Proceeds of Crime Fund: Guidance for community groups and NGOs

Overview

The next funding round for the Proceeds of Crime Fund (Ministry of Justice) opens on 30 March 2026. The Fund supports short-term initiatives that reduce violent crime, directly contributing to Government target 4. The Fund is administered by the Ministry of Justice, but only eligible agencies (of which the Ministry of Health is one) can submit proposals for consideration, including on behalf of others.

Who can apply?

Community groups, academic institutions and non-government organisations (NGOs). Proposals must first be submitted to the Ministry of Health (or another eligible agency) for consideration. 

Key dates

• Funding round opens: 8am, 30 March 2026.

• Deadline to submit proposals to the Ministry of Health for consideration: 5pm, 20 May 2026.

• Deadline for the Ministry of Health to submit proposals to the Ministry of Justice: 29 May 2026 (when the funding round closes).

About the Proceeds of Crime Fund

The Proceeds of Crime Fund (the Fund) is made up of the money forfeited to the Crown under the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009, after all other claims have been dealt with. The Fund is administered by the Ministry of Justice.

The purpose of the Fund is to support targeted, time-limited interventions that reduce violent crime. This directly supports Government Target 4. 

Funding is provided for short-term initiatives (2 to 3 financial years) only. The fund is not an ongoing or permanent funding source. 

To be eligible for funding, Cabinet has agreed that initiatives must: 

• prevent or address crime before it escalates to violent crime (ie, retail crime)

• address organised crime (ie, deterring money laundering and terrorism financing or prevent the importation and distribution of drugs).

Violent crime has a lot of complex causes. In assessing proposals, it is recognised that targeted actions, such as rehabilitation programs and interventions addressing drug-related harm, can help break cycles of offending.

2026 funding round: Key things to know 

The 2026 funding round will open at 8am on 30 March 2026. 

The Ministry of Health is listed as an eligible agency and can therefore submit proposals to the Ministry of Justice, including on behalf of community groups and NGOs. To be eligible, proposals must: 

• clearly focus on reducing violent crime, as required by Cabinet, and

• meet the Ministry of Health’s internal criteria (see below).

All proposals must be submitted to the Ministry of Health by 5pm on 20 May 2026. This allows time for the Ministry of Health’s assessment, and if supported, submission to the Ministry of Justice before the funding round closes on 29 May 2026.

To submit a proposal

Please complete this online form by the deadline above. If you have questions about the process, please email [email protected].

Important things to know before you apply

• Only proposals that clearly explain how the initiative will reduce violent crime will be considered.

• Proposals must be for short-term initiatives and not require ongoing funding.

• Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. 

How the Ministry of Health assesses proposals

The Ministry of Health independently assesses all proposals it receives. Assessment considers: 

• how effective the initiative is likely to be at reducing violent crime

• value for money

• how well it aligns with wider health system priorities.

The Ministry of Health will decide whether to submit proposals to the Ministry of Justice, and we will notify you of the outcome of our assessment. Submitting a proposal does not guarantee that it will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for consideration.  

Our role is limited to independently evaluating proposals. We may contact you to clarify parts of your proposal, but we cannot provide advice or help develop proposals. 

What happens next

If the Ministry of Health decides to submit your proposal, we will send it to the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry of Justice will assess proposals from all eligible agencies and make recommendations to the Secretary for Justice. 

Final decisions are made by the Minister and Associate Minister of Justice and the Minister of Finance. This process may take a few months.  

Please note that even if the Ministry of Health submits your proposal to the Ministry of Justice, this does not guarantee approval or funding. 

For further information on the Ministry of Justice criteria for the Fund, as well as the terms of reference, please visit the Proceeds of Crime Fund on the Ministry of Justice website.