SilverChef Community Grants Program

Each quarter we invite eligible community groups — specifically those who use hospitality to support disadvantaged and under-served communities — to apply for grants of $5,000 each.

Over more than three decades, SilverChef’s equipment finance has helped tens of thousands of hospitality owners and operators achieve their dreams.

Nearly half our customers are ‘financially under-served’ —they don’t qualify for loans from traditional lenders (e.g. banks). Without our support, they may not have been able to start or grow their business.

Through the SilverChef Community Grants Program, we also indirectly support disadvantaged and under-served communities who struggle to get fair and equitable access to community services and support.

We do this by providing $5,000 grants to community organisations that use hospitality and food services to train, empower and/or support underprivileged communities. If your organisation fits one or more of these criteria, we invite you to apply for a grant today. 

Who's eligible?

The SilverChef Community Grants Program is open to eligible New Zealand community groups that use hospitality or food services to help disadvantaged or under-served members of their local community.

These groups can include:

  • Registered charities or not-for-profits
  • Social enterprises (direct-benefit, cross-subsidy or donation model)
  • Māori organisation (a registered charity or business which uses more than 50% of its time and/or resources to improve the lives of Indigenous peoples, e.g. a marae)

Please note that due to the high number of applications received, our assessment committee assigns lower priority to applicants with existing funding, including government subsidies or grants.

What can the grant be used for?
Each $5,000 grant is a 75:25 mix of equipment and cash, as follows:


Equipment

The majority of the grant is provided in the form of credit to spend on Certified Used commercial kitchen equipment advertised on SilverChef’s website. Of the total grant value of $5,000, a minimum of $3,750 (75%) must be redeemed against equipment.


Cash

Once the grant recipient has selected their equipment, they can have the outstanding portion of the grant in cash, up to a maximum of $1,250. This can be used to help towards the cost of freight, installation and raw materials (e.g. coffee beans).

When can I apply?

Each quarter we award four grants of $5,000 each. The four funding rounds occur as follows:

Round
Applications open
Applications close
1
1 July
30 September
2
1 October
31 December
3
1 January
31 March
4


1 April


30 June




Apply now

To apply for a grant, please go to the link below, complete and submit the application form to us.



What next?

After you submit your grant application, we’ll assess it against our selection criteria, including how your initiative will positively impact your local community.

If your application is successful, we’ll contact you within one month of applications closing (see table above). Unsuccessful applicants will not be contacted.

We’ll then give you expert advice so you can select the Certified Used equipment best suited to your organisation’s needs.

 You’ll have 12 months to redeem your grant (from the time we notify you that your application was successful).

About Certified Used equipment

Our range of used hospitality equipment — New Zealand’s largest — helps our customers’ budgets go further by allowing them to get the best brands for lower prices.

This mostly ex-rental equipment comes from businesses we know and trust, is typically less than two-and-a-half years old, has been fully refurbished, and is backed by a three-month warranty.

Note that not all the equipment on our website is available through the grants program; we’ll advise you which items are available.

Read more about Certified Used equipment

Balancing purpose and profit

SilverChef is a certified ‘B Corporation’ — a new kind of business that balances purpose and profit.

As a B Corp, we believe in using business as a force for good to reduce inequality and poverty; and create a healthier environment, stronger communities and high-quality jobs that provide dignity and purpose.

The SilverChef Community Grants Program is just one example of the things we do to support our local communities.

Read more about SilverChef’s purpose

Frequently asked questions

How often can I apply for a grant?

Eligible applicants can apply for a SilverChef Community Grant once per financial year.

If your application is unsuccessful, it’ll automatically be reconsidered in the subsequent funding rounds in the same financial year, unless you tell us otherwise. 


When can I expect a decision on my grant application?

Successful applicants will be notified within one month of applications closing (see table above)


Do you notify unsuccessful applicants?

Unfortunately, given the volume of applications we receive, we aren’t able to notify unsuccessful applicants. However, we will reply to let you know your application has been received. All successful applicants will be contacted by email within one month of the closing date of the current round of grants. 


How many grants do you award?

SilverChef awards four grants of $5,000 per quarter — an annual total of 16 grants adding up to $80,000. 


Can I receive more than one grant per year?

No — there’s a limit of one grant per organisation per financial year.