How to Create and Manage Funding Requests

Funding Requests allow you to specify exactly what funding you're seeking and why. Think of them as a project overview that our system uses to find matching opportunities. You can add as many funding requests as you like.

Creating and managing your requests

Step 1: Navigate to the Find Funding page

Click Find Funding in the main navigation menu.

Step 2: Click the 'Add A Funding Request' button

This opens the Funding Request creation form.

If you aren't sure what project to start with, you can use the Funding Ideas Generator, by clicking 'Help me create a request'. See information on how to use this feature further down this page.

Step 3: Complete the required fields

Tip: Voice Input Available! In the Funding Request text fields you will see a microphone icon.

How it works: Click the microphone to record your input instead of typing. Your recording will be transcribed to fill in the field for you.
Best practices: For best results, speak clearly and close to your microphone. Recording will automatically stop after 5 minutes.

Title

Give your request a clear, descriptive name. This name is your internal reference only, it doesn’t get added into your application.

Amount needed

The minimum amount of funding you would accept from one funder
The full amount you need for the funding request

Location(s)

Locations are the first thing we filter on, so they decide which opportunities this request is eligible to match with at all.

Untick use my organisation's locations to choose locations specific to where the funding will be used
Select the region(s) that apply. Each region includes every district inside it by default. Untick a district to remove it entirely, or click Refine to narrow it down to specific suburbs where this funding request does not apply. Use Select all or Clear all if every area applies, or none do, and Collapse once you've finished reviewing.
Some locations are grouped because they are commonly used areas made up of multiple places. For example, Auckland is shown as area groups such as Central Auckland, North Shore, West Auckland, East Auckland, South Auckland, Rodney, Franklin (Auckland), Hibiscus Coast, and Hauraki Gulf Islands. You can select a group, then refine it if only part of that area applies.
If a location shows a Refined tag, it means only some of the areas inside that location are selected.
If this request is specifically for operational, salary, or community-focused funding, refine down to your own suburb or city, even if your organisation's broader work extends further.

Funding filters

The system defaults to using the funding filter settings from the Organisation Details tab, which can be found by clicking on 'Manage Organisation' at the right hand side of the main navigation. To change the filters for just this Funding Request, use the filters provided in the Funding Request form.

Description

Provide a comprehensive explanation in the fields provided. Be sure to cover:

What is the funding for?
What problem does it solve or needs does it address?
What impact or change will this create for your community or your organisation?
Who benefits from this work/mahi?
Anything else you think is important for funders to know (optional)

If you already have this information documented, use the Supporting Documents function below. Here you can upload documents and websites that support this Funding Request.

Supporting documents

If you have resources specific to this funding request, you have the option to upload them here. Examples may be previous funding requests or accountability reports from similar initiatives your organisation has previously delivered. Add the file or website, then upload it. Anything still staged and not uploaded won't be included when you find matches — we'll warn you if you start a scan with something waiting. If an upload fails, we'll tell you why, including the file's size if it's too large.

Step 4: Save your request

Click "Save & Continue" to finalise your Funding Request.

Step 5: Edit or archive

From the main Find Funding page, you can view your funding request details by clicking edit/view. Click the edit button to update any aspect of your request as circumstances change or archive it if it's no longer relevant.

If you edit a request that has already been scanned, its existing results no longer reflect what you changed. The button next to it becomes 'Re-find Matches' — click it to run a fresh scan.

To retrieve archived requests, toggle the 'show archived" option under the funding request title.

Use the Funding Ideas Generator

If you aren't sure what project to start with, you can use the Funding Ideas Generator — the 'Help me create a request' button on the Find Funding page. Instead of drafting a request from scratch, our AI-powered assistant helps you identify the most fundable opportunities for your organisation.

Monthly and quarterly subscribers get one session every 30 days. If you've used yours, we'll tell you how many days are left before the next one. Annual subscribers have unlimited sessions.

Step 1: Start the Generator

On the Find Funding page, click the button labeled 'Help me create a request' located next to the standard Add A Funding Request button.

Step 2: Explore Potential

A panel will open to help you explore what your organisation could get funded for. Click "Show me ideas" to see suggestions.

Step 3: Select an Idea

Based on your Organisation Profile, the system will rank ideas by funding potential, ranging from close matches to new directions. Pick an idea that interests you to develop it further.

Step 4: Refine the Concept

Tell the system what excites you about the chosen idea in the provided text box, then click 'Develop this idea'. While free trial and monthly/quarterly users can use this tool once every 30 days, annual subscribers have unlimited sessions to constantly align their mission with new funding.

Step 5: Review and Save

Fundsorter will generate a draft Funding Request tightly aligned with specific funding opportunities. Review the draft for accuracy and completeness, then follow the standard process to save and scan for matches.

Tips for an effective request

Use AI to jumpstart your request

If you aren't sure what project to start with, use the Funding Ideas Generator — the 'Help me create a request' button. This tool identifies the most fundable opportunities for your organisation and drafts a request tightly aligned to those specific matches.

Address the key questions

Be sure to provide detailed answers for all question fields, explaining clearly what the funding is for, why it matters, what impact it will have, and who will benefit.

Be specific

Clear, detailed requests lead to better funding matches.

Create separate requests

If you have multiple distinct funding needs, create separate requests for each.

Update regularly

Keep your requests current. Remember to re-find matches after an edit so your results reflect the change.