Southern Midlands Council offering Small Community Grants Program for 2020/2021

Deadline: 24-Aug-20

Southern Midlands Council is offering grants to not-for-profit organisations that help provide cultural, recreational or community services, programs or resources to the Southern Midlands Community.

The purpose of these grants is to provide assistance to the community for projects/activities in the Southern Midlands local government area which are expected to have a positive outcome for the broader community.

Priorities

Due to the limited amount of funds available, priority will be given to projects that:

Demonstrate considerable benefit to the Southern Midlands community;
Raise the awareness of or access to a service, program, group or issue or maximize the participation or use of a facility;
Demonstrate coordination with other groups in the community;
Address local issues by attempting to meet a community need or gap;
Show evidence of community support for the project;
Enhance the lifestyle options for residents and visitors in the community;
Demonstrate an ability to manage the project through resource allocation including financial resources, effective planning, clear goals and evaluation processes;
Demonstrate the ability to be ongoing [if applicable];
Is the project reliant on other funds, if so have other funds been approved;
Includes the ability for broad Community access – Land Tenure [in the ownership of the applicant or in other ownership];
Grant funds applied for as a % of the total amount to complete the project [inc. in kind contribution] i.e. A financial contribution by the applicant/s would be favorably looked upon;
The Project shall be one that has not received any previous funding for the same purpose by Council or any other funding body (i.e. no ‘double dipping’);
Demonstrate that a Risk Assessment of the project is deemed within acceptable limits;
Willingness to attend the Australia Day event for recognition of the awards and of the grant.

Funding Information

An organisation can apply for assistance up to a maximum of $5000 no minimum grant amount applies.

Eligibility Criteria

Financial Assistance will be considered for:

Any not for profit community group or voluntary association that is legally constituted as an incorporated body or under the auspice of an incorporated body.
The group or organisation is located in the Southern Midlands municipal area or is proposing a project which will take place in the Southern Midlands municipal area, for the benefit of those who live, visit or conduct business in the municipal area.
The applicant is able to demonstrate financial viability and competence to deliver the project on time and within budget. This refers to both the applicant and also the auspicing body if an auspicing body is being used for this application.
The applicant meets Council’s insurance requirements. (holds a current Public Liability Insurance policy of either $M10 or $M20)
Education providers are able to apply on the condition that the project/activity is open to all residents and has a broad community benefit.
For equipment grants, applicants are required to contribute at least 50% towards the cost of equipment for items considered ‘consumables’ eg cricket bats / balls, Footballs etc. Items of a longer term nature eg line marking machines, training equipment and the like would be eligible for up to 100% funding. – Projects that are seeking funding from $3,001 to $5,000 shall be required to have a matching 50% cash contribution from other sources.

The following are important areas to address:

Any application which relates to works or projects on property not under the applicants direct ownership (land tenure) or control, must provide a letter of authorisation and approval for said works / projects from the land owner with the grant application.
In the case of applications from the Department of Education, where the facilities will be used by Community and school students alike, the application requires written commitment from the Department of Education / Principal that the facilities (or improvements) will be accessible by the public and are appropriate for those purposes.

Financial Assistance will not be given for:

Activities by a private person that is not a formal representative of a bone fid organisation.
Activities of For-Profit organisations.
Applicant organisations who have previously failed to acquit Council assisted projects in line with the agreed terms.
Specific projects that have previously received funding from this grant program.
Working Capital or straight donation purposes.
Projects by local schools/education providers that are exclusive to students core school curriculum with no availability to the general public.
Retrospective request for a project already fully or partially completed.
Community Organisations who already receive Council funds to undertake a specific activity for which funding is being sought or community organisations wanting to do a specific activity that is already funded by Council.
Facilities where little or no public access is available.
Travel to sporting competitions or conferences for individual or community groups.
Projects / programs that are not based in or focused on Southern Midlands residents