Sports Event Partnership Fund 2025-2027

The Sports Event Partnership Fund (SEPF or "The Fund") is a fund administered by Sport Manawatū on behalf of the Palmerston North City Council, and it is governed by PNCC's Support and Funding Policy 2022

The purpose of the SEPF is to support operational costs for sports events hosted in Palmerston North.

The SEPF Committee will ensure that grant applications are for sporting or active recreation events.

Grant applications will be assessed against four main priorities that will influence the funding decision:

• To attract and retain events that drive a significant economic benefit to the city and region (i.e., events that attract 200+ visitors to the region who stay at least one night).
• To attract and retain national secondary school events to the city and region.
• To attract events that are of significant national and/or international importance, and positively profile the region
• To support events that enhance community connectedness and health, with a further focus on new events and events that have the potential for growth. The event must be available to large parts of the community and  encourage people to get more active, more often.

Funding Exclusions

Predominantly the fund is used to cover:

• Facility costs
• Venue hire
• Administration costs
• First aid costs
• Officials, referees, score bench, and umpire costs

The following items will not be funded:

• Grants to non-affiliated social sports clubs or teams, including those playing in corporate leagues
• Trade tournaments or sporting events staged primarily for commercial publicity and/or the benefit of a select industry group
• Affiliation fees, individual or team memberships, and subscriptions
• Dress uniforms, footwear, training uniforms, personal gear bags, and souvenir t-shirts
• Laundry costs, commercial gym fees, and major medical costs
• Prizes, including medals, trophies or cash prizes
• Grants to any sports facility run for commercial profit, such as 10 pin bowling centres, billiard parlours, 'country clubs' for golf, or clubs with closed memberships
• Trips for supporters and spectators, or after-match functions
• Privately owned organisations or ventures for personal gain
• Events that are principally social in nature (e.g. after-match functions, parties, and balls)
• Provision and maintenance of facilities set up to provide social activities
• The purchase of alcohol, drinks, food, and refreshments