New grants to support research and community innovation for ageing well
Applications are open for two new Selwyn Foundation Ageing Well grants, supported by the Office for Seniors. Researchers and community groups can apply for one of two $25,000 grants to support projects that help older people stay well, independent, and connected.
Supporting the vision of Ageing Well
Our Acting Director, George Minton, announces the new grants at the NZAG conference
The grants carry forward the work of the former Ageing Well National Science Challenge. The aim is simple: add life to years for all older New Zealanders.
These grants will support research that helps people stay healthy, maintain independence, and continue contributing to their whānau and communities as they age. Projects should reflect the resourcefulness of older people and support ageing well in place through mutual respect, support, and reciprocity amongst people of different ages.
Two awards are available:
- Early-career Research Award – for an emerging researcher building an independent research path in a supportive New Zealand research environment.
- Community Research Award – for community organisations or researchers working in partnership to apply research in ways that improve community outcomes.
Projects should show clear benefits for older New Zealanders, especially Māori, Pacific, women, and rainbow communities.
Download the Selwyn Foundation Ageing Well grant criteria.
Who can apply
- Early-career researchers must be New Zealand-based and within six years (full-time equivalent) of completing their highest research degree, with allowances for career breaks. They must not have previously held a large competitive research grant over $300,000.
- Community Research Award applicants may be New Zealand-based researchers or registered charities working directly with older people.
All applications must show clear alignment with the purpose of the initiative and meet standard research governance requirements, including ethics approval where needed.
Application process
Grant applications will involve a two-stage application process:
- Expressions of Interest (EOI) open on 5 December 2025 and close on 18 February 2026.
- Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full proposal. A three-member committee, including the former Directors of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge, will select the grant recipients. The Selwyn Foundation will announce the successful applicants on 3 April 2026.
Grant recipients will be required to complete a final report and a short public “lay report” in 2027, with the opportunity to present at a future Ageing Well Symposium.
The Selwyn Foundation
The Selwyn Foundation is a registered charity which champions initiatives that enable respectful ageing for vulnerable older people. Through its social impact and mission charitable activities, the Foundation seeks to enable the most vulnerable seniors to age with dignity and respect, and it works with a wide range of organisations and community partners to deliver social impact at scale for those seniors who need it most.
The Foundation’s Chief Executive Denise Cosgrove says the new Ageing Well grants are about identifying practical solutions that make a real difference for older people, supporting them to age well in place in their own homes and communities.
“This new partnership is an important initiative in The Selwyn Foundation’s wider charitable mission to enhance the material and spiritual wellbeing of older people in great need: Oranga Mātua | Oranga Tangata – Respectful Ageing for all, within thriving communities.
“Through our grant-making and impact investing, we support innovation that promotes equity in ageing and which will help those most at risk of hardship in later life. We therefore look forward to the new Selwyn Foundation Ageing Well grants developing innovative ideas that will translate into meaningful change and empower seniors to thrive for many years to come.”
Applications are open now
Expressions of Interest opened on 5 December 2025. The deadline for expressions of interest is 18 February 2026. Send queries or expressions of interest to ofs@msd.govt.nz
