Charitable Trust

The Dunedin Casinos Charitable Community Trust invites applications for grants from charitable organisations in the Dunedin and Otago region in November and May each year.

The objective of the Dunedin Casinos Charitable Community Trust is to assist charitable organisations in:

The relief of poverty
The advancement of education
The advancement of religion
The advancement of sports for the benefit of the wider community
Or any other charitable purpose deemed beneficial to the community by the Trustees

In order to meet the criteria, your organisation must be registered with the Charities Commission and be able to provide your registration number on the application form.

As a general rule, the Dunedin Casinos Charitable Community Trust is unable to make grants to individuals, for travel, for salaries and other administration costs.

The Dunedin Casinos Charitable Community Trust invites applications for grants from charitable organisations in the Dunedin and Otago region twice a year.

The May funding round is for a one-off large grant (in the vicinity of $50,000) followed by the scatter grant for several organisations in November.

Applications for donations are called for in April for the May funding round and October for the November funding round.

How to apply for funding from the Trust?

May Funding Round

The Dunedin Casino Charitable Community Trust funding round is open with applications closing on 05 June 2026. Please click here for the application form. If you require any further details in regards to applying for a grant, information can be obtained by contacting charitablegrants@grandcasino.co.nz

This funding round is for major projects (project funding, not operating costs) with a significant process around applications. Supporting documents are to be limited so that the complete application is 20 pages maximum.

November Funding Round

This is the scatter grant where several organisations will be allocated smaller grants. Applications for donations must be made on the Trust's standard application form.

Charitable Trustees are appointed to assist the administration trustee in setting donations criteria and to decide on the allocation of donations.

If you require any further details in regards to applying for a grant, information can be obtained by contacting charitablegrants@grandcasino.co.nz

Application form: Dunedin-Casino-Community-Charitable-Trust-Application-Form-DEC-2026.pdf

Trustees

Geoff Thomas

Geoff practiced law from Dunedin for more than 40 years. During his years as a lawyer and after his retirement he has been widely involved in the community. He has Chaired two School Parents Associations , a Service Club , Otago Youth Employment Trust , awarded Life membership of Age Concern Otago , served as President of The Dunedin Club , named as Distinguished Fellow of The Institute of Directors New Zealand and inducted to the Kings High School Wall of Fame.

Geoff was a Founding Director of Dunedin Casino Limited and served as a director of that Company for 28 years. He has been a director of other companies and organizations including Royal New Zealand Ballet ,

Dunedin Fashion Incubator , Dunedin Railways Limited , Dunedin International Airport Limited and others.

With this background Geoff has an in-depth understanding of the community environment and its needs.

Phil Williams

Phil has extensive governance, business and community leadership experience developed over more than 40 years. He spent 25 years as South Island Manager for the Forestry Industry Training Organisation, leading regional training and workplace health and safety programmes. Earlier in his career, he established and operated a timber preservation business in South Otago for 12 years.

Phil has served as a Board Member of Gallop South, which provides governance oversight for nine thoroughbred racing clubs across Otago and Southland. He was also appointed to the Board of the Forbury Park Trotting Club, supporting the Club through the sale of its assets, settlement negotiations with Harness Racing New Zealand and matters relating to the distribution of sale proceeds.

His longstanding community involvement includes 20 years on the Beaumont Racing Club committee, with 12 years as President, as well as committee service with the Waikouaiti Racing Club, Celtic Rugby Club and Green Island Rugby Club. At Green Island Rugby Club, Phil led a fundraising initiative to purchase four rugby fields following the Abbotsford slip.

With this background, Phil brings strong practical experience in governance, stewardship, risk oversight and stakeholder management. He has a working understanding of trustees’ duties under the Trusts Act 2019 and is committed to acting honestly, transparently and in the best interests of the Trust and the community it serves.