News and Stories
Read the latest pānui about grant rounds and funded projects.
10 Apr, 2025
Spectrum Foundation invests over $580,000 in disability-led projects
Spectrum Foundation is proud to award funding to nine disability support organisations in its latest – and largest – funding round to date. This milestone brings Spectrum Foundation’s total funding since its first distribution in 2023 to $2.2 million.
Funding panel spokesperson Ann Thomson says this outcome reflects the increased demand following recent changes to government-funded disability supports.
“Disabled people, their whānau and support organisations across the country have had a difficult time over the past year or so. We’re therefore pleased to support organisations that are working to change the landscape of disability support in this funding round.”
The funded organisations are:
Taimahi Trust – renewed funding to provide job training opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities in Whangārei.
Xabilities – to empower neurodiverse individuals to embrace their strengths and shift from surviving to thriving through online sessions and interactive Facebook discussions.
Thrive Whanganui Trust – to provide entrepreneurship, mentorship and training for people with disabilities in Whanganui and the surrounding regions.
Ember Innovations – to codesign innovative and community-based solutions to address the growth of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Substance Exposed Pregnancies in Northland, potentially leading to national system change.
TalkLink Trust (Tua o te pae) – to support the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori by providing tāngata whaikaha Māori who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication with bilingual Te Reo Māori/New Zealand English synthetic voices on speech-generating devices.
The D*List – renewed funding to promote and champion disabled culture and voices in Aotearoa through articles and content at www.thedlist.co.nz.
Disability Connect – to support disabled individuals navigating Auckland’s challenging housing market and addressing systemic barriers.
Access Matters Aotearoa Trust – to support a campaigning initiative that advocates for social change to promote inclusive practices across various sectors of society.
Parent to Parent – renewed funding for Parent to Parent to deliver ‘Beyond School: Planning to Thrive and Connect’ workshops for parents whose disabled children are finishing school.
Spectrum Group Chief Executive Sean Stowers says this funding round reflects the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting the self-determination of disabled people.
“As a disabled-led funder we support organisations and initiatives that focus on the self-determination of disabled people. One of our initial selection criteria is to what extent the applicant organisation takes a disabled-led approach. All the projects funded in this round will impact the self-determination of disabled people – directly and indirectly over time. In this way, we hope to support disabled leadership, voice and control through our funding.”
Spectrum Foundation’s next funding round opens in June, with successful applicants announced in September.
16 Oct, 2023
Spectrum Foundation funds over $200,000 worth of disability projects
Spectrum Foundation is delighted to confirm the distribution of over $200,000 of funding to seven community organisations, supporting disabled people and their whānau from across Aotearoa New Zealand.
It’s the first time the Spectrum Foundation has had an open funding round and CEO Sean Stowers is excited to see the difference the initiatives will make.
“As a large organisation working in the disability space, we know there’s significant need out there in the community. We feel one of the best ways to meet that need is by supporting people doing mahi ‘at the coalface’. By helping those people and projects access the funds they need, we’re confident they’ll make an even bigger impact,” he says.
A previous closed funding round saw funds allocated to Autism New Zealand, Parent to Parent, The D*List, and Spectrum Care’s ‘Gig Buddies’ programme.
The first open funding round reaffirms Spectrum Foundation’s vision to provide up to $1 million annually to projects and initiatives in the disability space.
“We were delighted to receive many great applications. It’s truly humbling to support some of the wonderful work people are doing,” says Stowers.
Stowers also acknowledged the work of Spectrum Foundation’s funding panel, which approve projects before they go to the Board for final sign off. The funding panel is composed entirely of people with lived experience of disability.
“The panel’s combined unique lived experience provides valuable insight into needs within the community and how projects will make a difference for disabled people. People like us,” says Ann Thomson, one of six panel members.
Image: Spectrum Foundation’s Funding panel (left to right): Seth Killick, Ann Thompson, Maurice Flynn, Natt McLean.