Deadline: 28-May-23
Applications are now open for Annual Community Strengthening Grants Program to provide financial support for new, one-off projects and activities that strengthen the Boroondara community.
Objectives
- The objectives of the Community Strengthening Grants are to:
- increase participation of residents in their community
- increase inclusion and representation of under-represented groups and issues
- develop innovative approaches to local issues
- assist groups and volunteers to develop skills and build capacity
- encourage the sustainability and better governance of community organisations
- encourage partnerships between local organisations and the development of local community networks.
Funding Information
- Up to $10,000 is available per project or activity, with a maximum of $2,000 available for equipment purchases, within a project or as a standalone grant. Applicants can submit more than one application within and across all funding streams, but the combined total of all grant applications must be no more than $10,000. This total also includes applications to the Small Grants.
- In 2023, funding will be distributed through the following 6 streams:
- Active Community
- Creative Community
- Sustainable Community
- Healthy Community
- Life-long Community
- Vibrant Retail Precincts.
- In your online application, you’ll be asked to choose the stream your project/activity best fits into, and there will be questions based on the objectives of that stream.
Funding Criteria
- Conditions of funding the recipient must:
- not expend more than 50% of the total grant funding provided by Council to pay for professional fees (eg labour, salary, wages) and/or administration costs (eg phone calls, correspondence, stationery) associated with the funded project or activity
- complete the funded project or activity within 12 months or by 31 December 2024
- execute and comply with a standard funding agreement (grant funds will not be released before the funding agreement is executed by both parties)
- acknowledge the City of Boroondara and the Rotary Club of Balwyn in any promotional material or publicity features
- provide a written project evaluation of the project/program on completion of the activity using Council’s evaluation form
- provide an expenditure statement and acquittal, at completion of the funding period. If Council’s grant funds are not spent, remaining funds over $150 must be returned to Council
- provide all reasonable cooperation to assist Council to comply with its legal obligations, including under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 Council may make funding conditional on other specific conditions being met. If the project/activity or timeframe needs to be varied, the applicant must contact Council to discuss. Projects including murals and art installations must attach a letter of approval from the land / building owner and letter of support from tenant (if applicable) to the grant application. Successful applicants and organisations auspicing applications will be required to become a signatory to a standard funding agreement that lists all grant conditions and agreed performance outcomes/measures. This must be signed before grant funds are issued.
Ineligible Funding
- The following will not be funded:
- individuals and private profit-making organisations
- organisations or groups that:
- own or operate poker machines
- explicitly promote sports betting
- meet in venues that have gaming machines
- funding requests that are considered by Council to be the funding responsibility of other levels of government
- primary or secondary schools (Council encourages partnerships between schools and community organisations, but the community organisation must be the applicant)
- auspice fees, being fees charged by an organisation to manage a Grant
- repeat applications for the same projects, activities or equipment that are identical to something that was funded in the previous funding year
- registered political parties or organisations that are controlled by a registered political party
- religious projects or activities seeking to promote the spiritual beliefs of a religious group
- projects or activities that seek to lobby the local, state or federal governments about particular laws, policies, practices or decisions of governments
- projects or activities that have already started or have been completed (no retrospective funding)
- funding of prizes, sponsorships, donations or gifts
- new building works, capital improvements, facility maintenance and fixed assets (eg air conditioner, shade sails, cubby houses and sheds)
- projects that have been, or are being, funded by other parts of Council
- the organisation’s day to day operational expenses such as insurance and rental subsidies
- interstate or overseas travel
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible for an Annual Community Strengthening Grant, your organisation must:
- be committed to providing direct benefits to residents of the City of Boroondara (local organisations are prioritised)
- be a not-for-profit organisation
- be a registered legally constituted entity (e.g. a co-operative, incorporated association or company limited by guarantee) or have an auspice (unless requesting less than $1,000)
- be either:
- an incorporated entity (eg a co-operative, incorporated association, company or company limited by guarantee); or
- auspiced by an incorporated third party, (unless requesting less than $1,000)
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN), or complete a Statement by Supplier form, or hold an exemption from registration
- hold an adequate public liability insurance policy to cover the staff, members and the general public, as appropriate
- not have their own grant giving program or fundraising program that provides money to finance another organisation’s community initiatives
- have satisfactorily accounted to Council for the expenditure of any previous Council grants (if relevant)
- comply with all applicable laws, including:
- all statutory requirements to maintain their status as an incorporated entity, including all relevant governance, accounting, reporting and auditing requirements
- child safe standards under the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005, for organisations that provide services to minors
- registration or accreditation of professional employees.
- comply with Occupational Health and Safety, safe working practices and WorkSafe recommendations and requirements
- have an adequate risk management plan in place (as required)
For more information, visit City of Boroondara.