Application Process
Biannual Funding Grants:
Applications are invited twice a year,
with deadlines of 31 May and
31 October
Each year, the Foundation aims to distribute a discreet number of project grants, ranging between $5,000 and $20,000, to projects that have the potential to deliver against one or more of the following priority areas:
Developing a sustainable platform that grows awareness and readership of books and writers from Aotearoa New Zealand
Increasing engagement with children’s literature from Aotearoa New Zealand
Building access to and knowledge of Aotearoa New Zealand’s literary legacy
Submitting an Application
The Foundation will only acknowledge applications submitted via the online application form.
Each application must be accompanied by a full project budget. Please use this template to compile your budget and upload it with your application.
Successful and unsuccessful submissions will be notified within 6 weeks of the funding cut-off dates.
Any agreed funding will be subject to a commitment to appropriate funder attribution, case-study representation on our website and post-project reporting.
PLEASE NOTE: the Foundation does NOT fund the creation, publication or promotion of individual books or anthologies.
Before applying, please scroll down to read the full list of application criteria, exclusions and FAQ’s.
Grant Funding Criteria
Successful projects will:
Deliver to at least one of our funding priorities (i.e. sustainable platform, children’s literature, or legacy projects) and relate to NZ fiction, non-fiction, or poetry.
Directly benefit readers, writers or practitioners from Aotearoa New Zealand
Have sufficient scale to impact the growth and development of Aotearoa New Zealand’s literary landscape
Be a new initiative or expand an existing programme
Have clearly identified, achievable and measurable outcomes
The project owner must:
Be a New Zealand resident or citizen and be resident in New Zealand for the duration of the project
Have a track record of experience and capability in delivering projects (as demonstrated by peer or expert recognition, practical experience, and measurable outcomes)
Exclusions
The Foundation will NOT fund:
The creation, publication, or promotion of
individual books or anthologiesProjects which relate to screenwriting (for plays,
films or TV) or are performance-based in natureAn existing (i.e. business as usual) project, or event
Ancillary project costs, including catering
expenses or international travel
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Foundation provide support for individual writing projects?
The Foundation will not fund the writing, publishing or promotion of individual titles.
How much information should I include in my project budget?
The more specific the budget, the better. You can also include line items for which you're seeking (or have received) funding elsewhere so that we can see the full scope of your picture.
Will the Foundation support local projects that involve overseas writers?
The Foundation’s kaupapa is to support New Zealand writers, but the inclusion of international writers alongside will not necessarily exclude the project from support.
Will the Foundation support promotional activities for writers?
The Foundation does not exclude funding in this area, and all proposals will be considered on their merits and their ability to deliver against our long-term objectives as outlined above.
Will the Foundation support literature-related projects from submitters who have no prior track record of literary sector funding or projects
Whilst the Foundation anticipates that most successful projects will be driven by people with demonstrated sector success, it is open to projects from newcomers where those projects are robust, compelling and deliver broad benefits.
Can I ask for more than $5,000 - $20,000?
No. Whilst in exceptional circumstances, and when assessing budgets, the Foundation may choose to offer more than this maximum, this will be entirely at the Foundation’s discretion, and initial applications should be realistically pitched at the stated level.
If I submit an application, when can I expect to hear back from the Foundation?
All submissions will be acknowledged as received, and both successful and unsuccessful submissions will be notified within six weeks of the closing date.
Can I get feedback on why I have not been successful?
All decisions are at the discretion of the Foundation, and feedback will not be provided except where the Foundation considers it merited. Please note that the Foundation will need to weigh up a variety of factors in making its decisions, including the availability of funds, so failure to progress does not imply that the project is not recognised as valuable.
If I am unsuccessful, can I re-submit the same project again?
Whilst you are welcome to re-submit, we would encourage you to present new projects in future rounds as it is likely that unsuccessful but strong projects will generate feedback when first presented.
Can I submit more than one project?
You may submit as many projects as meet the criteria.
How can I see what projects have been supported?
Supported projects are featured on our projects page once approved for funding.
How can I support the Foundation’s work?
The Foundation welcomes bequests which will enable it to build capital reserves and strengthen its funding capability. For further information, please contact us on info@matatuhifoundation.co.nz