TG Macarthy Early Childhood Education, Care Centre & Oscar Programmes 2025

Submissions are now being accepted. Submissions close at 5:00PM 30 April 2025 (NZST).

Thomas George Macarthy Trust

Early Childhood Education, Care Centre & OSCAR Programmes 2025 Grant Round

IMPORTANT: Please read the information below to assist you in completing your application online. Applicants should carefully consider the criteria, which may be varied from time to time.

Thomas George Macarthy of Wellington, was a Brewer who died in Wellington on 19 August 1912. The Trust created by Mr Macarthy's Will, as varied by two Acts of Parliament, provides for as much of the income as the Board of Governors sees fit to be distributed among registered charitable or educational organisations operating in the old Wellington provincial district. Learn more about Thomas George Macarthy here.

The ECE Grant Round is a separate grant round. Applications are called for annually from licensed not-for-profit, community-based Early Childhood Education, Care Centres, and OSCAR programmes within the Trust region. 

Applications are open until 5 pm on 30 April 2025

Who is eligible: Under the ECE grant round, the Thomas George Macarthy Trust makes grants to licensed not-for-profit, community-based Early Childhood Education, Care Centres, and OSCAR programmes within the Trust region funding region that support projects that:

  • address health and safety hazards at the centre
  • improve a building or playground
  • assist with new or replacement equipment (including computers and play equipment).

How much funding is available? The maximum you can apply for is $2,000.

How are decisions made? All grant applications are considered by the Trustee. It is important that all details on the application form are concise and easy to read. Decisions relating to grant applications are made on the information provided in the application and other general enquiries. A grant may be approved subject to certain conditions, in such circumstances the funds will normally be held by the Trustee until the conditions have been met. The decision is final, and no further discussion will be entered into.

In what circumstances will an application not be considered?

  • Incomplete or late applications
  • Retrospective funding
  • Accountability requirements from 2024 - any applicant who received funding in 2024 that has not uploaded a receipt for the grant to the 'Smarty Grants' database will not be considered in the 2024 grant round. (Or who has not made alternative arrangements with the Trustee in this respect.)
  • Applications from individuals, sports organisations and service clubs
  • Applications not based in or supporting people within the Trust funding region

Important dates

  • Applications are open from 9 am on 1 April 2025 and closing 30 April 2025 at 5 pm
  • Applicants will be advised of the outcome by 31 May 2025. Please note this date is subject to change of which applicants will be notified prior.

Late applications will not be accepted

Contact us: Any questions should be directed to Public Trust, Charities Team by email at funding@publictrust.co.nz or by phone at 0800 371 471.

How to apply

Step 1: Determine eligibility

  • Please ensure you have read the Trust’s funding eligibility criteria on the Public Trust website.
  • If you are unsure if your organisation is eligible to apply or of the suitability of your funding request contact Public Trust, Charities Team on 0800 371 471 or funding@publictrust.co.nz.

Step 2: Register or log in to apply online

First-time users will need to register.

Hint: you will need an email address to register.  If your organisation has a ‘generic’ email (e.g. info@organisation.org) using this may allow other staff members to use the same login in future (as long as they know the password).

Your login can be used for any trust managed by Public Trust granting via SmartyGrants and can be used in future grant rounds.

Note: Please store your login details in a safe place for future reference.

Once registered, you can login to the system and start your application.

Step 3: Complete your application

The application is best viewed/completed on a non-mobile device.

Complete all of the required questions – mandatory questions are marked with an*

Attach all required supporting documents

Note: Our preferred format for attachments is PDF, Excel, Word or JPG.  Supporting materials cannot exceed 25MB in size, as files exceeding this will not upload.

Hint: Save your work regularly so it is not lost if you time out or lose your connection.

You can save your application at any stage and return to it later.

Make sure the spell checker is switched on in your browser to prevent spelling errors.

Step 4: Review and submit your application

When you are satisfied with your application press the review button to ensure that all required sections of the application have been completed (you must do this before the submit button is enabled).

Submit your application.

Note: Once you have submitted your application no further editing or uploading of supporting documents is possible.

Step 5: What happens next?

You will receive an automated email confirming your submission with a copy of your application attached and information about how/when your application will be assessed.  This will be sent to the email you used to register.

If you do not receive a confirmation email then your application has not been successfully submitted (don’t forget to check your spam email folder when looking for the email).

We will contact you if we require any further information to consider your application.

We will contact you to notify of the decision being either successful or unsuccessful.

If you need more help using this form, download the help guide for applicants or check out applicant frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

If you have any technical difficulties using the online SmartyGrants portal email service@smartygrants.com.au