The Community Grants Program seeks to support the efforts of community organisations to contribute to the wellbeing of the local community through cultural, environmental, sporting and community development.
The purpose of these grant funds is for projects and activities that focus on the development of local communities, encourage groups to take a more active and visible role in the life of the community and create opportunities for wider community participation.
Levels of support will be within the limits of funding provided by Council in its annual management plan.
A minimum of $500 and a maximum of $5,000 will be made available to projects, events or activities which take place in the 2010/2011 financial year.
The Community Grants Program will be assessed against the following selection criteria:-
Incorporated ‘not for profit’ groups, community groups and voluntary associations are eligible to apply, although unincorporated groups may through an appropriate incorporated body that support the project and is will to accept responsibility for any funding received. Agencies, groups or organisations must be financially viable preferably with a history of financial stability.
If a group has received previous grants or sponsorship from Council, all acquittals and evaluation reports stipulated by Council must be complete. If not, the group is ineligible for funding under the Community Assistance Program until all requirements are met.
Council will only accept on application per organisation per annum for consideration.
All support arrangements are made on a one-off basis and no guarantees are made for on-going support.
Applications must provide some form of contribution. This may take the form of in-kind contributions such as office space, meeting rooms, equipment, volunteer labour etc. The nature of the contribution should be stated on the application form and a value provided for that in-kind contribution. Volunteer labour is to be calculated at $15.00 per hour.
The grant sought will not be more than 50% of the total budget of any application.
Applicants in lodging the application acknowledge that an evaluation report with completed financial statements will be required as part of the acquittal process.
Under the Community Assistance Program, Kempsey Shire Council will NOT fund the following:
- On-going operational or administrative costs including rent
- Wages and Salary for staff members
- Projects retrospectively or currently in progress
- Production of newsletters
- Requests from State and Federal Government Departments and Services
- Donations to individuals or functions raising funds on behalf of a Not for Profit Group / Organisation, amateur sporting team, cultural group or individual
- Applications for refund or reimbursement of Development Application fees
- Provision of and servicing garbage bins at events
- Applications from individuals
- Sporting individuals / teams or cultural groups that seek assistance with furthering their professional careers, either in Australia or overseas
- Commercially (profit) based groups / organisations
These priorities are:
To facilitate ecological and economic sustainable development in the Shire.
To foster and enhance effective social, cultural and community relations, building respect and civic pride.
To plan and fund the Shire’s infrastructure and service needs.
To pursue beneficial relationships with regional neighbours and other levels of Government.
To ensure leadership and effective, efficient accountable management
Applications which contribute to several directions will be highly regarded.
Council will consider each eligible request for grants on a case by case merit basis and subject to the receipt of satisfactory evidence of need and the current available budget.
Organisations are expected to acknowledge the contribution made by Kempsey Shire Council.
Where a donation is sought for a Capital item over $2,000, the applicants are required to submit three quotations with their applications.
Where a donation is approved for a specific project, it must be completed within twelve months of approval. The acquittal process must also be completed within twelve months after Council approval. Any unexpended funds must be returned to Council.
Funding will not be provided until the 2010 / 2011 financial year.
All applicants will be advised in writing if they are successful after the Council has considered the applications e.g. approximately July / August 2010.
If an organisation is successful they will also receive the grant funds at this stage.
In accepting the grant funding organisations acknowledge that they will be required to submit an acquittal. An acquittal form is linked below and can be viewed and downloaded in pdf format. Adobe Reader is required to view this document.
 Community Grants Program Acquittal Form (614 KB)
Successful applicants will be required to provide the following information as part of the acquittal:
- A final report, on the approved Acquittal Form, on the outcome of the project within three (3) months of completion of the activity / project.
- Evidence of the acknowledgement of Council’s support in either the media or publications.
Formal advice of unexpended funds is required and funds not expended for the purpose outlined in the application should be returned to Kempsey Shire Council unless agreement has been reached to use these funds for other approved purposes.
Failure to meet the Council’s requirements and conditions of funding may result in the termination of funding. In any such case the applicant will be notified prior to any action being taken.
It is a condition on receiving the funding that the successful applicant will assume all normal commercial responsibilities including public risk / and or / any other appropriate insurance cover for the project.
Applications should also indicate if they are registered for GST purposes. If so, GST should be included into the grant submission. Council will not be contributing a further 10% for those organisations that have not taken this into consideration.
Council collects and holds personal information for a number of reasons related to council business e.g. to process applications, to issue rate notices, to process correspondence. When you provide personal information to Council it is used in accordance with privacy laws applicable to Council. Your personal information will only be used for purposes related to the business of Council.
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