Making a difference for our communities

How does it work?

We are a large organisation, but what we do is about much more than us. The communities we serve are top of mind in what we do as overt cheerleaders for the city, region and South Island.

When we support an organisation, event or group, we look for direct benefit to its community members.

Our Community Fund is focused on:

• sustainability – looking after our place (we're considered world class in our sustainability endeavours and successes),
• safety and wellbeing – looking after our communities, and
• innovation – we're not scared to think ‘out of the box’ about something and make a plan to deliver it.

When we assess applications, we look for reflection of the three focus points above. We don’t simply fund running costs or wages, but want to make things happen which make a difference in one of these three areas.

The Community Fund is a combination of Christchurch Airport’s financial contribution and donations collected in wishing wells around the airport. Sometimes we convert a dozen or more currencies!

Please note it would be rare to offer a donation to an organisation which has received one within the previous five years.

Applications closed

Applications for the last round closed at midday 6 March 2025 and are now being considered. Community Fund recipients will be announced here as soon as possible, as will dates for the next round.

How to apply for future funding rounds

No dates have been set yet for applications for 2025/26 to be received or considered – please check back here again towards the end of April.

Our latest recipients

The latest round of applications for our Community Fund inspired us with their examples of wonderful community conscience and projects, alongside volunteer work to benefit others.

After much deliberation, the following recipients have been chosen:

• Addington Farm transforming unproductive backyards into a community of gardens and gardeners.
• Dallington Community Garden to fund irrigation fitting, fertilisers and seeds for their expanding community garden.
• Glass Ceiling Arts Collective working on inclusive and accessible youth theatre and preparing for an upcoming production of Alice in Wonderland.
• Hoa Motuhake to help at-risk children take part in community sports programmes.
• Lyttel Sew and Sew to turn more repaired fabric away from landfill and into usable items for community members.
• Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust to support an art show for tenants of social housing.
• Recovered Living NZ Charitable Trust to buy furniture for clients going through live-in treatment programmes for eating disorders.
• Richmond Community Garden for the Riverlution Precious Plastic Project which repurposes unrecyclable plastics into products such as plant pots.
• The Commuting Book to create location-linked digital story experiences about Christchurch around the city.