Backpacks for Northland foster children, parents with young children and students with leadership potential have all been given a boost from the latest round of funding from Foundation North.
Fifteen Northland charities and organisations have benefited from grants from the foundation's Grassroots Fund, which distributed $74,000 to the groups.
Foster children will get more goodies in their backpacks, parents with young children will get more training and help and students with leadership potential will get more opportunities from the money.
As well, a small rural community will learn about financial management, more food will be available at foodbanks and new migrants will get more social experiences.
The Grassroots Fund is made available annually to charities and organisations working at community level to provide services and support.
This year applications were received from 26 organisations totalling $133,000 worth of requests.
Fifteen organisations were chosen by Northland Foundation's Grants Panel, made up of six panellists from around the region to decide who would receive the donations.
Grants Panel chairwoman Margareth Broodkoorn said she and the other panellists are always impressed and humbled by the applications every year which reveal the enormous work going on in Northland communities, often by volunteers.
"We realise just how many people are being supported in a positive way when we come to distribute the funds," Ms Broodkoorn said.
"The Grassroots Fund is about a hand-up rather than a handout. We look for groups that are working very closely with their community, looking for local solutions to issues and working out how best to meet local needs."
Organisations receiving donations from the Grassroots Fund 2016 are: Whangarei Budgeting Service; Bay of Islands Community Centre Inc; CAB Dargaville and Districts; Foster Hope Northland; Fresh Start Family Services & Food Bank Inc; Mid-North Budgeting Services Trust; Ngapuhi Hokianga Ki Te Raki Inc Society; R Tucker Thompson Sail Training Trust; Rongopai House Charitable Trust; SPACE Northland; The Parenting Place; Volunteering Northland; Whirinaki Ahuwhenua Project; WINGS Women's International Newcomers Group Social and Kerikeri/Kaeo Community Foodbank.