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Frozen Funds Charitable Trust

Frozen Funds Logo

The purpose of the Frozen Funds Charitable Trust is to provide grants for projects run by, and for, people who use mental health or intellectual disability services.

A new funding theme is available in January of each year.

Proposed projects must be:

  • applied for by charitable organisations or by charitable organisations on behalf of individuals or groups without charitable status
  • directed by people who use, or have used, mental health or intellectual disability services
  • completed within a finite period.

Preference will be given to project proposals that would not be normally funded through government.

How to apply

There is a two-stage selection process:

  • Applicants complete an Expression of Interest form which outlines the proposed project and how it meets the current funding theme.  Expressions of interest close on 30 March each year.

  • Expressions of Interest will be assessed by the Trust Board, who will respond to all applicants after 31 May 2012, to either inform them that their Expression of Interest was not successful or to invite them to submit a Full Application. .

NOTE: Applications will not be considered if they do not directly address the theme or are received after the closing date.

History

'Frozen Funds' was the name given to the interest on patients' welfare benefits paid into psychiatric and psychopaedic hospital trust accounts in the 1970s and 80s.  The interest money was kept by the institutions to fund such things as recreational projects.

In 1987, this practice ceased and the interest money was taken from the hospitals for payment to the people who owned it.

Over half of the interest money was returned to its owners in the early 1990s.

The government then decided that the unclaimed balance of the funds should benefit people who used mental health and intellectual disability services.  A charitable trust was established.

You can view lists of grant payments made by the Trust.

Inquiries about unclaimed interest money

Substantial efforts were made to trace patients entitled to the interest money through a widespread publicity campaign.  The funds have been frozen since 1987 to ensure claimants came forward and decisions were made about the balance of the fund. 

For more information contact the

Crown Health Financing Agency,
P O Box 5358, Lambton Quay,
Wellington. Ph (04) 472 3310

Board

The Trust Board is made up of seven people, four of whom are current or former users of mental health or intellectual disability services.  Public Trust provides administration and investment services to the Board.

Current members of the Trust Board are:

Robert Martin, Wanganui (Chair)
Barney Cooper, Dunedin (Deputy Chair)
Ana Sokratov, Auckland
Arlene Foster, Tauranga
Benedict Reid, Wellington
Fran Hartnett, Auckland
Kerry Whitworth, Palmerston North 

Donating to the Frozen Funds Charitable Trust.

The Trust has Charitable Status and individuals making a donation to the Trust are able to claim a refundable tax credit for 33 1/3% of the total donations made. 

Companies or Maori Authorities may claim a tax deduction for any donations made to the Trust.

Please note that:

  • You can't claim for payroll giving donations made through your salary and wages, as you receive the tax credits at the time of your donation; and
  • No refundable tax credit or tax deduction is available to the extent it exceeds your taxable income for the year.
  • The Trusts IRD Number is 093 605 187

Donations can be made:

Online by crediting the Public Trust Account held with the BNZ, North End, Wellington
Account number 020-536-0305865-22
Include Reference no 6685404-TR-01 VR001/170 Frozen Funds Charitable Trust.

Or by cheque payable to the Frozen Funds Charitable Trust.