Deadline: 10 April 2020
The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund has announced the Covid-19 Rapid Response Grant Round with an aim of supporting organisations to continue to deliver important and much-needed services to the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund was created in June 2018 with the objective to assist in meeting the social, economic, cultural, educational, environmental and other charitable needs of the community in the Australian Capital Territory (and the immediately surrounding region) for the public benefit. The ACT Government invested $5 million as seed funding to kick-start a long term commitment to their local charities and community sector to support their incredible work and also explore innovative solutions to meeting community needs. The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund Grant Program is aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable people by supporting and working with charitable organisations and social enterprises. The fund is managed by Hands Across Canberra.
The Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund Grant Program (CMCF Grant Program) is aimed at addressing the needs of vulnerable people by supporting and working with charitable organisations and social enterprises.
This Covid-19 Rapid Response Grant Round which pools funds from the Chief Minister’s Charitable Fund, the Snow Foundation and the John James Foundation will be administered by Hands Across Canberra.
While each foundation has its own process they are collaborating to ensure the most effect response to the crisis, the three foundations are actively seeking grant applications for work related to the emerging crisis.
As a response to the current social pressures, the Consortium is pooling funds and introducing a Rapid Response Grant Round with the aim of supporting organisations to continue to deliver important and much needed services to the community during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Priorities
The following outlines the three funding priority levels attached to the Covid-19 Rapid Response Grant Round:
- Front-Line Grants fund community organisations that have increased demand for services due to Covid-19 i.e. those that provide services to financially vulnerable people who work in industries without sick leave and/or health care; homeless people; and health-challenged vulnerable people. This category is designed for the dissemination of direct relief to vulnerable people (specific examples include food, basic necessities, organisational expenses to facilitate service delivery, food bank & food pantries; meals delivery programs; homeless programs etc.).
- Capacity Grants fund non-profits that are modifying their in-person service delivery modes extremely rapidly due to Covid-19, and need assistance to do so i.e. upgrading sanitation protocols and obtain cleaning supplies, protective equipment & personnel or upgrading technology to enable remote programmes (youth centres, recreation centres, senior services, community-based programs).
- Service Disruption Prevention Grants to fund organisational activities to prevent disruption to their services. (examples: casual staff to fill positions vacant as a result of Covid-19; utilities and operational costs associated with Covid-19).
Funding Information
- approximately $500,000
- a majority of grants in the $5,000-$15,000 range, with a few of up to $25,000. Smaller grants for as little as $1,000 are also welcome.
- funds expended within a 3-6-month period
Eligibility Criteria
- Community organisations and social enterprises working with socially disadvantaged and vulnerable groups
- Location: projects delivered in Canberra and the nearby region
- Exclusions: funding will not be considered for overseas study, or travel, advocacy, political activities, completed projects for expenses that have already been acquitted or salaries for regular staff, including those on leave due to Covid-19. To avoid duplication, activities that receive funds from the ACT government’s Covid-19 stimulus package will not be eligible.
For more information, visit https://www.handsacrosscanberra.org.au/chief-ministers-charitable-fund/