GEM Local Funding Portal
Thanks to funding from Ministry of Social Development Te Manatū Whakahiato, Connected Murihiku has partnered with Strategic Grants to provide community groups with free access to GEM Local. GEM Local (Grants Expertise Management system) is a grants database designed to help New Zealand community groups find the right grants for them.
Connected Murihiku has partnered with Strategic Grants to provide community groups with free access to GEM Local. GEM Local (Grants Expertise Management system) is a grants database designed to help New Zealand community groups find the right grants for them. This helps you with relevant grant opportunities, grant preparation tools and training. The aim is to build your capacity and increase your access to funding.
Connected Murihiku will be providing ongoing assistance for Murihiku Southland based organisations, through drop in sessions throughout the region to support use of the portal.
Who is eligible?
Any community group interested in accessing GEM Local or the monthly grants calendar can register their interest.
To access the scheme, community groups must meet ALL the following eligibility criteria:
Must be non-profit
Must have annual revenue under $1.5M
Must deliver projects that benefit the community of Southland and be located in the Southland Region*
Must not share the GEM Local access or grants data with anyone outside your organisation
Must complete a short participation survey annually
Free access is provided for 12 months, and renewal is dependent on Connected Murihiku's continued support for the scheme and your ongoing use of it.
* Applicants that are part of a national organisation will need to clearly demonstrate how their services will benefit the community in the Southland Region. Applications from national organisations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and a decision will be made by Connected Murihiku in consultation with Strategic Grants.
What if you are NOT a legal entity?
Being a legal entity (e.g. a Charitable Trust or an Incorporated Society) and a registered charity is NOT a requirement to access the scheme. However, please be aware that some funders will require this status, before you can make a funding application to them.
What are the benefits of GEM Local?
GEM Local is a grants database designed specifically to help New Zealand community organisations and small non-profits find the right grants for them.
This easy-to-use tool provides:
An always current customised grants calendar finding JUST the grants relevant to your organisation, according to what you do, where you do it and your legal status
Full access to all New Zealand grant and funder records in your personalised Grants Calendar, including trusts and foundations, corporate and community foundations, local council, government grants, gaming trusts and lottery grants
Ability to track progress of your applications including when funder reports are due
Additional email alerts on deadlines
Cloud-based software accessible from anywhere
Practical tip sheets, training videos and writing samples
Some things to think about before you register:
The registration is for your organisation - so consider who is best placed in your organisation to manage access to the portal.
Use a generic email to register for the portal so access can remain ongoing.
This access is currently secured for 12 months and will end 31 August 2026, we hope to secure ongoing funding to continue providing access.
Connected Murihiku is available to help you make the best use possible of the Portal so get in touch at any time.
To help us understand how your organisations benefit from access to GEM Local, we would love to hear about any success you have had as a result of the portal - this will help us secure ongoing funding to the portal.