WomenzShed Empowerment Fund

Support women to access life-long practical skills

About the WomenzShed Empowerment Fund

We understand that the cost of our workshops can be a barrier for some women. The WomenzShed Empowerment Fund helps remove that barrier by providing financial assistance to women who would benefit from participating in our workshops but may not otherwise be able to afford them.

The fund aims to create opportunities for women to develop practical woodworking skills, build confidence, and connect with a supportive community, regardless of their financial circumstances.

When funding is available, priority is given to women who:

  • Identify as Māori or Pasifika, as part of our commitment to growing ethnic diversity within our community

  • Are refugees or former refugees building a new chapter in Aotearoa | New Zealand

  • Have accessed support from Women’s Refuge.

Priority groups may vary depending on the purpose and requirements of the funding received.

Workshop placement sponsorship

Through the Empowerment Fund, we offer fully sponsored workshop placements for eligible women. These placements cover the full cost of workshop participation, including materials, tools, and mentoring.

Sponsor a place
Apply for placement

Sponsor a workshop place

A workshop placement ranges from $195 to $300. You can choose to sponsor partially or fully, making a direct difference to someone’s learning journey.

  • Full Sponsorship ($195–$300) Covers the full cost of a workshop place – ideal for enabling participation without financial barriers.
  • Partial Sponsorship: Contribute any amount that works for you and make a meaningful impact

Why your support matters

Every contribution helps ensure someone can access our transformative workshops. Your generosity supports skills development, community building, and long-term empowerment.

How We Acknowledge Our Sponsors

We believe thoughtful acknowledgment is essential in honouring the trust and generosity of our sponsors. From personalised gratitude to public visibility, here’s how we recognize your invaluable support:

  • We send tailored thank-you letters to each sponsor, confirming sponsorship details and expressing genuine gratitude.
  • Sponsors receive prominent placement on our website, newsletters, and social media, complete with logos and clickable links. We also spotlight sponsors in event signage, brochures, and programs to ensure visibility across both digital and physical platforms
  • During workshops or events, we highlight sponsors through live shout-outs in our opening remarks

Please email  if you’d like to discuss sponsorship opportunities further. Alternatively, if you would like to donate immediately, here are our account details:

Account name:      WOMENZSHED
Account number:  38-9024-0049002-00

When making your payment, please put SPONSOR as the reference. After you have made the donation please email us at  so that we can say thank you and send you a tax receipt.

Our registered charity number is CC60353.

Apply for a workshop placement

If you are interested in applying, or know someone who meets the eligibility criteria below and may benefit from attending one of our workshops, we’d love to hear from you.

Workshop placements are offered through the WomenzShed Empowerment Fund and are subject to funding availability.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet one of the following:

  • Identify as Māori or Pasifika
  • Be a refugee or former refugee woman building a new chapter in Aotearoa | New Zealand
  • Have accessed support from Women’s Refuge in the past 3 years

Applicants must also:

  • Be aged 18 years or older
  • Be a New Zealand citizen, permanent resident, or hold refugee status
  • Be experiencing financial hardship (We may ask for supporting evidence, such as a Community Services Card, benefit statement, or a letter from a support agency)
  • Be willing to provide feedback about their workshop experience. Where possible, we also welcome participants who are comfortable sharing a story or photo to help demonstrate the impact of the fund. Identities can be kept anonymous if preferred.

To apply, complete our website form or email us at .