Our Council, Our Region

ECO Fund

Environment. Community. Otago.

Current funding round: 1 March to 2 April 2024

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What is the ECO Fund
Timeline
What you need to know
Tips for a good application
Applying for funding
Reporting
Other funding

What is the ECO Fund?

The ECO Fund supports community-led projects that protect, enhance or promote Otago's environment. We have a general fund for community-led environmental projects and incentives funding that targets specific environmental issues.

For 2024, the total contestable environmental grant money is $918,600, available through the ECO Fund and Incentives Funding. This is made up of:

Fund	Purpose	Budget
ECO Fund General		$318,600
Incentives funding	Native planting after plant pest control	$ 50,000
Incentives funding	Native planting for water quality	$ 50,000
Incentives funding	Biodiversity enhancement on protected private land	$100,000
Incentives funding	Sustained rabbit management	$100,000
Incentives funding	Large-scale biodiversity outcomes	$300,000

Total funding budget for 2024: $918,600

The ECO Fund supports both work on the ground and projects with an education or awareness-raising focus. Whether your project is large or small, we welcome your application.

Applications for 2024 have closed

Timeline

1 March 2024: ECO Fund round opens.

2 April 2024: ECO Fund round closes.

April – May 2024: Applications are reviewed.

June 2024: Applicants are notified of our decision.

What you need to know

Eligibility

Check that you are eligible for an ECO Fund grant. Read more

Funding categories

Check the funding category to apply for. Read more

Assessment criteria

Find out how your ECO Fund application will be assessed. Read more

Funding terms & conditions

Understand the ECO Fund terms and conditions before you apply. Read more

Tips for a good application

Some useful tips to help you write a good ECO Fund application. Read more

ECO Fund application example

View an example application to see the information you need to provide. View now

Applying for funding

ECO Fund expression of interest form

Reporting

ECO Fund progress report

Submit an annual progress report for your ECO Fund multi-year project. Login and submit progress report

ECO Fund final report

Submit your final report for your completed ECO Fund project. Login and submit final report

Other funding

Other funding sources