Community funding through the WBS Charitable Trust

Helping our community prosper

The people of Wairarapa are what make this place so special – the parents who coach, the volunteers who support, the generous individuals and groups who keep on giving, to make Wairarapa a great place to live.

We’re proud that our profits don’t go offshore but rather get invested back into the Wairarapa community. Through the WBS Charitable Trust, we support all sorts of groups and initiatives with grants and benefits to make a difference to Wairarapa.

We welcome grant applications twice a year

We hold grant funding rounds twice a year, in April and October. Once the rounds are closed, the Trust reviews them. We then notify applicants on the outcome of these decisions in late June and late November respectively.

Through the WBS Charitable Trust, we look to support applications that fall within the following categories:

  • Arts and culture
  • Sports and recreation
  • Environment and sustainability
  • Education
  • Community support

We’ll let you know when applications are opening

When we’re ready to accept applications for a funding round, we’ll update this page with the relevant information. We’ll also let people know the round is opening in our Community News and on social media.

Visit the following link for more information about our grant funding process: Draft WBS Charitable Trust Grant Policy.

Contact our loans team about community loans

If you’re looking for a loan for a community group, please contact our loans team directly at [email protected] or phone (06) 370 0070.

Community groups supported by the WBS Charitable Trust in their April 2024 funding round

  • Wairarapa Sports Education Trust
  • Masterton Foodbank
  • Carterton Foodbank
  • Greytown Foodbank
  • Martinborough Foodbank
  • Featherston Foodbank
  • Digital Seniors
  • Alzheimer’s Wairarapa
  • Featherston Knitters
  • Kim’s Way Night Refuge
  • The Shady Mellow
  • Pasifika o Wairarapa Trust
  • Good Bitches Trust
  • Wairarapa Search & Rescue/Wandertrak
  • Predator Free Featherston
  • Wairarapa Fern & Thistle Band