The Otago Community Trust announced this week it approved $811,800 donations to 34 organisations throughout Otago last month.
A total of 13 community health and welfare agencies received funding.
Camp trust chairman Dr Jim Ng, of Dunedin, said the sitting-room sized Chinese settler hospice was one of only three buildings out of 28 that had survived.
Three Dunedin families had owned, used and maintained the former meeting place for the terminally ill as a weekend holiday crib since its relocation into Lawrence in the 1940s.
Dr Ng said he could not disclose the possible asking price for the joss house, or the total the camp trust was working towards due to negotiations.
However, if the house was purchased, it was proposed to shift it to its original location, behind the 125-year-old Chinese Empire Hotel and stables.
Dr Ng said the camp trust had spent $600,000 over the past five years restoring the Lawrence Chinese Camp.
The aim was to create a major visitor experience by linking the camp with a Chinese heritage gold-mining trail from Dunedin to Arrowtown along State Highway 8.
"We're just getting into the resource consents for restoration.
"We've done all the basic work, such as the archaeological digs, and you have to put out a conservation plan, archaeological plan, business plan and consents before you can begin," he said.
Annual donations:
Presbyterian Support Services $120,000, Otago Medical Research Foundation $75,000, Outward Bound $67,500, Anglican Family Care $57,500, Dunedin Methodist Mission $57,500, The Fortune Theatre Trust $45,000, Otago Youth Wellness Trust $45,000, Salvation Army $40,000, Catholic Social Services $30,000, Malcam Charitable Trust $30,000, Schizophrenia Fellowship Otago $30,000, Lawrence Chinese Camp Trust $25,000, Barnardos Otago $23,000, Royal New Zealand Foundation for the Blind $20,000, Corstorphine Baptist Community $17,000, Te Whare Pounamu Women's Refuge $17,000, Stopping Violence Dunedin Inc $13,000, Otago Sports Car Club Inc $15,000, Liberton Christian School $12,500, Daniel Belton and Good Company $6500, Institute for Child Protection Studies Trust $6000, Knox Centre for Ministry Leadership, Presbyterian Church $4000, Patients and Prisoners Aid Society of Otago $3500, Dunedin Fire Brigade Restoration Society Inc $2500, Otago Girls High School $2500, Dance Speak $1000, Dunedin Poultry, Pigeon and Cage Bird Club $300.
Mosgiel:
Mosgiel Association Football Club - Juniors $2000, Mosgiel Ballet Competitions Society $500.
Oamaru:
CCS Disability Action Waitaki Inc $7000, Central Coast Country Music Association Inc $500.
Waikouaiti-Palmerston:
Waikouaiti Amateur Music and Drama Society Inc $5000.
Wanaka:
Wanaka Camera Club $500.
