Brighton Council's Community Grants Program in Australia

Deadline: 4-Apr-23

Brighton Council offers grant assistance to sporting and community groups through its Community Grants Program.

Aims

Through the Community Grants Program, Council is able to support local community initiatives and the development of appropriate programs, services, activities and facilities to assist in meeting community needs and strengths. The overall objective of the program is to build capacity of their community through collaborations, grass roots initiatives and programs.
The broad aims of the Community Grants Program are to:
- Be healthier by improving the provision of services and supports to their growing population.
- Reduce loneliness by enhancing community connections and activities that bring joy to people’s lives.
- Feel safer by improving the respect and care for their community, their land and their assets.
- Make life more comfortable by increasing community awareness, education and access to sustainable living initiatives.

Grant Categories

Quick Response Grants: Their quick response grants aim to celebrate individual achievements and community transport support. Quick response grants are one off and are offered all year round until allocated funds are expended. Evidence of applicant’s involvement with a team or program will be required to receive a quick response grant.
Small Community Development Grants: Their Small Community Development Grants aim to celebrate and encourage grass roots community initiatives to flourish.
Brighton Alive Grants: Their Brighton Alive Grants are a new grant category that aims to highlight the important role that their Brighton Alive Network plays in community capacity building through collaborations, partnerships and joint efforts to address community needs and enhance community strengths.
Major Impact Grant: Their major impact grant is a new grant category that aims to address safety, sustainability, loneliness and service gaps across their municipality. The amount for this grant category is up to $80,000 and starts with an informal conversation between potential stakeholders and Brighton Council, followed by a grant application.

Funding Information

Quick Response Grants: The amounts are $100 if representing Tasmania and $200 if representing Australia.
Small Community Development Grants: Grant amounts range from $500- $5,000
Brighton Alive Grants: Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $15,000
Major Impact Grant: Given the aim of this grant, preference will be given to applications looking to apply for the entire $80,000.

Eligibility Criteria

Not for profit organisation
Community group auspiced by a not-for-profit organisation
School within their local government area (LGA)
Profitable organisation or government agency that is collaborating with a community group
Social enterprise.

Grant Eligibility Considerations

This section of the guidelines aims to provide some more detailed information about some types of projects applicants may want to receive funding for.
- Infrastructure
  - The Small Community Development and Brighton Alive Grants can be used to improve infrastructure for eligible stakeholders. If applicants are applying for a grant to improve infrastructure, applicants will need to justify why this will benefit the community and how applicants know it is needed. Applicants will also need to be able to demonstrate why applicants cannot source funds for these upgrades elsewhere. For profit organisations are generally not eligible to apply for grants to improve infrastructure, however they do encourage applicants to speak with us, especially those operating out of a Council owned building. Applications for equipment / infrastructure costing more than $2,000 must include at least two quotes.
- Payment of Bills
  - Applicants can request a grant to assist with payment of rates, utility bills and public liability insurance if applicants can demonstrate why applicants are unable to pay this using other resources and how this will benefit their community. The best grant category for payment of bills is the Small Community Development grant category. Grants will not be provided to cover a shortfall in the applicant / organisation’s general operating costs, with the exception of a hall or ground hire rental subsidy that may be provided to secure the ongoing viability of a priority service to the community.
- Schools
  - Council acknowledges the important role that schools play in their community and so whilst schools are not excluded from applying for a grant through Council, applicants will need to justify why their existing budgets cannot include programs or infrastructure improvements that are being applied for.
- Social enterprises
  - Social enterprises can influence the community and utilise social capital to provide positive changes. Like schools, social enterprises are not excluded from applying for a grant however applicants will need to justify why their existing budgets cannot include the program and how the project is aligned to the 2050 vision.
- Fundraising
  - Organisations whose main purpose is to fundraise are not eligible for financial assistance.
- Applying for more than one grant
  - Eligible stakeholders can apply for as many grants as they wish however, if successful, each applicant will only be awarded one grant, per category, per year. Applicants will be asked to give their preference for which grant should be awarded in their applications. Applicants can win another grant in a different category if it is for a separate project.