# ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding)

From Otago Regional Council. Listed on naturefunding.org, a free directory of nature restoration and conservation funding where every fact is read from the funder’s own page or the organisation that runs the programme for it.

- Status, as of 2 November 2026: No call open now. The last call we found closed on 19 April 2026; check the funder’s page for the next round.
- How to apply: Apply directly
- Amount: Up to $150,000 NZD (Maximum per project depends on funding category: up to $50,000 for the general category, $50,000 to $150,000 for scaling-up biodiversity)
- Who can apply: NGOs, Community groups and Indigenous organisations
- Where: Otago: New Zealand
- Rounds: Fixed rounds with deadlines
- Co-funding required: Not found on the pages we read
- Restoration approach (our classification): Community conservation and Natural regeneration
- Last checked: 2 November 2026. Every quote below was read on or after this day.

How to apply, who can apply and where are our categories, from the funder’s words; the quotes are below.
- Listing: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/
- Funder’s programme page: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund

Summary in naturefunding.org’s own words: Annual contestable grants from Otago Regional Council for community-led projects that protect, enhance or promote the environment in Otago, including biodiversity scaling-up, weed removal and revegetation. The 2026 round has closed.

## The facts, in the funder’s words

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), how to apply:** Apply directly. When a call is open, eligible applicants apply to the funder or the organisation running the call.

> “Applications for the 2026 ECO Fund have closed”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#access

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), amount:** Up to $150,000 NZD (Maximum per project depends on funding category: up to $50,000 for the general category, $50,000 to $150,000 for scaling-up biodiversity). Maximum per project depends on funding category: up to $50,000 for the general category, $50,000 to $150,000 for scaling-up biodiversity.

> “$306,600 $50,000-$150,000 General (on-ground, education and projects enabling conservation) To protect and enhance Otago's environment. To enable community-led environmental activities. $306,600 Up to $50,000”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#amount

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), where:** Otago: New Zealand

> “Project must be located in Otago.”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund/eligibility, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#geography

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), who can apply:** NGOs, Community groups and Indigenous organisations

> “Registered charitable trusts Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Resident and ratepayer groups No Yes No Yes No Yes Unincorporated groups No Yes No Yes No Yes Iwi / hapū”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund/eligibility, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#applicant_types

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), rounds:** Fixed rounds with deadlines

> “16 March 2026: ECO Fund round opens 19 April 2026: ECO Fund round closes”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#window

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), co-funding required:** Not found on the pages we read
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#co_finance_required

## The call

### 2026 round

Call page: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), 2026 round, status:** Closed

> “Applications for the 2026 ECO Fund have closed”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#call-2026-status

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), 2026 round, opens:** 16 March 2026

> “16 March 2026: ECO Fund round opens”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#call-2026-opens

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), 2026 round, deadline:** 19 April 2026 (the funder writes “19 April 2026: ECO Fund round closes”)

> “19 April 2026: ECO Fund round closes”

Source: https://www.orc.govt.nz/environment/enhancing-and-protecting/grants-and-funding/eco-fund, checked 2 November 2026.
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#call-2026-deadline

## What the funder asks grantees to report

**ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding), reporting:** Not found on the pages we read
Cite this fact: https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/#reporting

## How to cite

naturefunding.org, “ECO Fund (Environment Community Otago Funding)”, checked 2 November 2026, https://naturefunding.org/p/otago-eco-fund/. Data CC BY 4.0. Quotes are the funder’s words; cite the funder’s page for them.

## Something wrong?

Report a problem: https://github.com/Restoration-Scope/rs-naturefunding/issues/new?title=Problem+with+ECO+Fund+%28Environment+Community+Otago+Funding%29&body=Listing%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fnaturefunding.org%2Fp%2Fotago-eco-fund%2F%0A%0AWhat+is+wrong+%28deadline%2C+amount%2C+eligibility%2C+link%E2%80%A6%29%3F%0A%0A%0AWhere+did+you+see+the+correct+information%3F+A+link+to+the+funder%E2%80%99s+own+page+helps+most.%0A&labels=listing-problem
Funders can correct their listing: https://github.com/Restoration-Scope/rs-naturefunding/issues/new?title=Funder+correction%3A+ECO+Fund+%28Environment+Community+Otago+Funding%29&body=Listing%3A+https%3A%2F%2Fnaturefunding.org%2Fp%2Fotago-eco-fund%2F%0A%0AYour+name%2C+role+and+organisation%3A%0A%0AWhat+should+change%2C+and+the+page+on+your+website+that+says+so%3A%0A%0AWe+change+a+listing+only+after+confirming+it+on+your+own+website.+Listings+can%E2%80%99t+be+bought.%0A&labels=funder-correction