GIFT Funding

Granting via a seed, scale & system framework

Makes space for collaboration & regeneration

GIFT Dashboard

GIFT began in 2016 as a $5m fund, with additional funding of $2m (2019) and $2m (2020) approved by the Foundation North Board. An additional $3m was approved to The Nature Conservancy by the Foundation North Board in 2019 to establish a Challenge Fund (see here for more information)

GIFT funds at three levels. Experimentation and risk taking is supported, with some failure expected.

Level
Seed
Funding
Looking for potential
– Under $50k
  • Test good ideas
  • Rapid learning and prototyping
Level
Scale
Funding
Growing potential
– $50k and over
  • Test at larger scale, grow proven ideas
  • Level
    System
    Funding
    Finding potential in the system
    – No funding parameters
  • Collaborative innovation for system change
  • Shift conditions holding a problem in place
  • GIFT Year 5
    Total applications received since 2016
    118
    Seed
    36 | $943,713
    Scale
    19 | $2,845,486
    System
    14 | $7,384,873
    Funding Awarded
    $11,174,072
    GIFT projects have leveraged further funding of $4,865,679 to date.
    The Centre for Social Impact evaluates GIFT and advises on innovation and strategy.
    It also provides evaluation and capacity support to GIFT grantees.

    List of Grantees

    2017

    Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust
    $5k novel methods of engaging community for predator control.
    link 1


    Envirostrat Limited
    $50k feasibility study for low impact high value seafood sector.
    link 1 | link 2


    Southern Seabird Solutions
    $50k to investigate the viability of a seabird smart fishing assurance programme for the Hauraki Gulf.
    link 1 | link 2


    Ecomatters Environment Trust – Stage one
    $20k to work with Crave Global to develop a community/business engagement online platform.
    link 1 | link 2


    Plastic Bag Free St Heliers
    $2k campaign to reduce single use plastic bags.
    link 1 


    Mōhio Research Limited
    $50k to develop a business case for impact bonds for native forest.
    link 1 | link 2


    Paula Buckley
    $5k to prototype a sea cleaning water drone.
    link 1 


    The Noises Trust – Stage one
    $50k to develop a model for co-managed marine protection.
    link 1 


    Blake – Stage one
    $275k to develop the NZ Virtual Reality project.
    link 1 


    National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA)
    $107k for seafloor mapping to help protect significant marine environments.
    link 1


    Te Toki Voyaging Trust Inc
    $50k rangatahi kaitaki programme in conjunction with Umupuia Marae.
    link 1 | Link 2


    University of Auckland Foundation (Jenny Hillman)
    $150k for shellfish restoration technique research.


    Sustainable Business Network – Stage one
    $40k on what works to restore healthy waters including reducing sediment and heavy metals.
    link 1 | Link 2


    The Nature Conservancy Trust – Stage one
    $40k to establish a shellfish restoration coordination unit.
    link 1 | Link 2


    Sustainable Coastlines
    $2k to create a game that engages people about rubbish in the Hauraki Gulf.
    link 1 | Link 2


    Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation (Umbrella for Young Ocean Explorers) Stage one
    $137k to produce Hauraki Gulf online content for children.
    link 1 | LINK 2 | Link 3


    Southern Seabird Solutions
    $27k to engage the charter boat fishing sector to reduce seabird mortality.
    link 1 | Link 2

    2018

    Ecomatters Environment Trust – Stage two
    $141k to prototype, promote and scale up online campaigns.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    University of Auckland Foundation (Umbrella for Hauraki Gulf Watershed project) Stage one
    $35k to prototype hearts and minds campaigns.
    Link 1


    Northern New Zealand Seabird Trust
    $180k to research how seabirds respond to environmental issues.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    Envirostrat Limited (Umbrella for Dave Kellian)
    $50k to trial a new fishing trap to reduce bycatch for commercial fishers.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    WAI NZ Limited (Riverwatch)
    $275k to develop and implement a water monitoring prototype
    Link 1


    Not Your Average Fish
    $43k to prototype an online marketplace for sustainable fishing and consumers.
    Link 1


    University of Auckland Foundation (Craig Radford)
    $50k to explore using underwater sound to detect illegal fishing.
    Link 1


    University of Auckland Foundation (Rochelle Constantine)
    $211k to research environmental influences of megafauna (e.g. whales and dolphins).
    Link 1


    Sustainable Business Network – Stage two
    $396k to implement a co-ordinated campaign to improve water quality, reduce plastics and sediment.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    Thinxtra Solutions Ltd
    $29k to trial SIGFOX technology for predator traps.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    University of Auckland Foundation (Craig Radford)
     $25k applied research on rock lobsters to reduce kina barrens.

