Environmental Leaders Fund

The 2026 Environmental Leaders Fund applications have closed.

The Environmental Leaders Fund (ELF) aims to support Northland schools, early childhood centres and homeschool groups with projects that increase their students' knowledge and passion for the environment. As we respond and adapt to a changing climate, these projects will help to build climate resilience in our schools and surrounding communities.

Applications can be made online from 8am Monday 20 July – 11:30pm Sunday 4 October 2026.

Complete the ELF application form

When completing the application form, you'll need to have:

  • details of your project
  • breakdown of the funding requested
  • answers to the criteria questions.

Please see the ‘entry criteria’ (PDF 405 KB) document for more details.

The Environmental Leader's Fund has a focus on climate action. We are looking for applications for projects that fall into one or more of the following categories:

  • Educating climate and environmental champions
  • Using sustainable transport
  • Protecting native life
  • Rethinking waste
  • Protecting and preserving water
  • Growing kai

If you're interested in funding and support for traps and pest control in your school, centre or homeschool group, please contact our Education team directly - E: education@nrc.govt.nz or P: 0800 002 004 as funding for traps isn’t included in ELF.

We have limited funding available, so we cannot guarantee all applications will be successful.

We have a limit of $3,000 (GST Inclusive) available per project, with a total budget of $35, 000 for the Environmental Leaders Fund.

Each project must fit into one of the six categories to be considered for funding. The aim is to have an even spread of funding across the six categories. The Growing Kai and Rethinking Waste categories have been oversubscribed in previous funding rounds. To improve your chances of receiving funding, we encourage you to consider applying in one of the other categories.

Please see the ‘entry criteria’ document with detailed information on the judging criteria.

No, only one application will be accepted per school / centre / home school group.

No, we encourage you to work with community groups in your local area.

Applicants will be advised of funding decisions in November 2026. Funding will be processed on receipt of an official invoice, which must be from the school/centre/homeschool group awarded the funding.

We require a project completion report from all successful projects by 31 December 2027.

  • 20 July 2026
    Applications open.
  • 04 October 2026
    Applications close.
  • November 2026
    Notify applicants of outcomes. Invoices received from successful school.
  • December 2027
    Project completion.
  • 31 December 2027
    Report received documenting project.

You will need to provide photo evidence of the completed project. We will also provide a questionnaire for you to complete with information about the project. 

If your school, centre, or homeschool group received Environmental Leaders Fund (ELF) funding in 2025, you are required to submit a project completion report.

  • Recipients of the fund must submit a project completion report by 31 December 2026. The report must include photos of the completed project.

Recipients who have not submitted their project completion report are not be eligible for future ELF funding until reporting requirements have been met.

Contact:
The Environmental Leaders Fund Team
E: elf@nrc.govt.nz | P: 0800 002 004

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