Application guidelines
* Apply on line or download application forms in PDF format
Who May Apply?
Applications will be considered from institutions, organisations and individuals, for projects or research falling within the objectives of the Foundation's Trust Deed.
Grants made must be used for charitable purposes within New Zealand.
The Foundation considers Research Grants separately from the rest of its General Grants programme. The Application Process that follows sets out the procedure for both types of grant.
Applications for grants can be made at any time throughout the year except for applications for conference funding, which are dealt with once a year. Refer to the policy on conference funding.
The Application Process
General Grants
All projects other than research projects are considered to be general grants.
Application Deadlines
The Foundation's Board meets four times a year to consider applications under the General Grants programme.
Applications will be received at any time throughout the year and on receipt, applicants will be advised of the likely timeframe for a decision to be reached. As a guide, applicants should assume that decisions will be made approximately two months after receipt of the application by the Foundation. However, applications received after 31 October are unlikely to be processed until the New Year and a decision is not likely until late March in the following year.
Research Grants
All applications that have a research component must follow the procedures set out below.
It is assumed that the majority of these applications will come from tertiary institutions and they will need to have the application cover sheet or the application document signed by an authorised official on behalf of the applicant or host institution. In the case of applications received through Universities or like institutions, applications must be authorised by the Vice Chancellor (Research) (or equivalent).
Application Deadlines
The Foundation will accept applications for Research Grants at any time during the year. Applications must be submitted in abstract form in the first instance.
The abstract must be no longer than four A4 pages and be accompanied by the Cover Sheet on the form provided at the end of this document. Particulars required in the abstract are set out below.
The Foundation's Board meets four times a year to consider applications under the Research Grants programme. On receipt, applicants will be advised of the likely timeframe for a decision to be reached. As a guide, applicants should assume that decisions will be made approximately two months after receipt of the application by the Foundation. However, applications received after 31 October are unlikely to be processed until the New Year and a decision is not likely until late March in the following year.
Successful applications at this preliminary stage will be shortlisted for final consideration and applicants will then be asked to submit a full proposal. Applicants will need to answer any specific questions that the trustees consider they require more detail on. They will also be advised as to whether they will be required to attend in person to present their application at the time it is receiving its final consideration.
Format Of Abstract for Research Applications
Applicants should have regard to the General Information section below regarding application content when preparing their abstract.
Abstracts should be a maximum of four A4 pages in length and should cover:
1. Brief outline of the project and methodology
2. Details of the Principal Researchers and other team members showing clearly that they have the ability/experience to undertake this research
3. Budget overview (exclude capital items as NZLF does not fund these)
4. Overview of proposed dissemination/publication of results
5. Justification for the project
6. Details of overall support for the project
7. Letters in support or in reference for the project can be attached.
Applications for conference Funding
General Points
The intent and purpose of the conference must fit the objectives of the Foundation Trust Deed.
General conference costs will not be funded and Foundation grants will be targeted at specific aspects of the conference. Funding will be available at the discretion of the Trustees for support of components such as costs of keynote sessions, costs of keynote speakers and other important speakers (such as travel and accommodation costs), student attendance, dissemination of conference proceedings or information arising from the conference.
There will be no underwriting of conferences.
Application Process for Conference Funding Applications
Applications for conference funding will be dealt with as a separate activity once a year.
Applications will be received up to 31 October each year for ALL conferences to be held in the following year. Late applications will not be accepted. These applications will be considered in the last meeting of the year and applicants will be advised of the decision by mid December.
Universities or like institutions with multiple applications must prioritise their applications if they have multiple applications to present. These must be prioritised and authorised by the Dean of the Law Faculty, or if various faculties are involved, then by the Vice Chancellor (Research) (or equivalent).
If Foundation Trustees believe that a conference should be able to be self-funding then it will not attract support.
Applicants will get one opportunity for their application and must put forward all relevant data, with clear details of what aspects of the conference the grant is being asked to support.
The application process that applies for General Grant applications must be followed, but in addition, applications for conference funding must include justification for the conference, anticipated outcomes/benefits from the conference, full details of the conference programme, speakers, likely numbers and profiles of attendees, a full budget including attendance fees to be charged, and information about how the conference will be marketed and the proceedings disseminated/published and anticipated costs of this.
Applications must include details of how the Foundation's support will be acknowledged prior to, during and after the conference.
There will be no deferred applications. Trustees will process applications on the information provided.
General Information for All Applications
Format of Applications - All Grants
One copy only of each application is required. This must be submitted typed on A4 paper, single-sided and unbound, together with a completed Grant Application Cover Sheet. Applicants should use the Cover Sheet at the back of this document for this purpose.
Applications will be accepted by email and should be sent to inquiries@lawfoundation.org.nz. Cover sheets can be downloaded from the website, scanned and emailed, or alternately posted or faxed separately from the emailed application. Applicants must indicate in their covering email when the cover sheet will arrive. It is quite acceptable for these cover sheets to be neatly handwritten.
Where applicants wish to apply for grants in respect of more than one project, a separate application must be submitted for each project.
Where To Send Applications
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation's Director informally to discuss preliminary ideas before submitting proposals.
Applications and inquiries should be addressed to the Director, Lynda Hagen. Contact details for the New Zealand Law Foundation are:
* Download application forms in PDF format
* Level 1, 70 The Terrace, PO Box 5056, Wellington 6145
* Phone: +64 4 499-1037 Fax: +64 4 499-1039
* Email: inquiries@lawfoundation.org.nz
