Grants Open & Upcoming

Register for an account with the Perpetual Guardian Funding Hub in order to apply now.
Please allow for up to 3 business days for your registration request to be processed. 

Listed below are the Trusts currently open for applications (listed alphabetically). More detailed funding guidelines are available on the application form.
Please note that upon funding rounds closing, non-submitted applications will be automatically declined.
Technical support is available until 5pm on the day that applications close.

Brian Johns Fellowship Trust
Awards for New Zealanders to develop further knowledge and interest in the fields of ear nose and throat medicine and to develop and continue research in these fields within New Zealand or overseas.
Applications are open year round. Please monitor carefully for changes as time-frames for applications may be amended.
Applications are reviewed and supplied to decision makers as and when they are received, and usually not later than within three months of the submission date depending on the availability of advisory parties.

Charles T Drysdale Estate
This funding round celebrates the final distributions from the Charles T Drysdale Estate (no further funding rounds will be held).
Perpetual Guardian welcomes applications from organisations providing accommodation, recreational, or holiday facilities for young people in Southland.
Examples of suitable requests include youth hostels, adventure camps, and movements such as Brigades, Scouts and Guides.
Head offices may apply but the funds should directly benefit young people in Southland.
Applications are open from 21 July – 18 August 2025.

David Johnstone Charitable Trust
Scholarships for Waikato youth undertaking tertiary education at Wintec and Waikato University next year. Applications must be via a school nomination*.

For consideration, nominated students should:

• Display academic achievement appropriate to meet the entry criteria for the course they wish to enroll in;
• Be deserving of assistance for higher education, despite any difficult circumstances they may have encountered;
• Demonstrate characteristics David Johnstone admired.

Characteristics David Johnstone admired:

• An affinity for their rural community and/or the rural sector and primary industries. This might be demonstrated in their upbringing and their connections and/or in their career pathway.
• Have drive, spirit and initiative.
• Determination (can overcome obstacles and barriers).
• Hardworking (committed to endeavours).
• The spirit of service.

There are no course restrictions. However, applications that demonstrate a contribution to rural New Zealand may be prioritised.
Nominations must be completed by an appropriate school staff member, such as Principal or Dean. No applications/nominations from parents/caregivers/students will be accepted.
*To check if your school is eligible, please email [email protected].
Nominations are open from 4th August – 5th September 2025. 

Hicks Trust Scholarships
Fostering better understanding of the methods involved in the further development and improvement of systems of farming through scholarships for programmes at Wintec. This round is open to students who are enrolled in a New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Level 4) with strand in Arboriculture or Amenity in 2025.
Applications are open 14 July – 8 August 2025.

Jeanne Mary Webb Charitable Trust
Applications are welcomed for the activities of the First Church of Christ Science, Christchurch, the Patricia A Fleming Fund and education within the Christian Science Church.
Applications are open 4 August – 22 August 2025.

Legacy Performing Arts Trust Palmerston North 
Representing the Evelyn Rawlins Arts Trust, Mavis & Beatrix Francis Arts Trust and the Molly Atkinson Arts Trust.
For performing arts purposes relating to dance, theatre, music or artistic performance within the City of Palmerston North.
Schools are not eligible to apply in this funding round
Applications are open 1 August 2025 – 30 September 2025.

Merton Trust
For the promotion, learning and encouragement and performance of music of a classical or light classical nature including instrumental, vocal, opera, light opera, musicals and musical theater within a radius of 10 kilometres from the Papakura District Council Chambers (now the Papakura Local Board office), 25 Coles Crescent, Papakura.
Applications are open from 4 August 2025 – 22 August 2025

New Zealand Companion Animals Trust 
Perpetual Guardian is pleased to be custodian of the New Zealand Companion Animals Trust. The Trust supports projects beneficial to the community, those that provide care and protection to companion animals and projects that directly improve companion animal welfare and urban animal management.  For more information including the types of awards available, and to apply, please visit the New Zealand Companion Animals Trust website.
Closing dates for applications are 1 February and 1 July annually.

