The HopeFish Education Fund exists to remove financial barriers to education for New Zealand women. It was founded in 2020 by social entrepreneur and fashion designer Annah Stretton, whose work since 2014 alongside some of New Zealand’s most socially disadvantaged women, through RAW sparked a passion for creating breakthrough opportunities for goal-driven women. HopeFish co-funds educational opportunities that help strong, independent changemakers emerge and shape the path of future generations. It is administered by the Stretton Group.
HopeFish is open to women who are New Zealand citizens or residents, are experiencing financial hardship that would prevent them from undertaking further study without support, and are enrolling in a course that has not yet started.
Yes. Online learning, distance learning, and part-time study are all eligible, provided the course has not yet commenced and fees can be paid directly to the education provider.
Check our Contact Us page to see when the next application round opens: hopefish.org.nz/contact-us
Applications are submitted via the online application form, available on this website when the funding round opens. If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to provide an invoice or fee statement and confirmation of enrolment from your education provider.
HopeFish grants are up to $5,000 per applicant, paid directly to your education provider. HopeFish is a co-funding scheme, so your application will need to show how any remaining course fees will be covered.
Tuition and course fees only, paid directly to your education provider. We do not transfer funds to personal bank accounts.
HopeFish does not fund:
- StudyLink loans or any existing education debt
- Course fees you have already paid (we cannot reimburse costs already met)
- Course-related costs such as computers, textbooks, stationery, or equipment
- Courses that have already started or been completed
Your application will include a written proposal explaining how your studies could help break cycles of social inequity and/or positively impact your wider community, along with details of your financial circumstances and how remaining course fees will be co-funded. If shortlisted, you will need to provide an invoice or fee statement and confirmation of enrolment from your education provider. Successful applicants will also be asked to provide a short bio and a photo that will go on the Hopefish website.
Applications are assessed individually based on the level of financial hardship experienced, commitment to education, and how the applicant’s studies are likely to create positive change for themselves and their community.
The process can take up to one month from the close of the funding round. All applicants will be notified of the outcome by email. If the number of applications is significant processing time can be longer then one month.
Yes. Being unsuccessful in one round does not prevent you from applying in a future round. We receive a high volume of applications and have limited funding available each round, so we encourage you to apply again.