Ready To Apply

Please read this section fully before you commence your online application.

Authorised Purpose

TLF must only provide funding for Authorised Purpose. Section 4 of the Gambling Act 2003 defines Authorised Purpose as:

    • a charitable purpose;

    • a non-commercial purpose that is beneficial to the whole or a section of the community; and

    • promoting, controlling, and conducting race meetings under the Racing Industry Act 2020, including the payment of stakes.

All grants must be used for goods and services within New Zealand to meet Inland Revenue requirements.

Where Does the Money Go?

Grants are distributed to a wide and diverse range of charitable purposes in the areas of health, education, sports and community (which includes arts, culture, heritage and environment). We aim to distribute and return approximately 90% of the funds generated by venues in your local community back to your local community. Funds remaining (approximately 10%) are distributed nationally to organisations which benefit communities throughout New Zealand.

What TLF Will Not Fund

Documents to Upload in Support of Your Application

As you progress your application, you will need to upload several documents.

    • Cover letter- Your cover letter should tell TLF about your organisation and/or project, and how this grant benefits the community.

    • Declaration of Consent- TLF requires each organisation to make a legal declaration. Please ensure that the Declaration is on your organisation’s letterhead and correctly signed. Click here for template.

    • Proof of bank account- Please attach a bank generated account verification document or pre-printed deposit slip so we can direct credit funding into your account if approved. Handwritten deposit slips and personal bank accounts will not be accepted. If your organisation has not been funded by TLF previously, please provide original account verification which has been generated, signed and stamped by the bank OR, if your organisation still has these – an original deposit slip, not a scan or photocopy. Please COURIER this to The Lion Foundation, Level 11, AIG Building, 41 Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland 1010.

    • Signed resolution, or full minutes– Resolutions must be signed and dated by a member of the committee or Board. If submitting minutes – these should be the full minutes and do not have to be signed. Must be no older than 6 months. Click here for template.

    • Certificate of Incorporation- this is available to you from the Companies Office and should have been uploaded to the COMS grants system when creating your organisation profile. This will include the NZBN number.

    • Charities Services registration OR attached proof of IRD Income Tax Exemption- TLF will only fund organisations that are wholly income tax exempt. Please visit our Eligibility Criteria page for further information.  Not Applicable to Schools.

    • Financial Accounts– These are not required to be audited. The accounts must be less than 18 months old and include a profit and loss statement, and a balance sheet for a minimum 12-month period.

    • Proof of affiliation- Sport clubs must be affiliated to a regional body. Provide an affiliation letter to your regional or national association. You could also provide your affiliation fees invoices from your Regional/National body to prove your affiliation. If your affiliation letter is older than 2 years – please obtain a renewed letter.

    • Governance letter- please refer to the Eligibility Criteria page to ensure that you have uploaded the correct Umbrella/Parent/Governance letter.

    • Costs evidence- TLF needs to be able to determine whether or not the expenses for which you are applying for funding are an authorised purpose. TLF also needs to ensure that these expenses are a reasonable and legitimate use of community funds. TLF must also consider practical issues around grant accountability. Thus, internal budgets and estimates are not acceptable forms of costs evidence. What is required may also be determined by what you are applying for.

General requirements: – This is not an exhaustive list.  Please do not hesitate to contact a Grants Advisor (0800 802 908) to ensure that your application is processed smoothly and without unnecessary.

    • Purchase of item/s or goods – two competitive quotes per item are required. It is important that these two quotes are for the same item/s that you intend to purchase. If you are unable to provide two quotes, you will need to upload a document explaining why only one quote is supplied. A Grants Advisor will indicate that the reason is acceptable or not. If not acceptable – you will have to obtain and provide a second quote. The quotes must be addressed to your organisation, dated within the last 6 months, and the provider of services must be clearly identifiable, including current contact details. Quotes must also show the GST content.

    • Capital/One off projects or purchases – if a resource and/or building consent is required – please do not apply for a grant until the consents have been issued. Please contact a Grants Advisor (0800 802 908) prior to submitting your application to discuss what other costs evidence should be submitted.

    • Vehicle Purchase – a letter stating that the vehicle will not be used for private use.

    • Salaries– these are still a low priority for TLF.  Before applying for a salary, we recommend that you contact a Grants Advisor to discuss. A signed employment agreement and job description must be provided. The position must also be filled – that is the employment cannot be subject to funding being obtained. When applying for salaries/wages – please consider Privacy Act implications. Obtain express permission to share the Employment Contract in support of your application. TLF will assume you have consent. Main or Secondary contacts for an application cannot apply for their own salary/contract fee/wage.

    • Contractor wages/Coaching wages – signed agreements and formal quotes for contracting services must be submitted. Position descriptions may also be required as these are relevant to ensure that the expense meets authorised purpose requirements. Main or Secondary contacts for an application cannot apply for their own salary/contract fee/wage.

    • Utilities/operating expenses – three months of consecutive recent invoices (no older than 6 months) or an annual invoice. These invoices must be addressed to your organisation, and the provider of services must be clearly identifiable. Invoices must also show the GST content.

    • Event funding – Two quotes will still be required for expenses to stage the event, unless a suitable explanation is provided for only supplying one quote. Confirm whether participants at the event (especially sporting events) will compete for prizes, and if so, please provide the amount/value of the prize. Also upload proof of your event to prove that your event is genuine (i.e. an itinerary, draw schedules, flyers or brochures) as additional documentation.

    • Rental of premises – provide a copy of the current rental agreement. The rental agreement must be in the name of the organisation applying for the funding. Rental agreement must be fully executed by both parties to the agreement.