arts Trust establishment grant $900
- Wellington Pride Festival mana whenua wānanga kai – $650
- Tīwhanawhana Trust delegation to ILGA conference $2,000
2023
- Wellington Pride Festival Youth Ball – $4,000
- Wellington Racqueteers Badminton Tournament – $500
- ‘Single Use’ short film – $1,000
- Wellington LGBTQ+ Meetup T-Shirts – $134
- InsideOut pride stall – $250
- Wellington Racqueteers pride stall – $250