Zonta Metropolitan Dunedin raised $25,000 for Te Whare Pounamu Dunedin Women's Refuge at its fashion show in September and an application approved by the AMP Foundation later bumped the figure up by $10,000.
Vice-president Lesley Craw said the donation was a "significant amount" for the group to raise and "one of the best we've had".
Fashion committee chairwoman Theresa Managh said the event took about six months to prepare and was a huge success.
Each year, the group selected a charity which promoted the status of women.
She was pleased the organisation was able to support a local cause.
The money would be used on the Tamariki programme which worked with children who had witnessed abuse, or were victims or perpetrators of bullying.
Children took part in a 10-week programme and learned, among other things, how to understand and express their feelings appropriately, strengthen their self-esteem, and how to trust and feel safe with other people.
Kaiwhakahaere Michael Te Moananui said the donation was "amazing".
"It's just totally awesome that they would even consider us and do that for us."
The money would be a "huge help" to the programme.
Some of the money had been earmarked, but how most of it would be spent had yet to be decided.
