Congratulations to the 2026 community fund recipients!
Thank you so much to everyone around the motu who applied for this year’s Sorted Money Month community fund. We received so many outstanding applications but had to narrow it down to 11 recipients, who have each been awarded a share of $5,000 to support their local community with financial wellbeing events and initiatives throughout August.
Here’s what this year’s recipients are planning:
Tofuola Hub: Pacific Youth Emergency Savings Challenge
An interactive workshop for 40–50 Pacific young people aged 12–24 focused on budgeting, saving and building financial confidence. Participants will set personal savings goals and take part in a 30-day emergency savings challenge, helping them take practical steps to strengthen their financial wellbeing and share those learnings with their whānau.
Vaine Mo‘onia Methodist Tonga Church: Fanongo ki he Ui (Hear the Call)
An emergency savings event for young Pacific families, run by the church’s Young Parents Ministry. The gathering will include shared kai, a practical budgeting workshop and take-home resources, with each household receiving a challenge pack to help them begin a 30-day emergency savings challenge.
Ngā Tangata Microfinance and Henderson Budget Service: Together for Our Community – Get Help. Get Sorted
A collaborative community event delivered by Ngā Tangata Microfinance and Henderson Budget Service for the Sunnyvale community bringing financial mentors, budgeting services, community gardeners and local service providers together in one welcoming space. Inspired by the whakataukī, He kākano ahau i ruia mai i Rangiātea/Small seeds today create future abundance, the event will help whānau build confidence with money, connect with local support services and explore practical steps towards greater financial stability, including building an emergency savings buffer. A Kids Corner will ensure families can participate comfortably while learning how small actions today can help create a more secure financial future.
Kainga Aroha Community House: Mid-Winter Community Dinner
A special community dinner in Te Awamutu, partnering with the town’s Monday night community meal. The event will share Sorted Money Month resources and create space for conversations about emergency savings, with kai, an interactive session and prizes to help people pick up practical tips for managing money through the colder months.
Mai Lighthouse: Learning to Cook Within a Budget
A four-week cooking class programme helping whānau build confidence with affordable home cooking. Designed in response to financial mentors seeing clients rely on takeaways instead of cooking at home, the programme will share practical meal ideas to help participants save on food costs and make room for emergency savings.
Birthright Hawke’s Bay: Focus on Food to Focus on Saving – Cook and Save!
A cooking demonstration for community members focused on cost-effective ingredients, building a back-up pantry and making food go further. The session will also include information on emergency savings and preparing for unexpected costs, helping participants connect everyday food savings with longer-term financial resilience.
The Salvation Army Manukau Community Ministries: Youth Money Minded
A four-session life skills programme for young people aged 17–25 in South Auckland. The programme will cover budgeting, needs versus wants, and smart money habits, with access to ongoing one-to-one financial mentoring to help participants build confidence and reduce debt pressures.
Hamilton City Libraries: Kirikiriroa Gets Sorted
A month of free financial literacy events across Hamilton City Libraries. Workshops and drop-in sessions delivered with ASB advisors and Hamilton Budget Advisory Trust will give community members access to practical money support in trusted, welcoming library spaces.
Noaia Charitable Trust: Built for Rainy Days
An interactive financial wellbeing game for rangatahi and community members in the Christchurch region. Through a real-life money simulation, participants will earn income, manage expenses and respond to unexpected bills, showing how emergency savings can reduce stress and help avoid debt.
Weave Hawke’s Bay: Money Mates Workshop
An interactive workshop delivered in partnership with Salvation Army Hastings, supporting up to 20 whānau to learn about budgeting, debt management and local support services. The session will create a practical, supportive space to build financial resilience for families in Hawke’s Bay.