    2019

    Unity House (Tui Williams) – Stage one
    $25k Oceans Lab programme.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust
    $35k to undertake a community engagement project for the regeneration of kelp.
    Link 1


    Bobby Stafford-Bush Foundation (Umbrella for Young Ocean Explorers) Stage two
    $216k for the continued development of YOE resources, including Mātauranga Māori.
    Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3


    Blake – Stage two
    $88k for Kaupapa Māori resources and school outreach.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    University of Auckland Foundation (Nick Shears)
    $188k to research how to restore rocky reefs.


    The Noises Trust – Stage two
    $74k to engage stakeholders in co-managed marine protection for the Noises group of islands.
    Link 1


    McMullen and Wing
    $40k to develop a business for electric ferries for the inner Hauraki Gulf.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    The Nature Conservancy
    $3m to create a Challenge Fund for shellfish restoration for the Hauraki Gulf.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) Stage one
    $25k to engage Ngāti Pāoa uri.
    Link 1 | Link 2

    2020

    Unity House – Stage two
    $25k to support participants post Oceans Lab.
    Link 1


    University of Auckland Foundation (Elisabeth Vaneveld) Stage two
    $60k to prototype a community engagement tool to connect to the marine environment.


    Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Waiora Ltd
    $50k to develop a holistic te taiao plan.
    Link 1


    Moana Tamaariki-Pohe and Louise Marra
    $67k for the Indigenous to Earth – ngā uri o Papatūānuku me Ranginui leadership programme.
    Link 1


    Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) Stage two
    $50k for continued Ngāti Pāoa uri engagement and future search event.
    Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3


    The Noises Trust – Stage three
    $50k to engage stakeholders in co-managed marine protection for the Noises group of islands.
    Link 1


    Protect Aotea
    $25k to engage with kaumātua and kuia to build a Mātauranga Māori database.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    Auckland Museum – Stage four
    $358k in conjunction with Noises Trust and the University of Auckland to continue progress on co-managed marine protection for the Noises group of islands.
    Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3


    Emerge Institute – Stage three
    $25k capacity building and organisational development (Oceans Lab follow-up).

    2021

    Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) – Stage Three
    $25k to develop long term vision.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    Republic Films Ltd
    $210k to film and produce a 7-part web miniseries to highlight the degradation of the Hauraki Gulf and propose solutions aligned with Mātauranga Māori.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    HSB consulting (Awhi Group)
    $25k to generate broad based support for ocean restoration in conjunction with Mana Whenua and communities.
    Link 1


    Hauraki Gulf Conservation Trust (Umbrella for Waiheke Marine Project) Stage four
    $650k to scale the Waiheke Marine Project.
    Link 1 | Link 2


    Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust
    $75k to co-design a 50-year strategy, including an Ahu Moana pilot. Ngāti Tamaterā Treaty Settlement Trust.
    Link 1


    Pou Tāngata Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki Community Development Trust
    $40k to support strategy implementation for capacity development.
    Link 1

    2022

    Ngātiwai Trust Board
    $2.055m Te Moana Marae o Ngātiwai project to support hau kaaianga, hapū and marae te taiao initiatives
    Link 1


    Pūkorokoro Miranda Naturalists Trust
    $427k in conjunction with Ngāti Pāoa to scale up te taiao initiatives incorporating te ao Māori and Mātauranga.
    Link 1


    Blake
    $60k for the continuation of Kaihautū Māori Development Manager role.
    Link 1


    HSB consulting (Awhi Group)
    $15k to continue to generate broad based support for ocean restoration in conjunction with Mana Whenua and communities.
    Link 1

    Up Next:

    GIFT Insights