The ECO Fund supports community projects that protect, enhance or promote Otago’s environment. Find out if your project is eligible.

If you have received a grant from us in the past, make sure your final report has been accepted. 

To scope your project, you need to outline objectives, location, timeline, activities, outputs and monitoring. 

• It is easier for us to assess well-defined projects. Be clear about the scope of your project, what you plan to do and why
• If your project is part of a bigger programme, please explain which components you are seeking ECO Fund support for
• Consider whether you project requires authorisation.
  • This could include:
    • a resource consent
    • approval under a bylaw, such as the Flood Protection Management Bylaw
    • permission to use herbicide by waterways
    • archaeological authority 
    • the cultural significance of a site
• You will need confirmed landowner approval for your project as part of your application
• You will be asked to report on your project’s outputs (what you actually deliver) – make sure your project outputs are achievable
• It is important for your project to have long-term benefits – think about how you will maintain and monitor your project outcomes

The guide on our ECO fund assessment criteria page provides the list of things that we will be assessing your application against. Please make sure that your application shows how you meet each of these criteria. 

• Prepare a realistic budget. You will need to report on your project’s budget and the use of the funding.
• One of the assessment criteria evaluates a project’s value for money (for example, how much work will be undertaken for the ECO Fund level of investment, consider how much your group will contribute – either in-kind or cash), so consider this when developing your budget. Check out the ECO Fund assessment criteria
• Funding of salary costs is capped at:
  
  • $50,000 for large-scale biodiversity projects and general projects. 
  • $15,000 for sustained rabbit management, biodiversity enhancement on protected private land, critical source area management on private land, and weed removal and revegetation projects.  
• Request quotes from suppliers well in advance as they may need time to get back to you.

GST Registered

• If you are successful with your application and GST registered you can include the GST cost in your invoice to us, but you should not include GST in your application.

Not GST Registered

• If you are successful with your application but NOT GST registered, you will not be able to invoice us for the GST amount.
• However, if you have quotes that include a GST component, we may add the GST cost to the amount granted, to help you cover the GST that will need to be paid (e.g. purchase of materials or contractor fees). You must ensure these quotes clearly show the GST value that will be incurred.

This document shows the questions in the 2024 ECO Fund application form, along with the amount and type of information expected to give you an idea of how to fill out an application for the current funding round. You may see minor differences compared to the current form.

Please note that the bigger the project, the more information is usually required, but please be succinct and to the point!