New Zealand Nursing Fund
Scholarships to support nurses, particularly in the continuation of their training and learning. Preference will be given to nurses who:

• Are based in Wellington Central Hospitals – particularly cardiac nurses advancing their expertise in cardiac nursing OR
• Are based in the Taranaki district or Taranaki Base Hospital, studying in any capacity OR
• Have attended secondary school in Napier / Hawke’s Bay / Havelock North and preferrably undertaking a nursing qualification at the Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT).

Applications are open 4 August – 22 August 2025.

Rose Hellaby Medical Scholarship and Grants
In the fields of rheumatic disease, physical medicine and manipulative treatment:

• Scholarships for New Zealand registered medical practitioners for research and/or post-graduate training and experience overseas.
• Grants for New Zealand organisations to engage international or New Zealand medical practitioners/specialists to deliver lectures, conduct study courses and/or supervise training and/or research within New Zealand.

Applications are open year round but for the most part are considered by the Board of granting in May. If you wish to be considered in the funding round for the current year, please submit your application by 31st March. Please monitor carefully for changes as time-frames for applications may be amended.

Sinclair Cummings Trust
Postgraduate scholarships for veterinary (priority), agricultural or pastoral studies. Special consideration is given to research/endeavours aligned with high country farming.
For more information and to apply, visit the Massey University website.
Applications are open 1 August – 1 November 2025.

Celebrating 60 year anniversary in 2025:
Spencer Mason Post-Graduate Scholarship in New Zealand Law
Scholarship to support a candidate for a Masters degree or a PhD at the University of Auckland Law School. The degree being pursued must include a thesis on some aspect of New Zealand Law. Applicants must reside in the Auckland Branch Area of the New Zealand Law Society and be graduates in Law of the University of Auckland.
Applications are open year round, with an annual closing date of 31 March. Applications are reviewed in May.
Applications submitted on 1 April or after will be considered in the following year.

Celebrating 60 year anniversary in 2025:
Spencer Mason Travelling Scholarship in Law
Scholarship to support a candidate who wishes to pursue a Masters degree or a PhD at a university outside of New Zealand. Law Graduates living and working within the Auckland Branch Area of the New Zealand Law Society are invited to apply. (Graduates from all New Zealand Universities may apply).
Applications are open year round, with an annual closing date of 31 March. Applications are reviewed in May.
Applications submitted on 1 April or after will be considered in the following year.

St Joans Trust
In 2025 we welcome applications for:

• Projects focused on the care, maintenance, welfare, and rehabilitation of elderly persons.
• Initiatives that promote public awareness and engagement in improving the health and well-being of elderly persons.

Applications are open 4 August 2025 – 22 August 2025.

Stout Trust 
The Stout Trust makes grants for two charitable purposes:

1. To advance and support the preservation of natural or historic sites or amenities, for public enjoyment.
2. To advance and support the creation or preservation of works of art, including visual, audio or literary arts.

Download a copy of Stout Trust Frequently Asked Questions here.
Applications are open 7 July – 29 August 2025.

Ted and Mollie Carr Medical Travel Fund
Facilitating international travel by medical practitioners for the purposes of research and education:

• The Fund’s priority objective is to enable overseas based surgeons and medical practitioners with specialised skills to visit New Zealand for short periods to impart their skills and techniques to New Zealand medical practitioners.
• The Fund’s secondary objective is to enable specialist New Zealand medical practitioners to travel internationally for short periods to work with other medical practitioners to improve their skills and techniques. Awards for this secondary purpose are infrequent and will only be considered if the proposal demonstrates a broad impact (i.e. not just for the medical practitioner travelling).

Organisations and individuals meeting one of the above purposes may apply.
Applications are open now and are available to apply for throughout the year.
Applications are reviewed and supplied to decision makers as and when they are received, and usually not later than within three months of the submission date depending on the availability of advisory parties.

T M Hosking Charitable Trust
In 2025 we welcome applications from charitable organisations working in the Greater Auckland region that work in one (or more) of the following areas:

• Medical research into cardiac diseases
• Care of the blind.

Applications are open 4 August 2025 – 22 August 2025.

Vernon Willey Trust
The Vernon Willey Trust considers applications for research and study which will benefit the sheep and wool industry of New Zealand. Preference is shown to PhD level research and education requests. Secondary projects and special activities will also be considered.
Applications are open 7 July – 8 August 2025.