Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), huddl, Three Lakes Cultural Trust, Sport Otago and the Conservation Alliance have joined forces to establish The Funding Series, a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen the capability of non-profit organisations and support sustainable funding strategies.

Fiona Reeve, Project Lead of huddl, a newly formed initiative focused on supporting community groups, acknowledges that funding and fundraising remain significant pressure points for many local organisations.

"huddl's 2024 Community Needs Assessment survey found that over 70% of local non-profits surveyed indicated they were facing challenges within their organisations, with funding being a key issue. We wanted to find practical ways to support groups with tools and a framework to help set them up for long-term success," said Mrs Reeve.

Samantha Kirk, Chief Operating Officer of Three Lakes Cultural Trust, agreed, noting, “The need to better understand and navigate funding was a consistent theme through our consultation on the Te Muka Toi, Te Muka Takata, Creativity, Culture and Heritage Strategy last year with ‘Training and Skills’ becoming a pillar of the strategy as a result. We are thrilled to work with other local groups to help bring this to life.”

Kenneth Bailey, QLDC Community Services General Manager said that by working together, the collective were able to maximise resources and build on existing funding capabilities.

“Sustainable funding is crucial for long-term impact, and we are pleased to support a programme that equips local groups with the skills and knowledge to thrive,” said Mr Bailey.

The Funding Series is open to individuals, groups and organisations who rely on funding or fundraising to support their operations, project or event.