GUIDELINES - General Grants Program

The purpose of these guidelines is to:

• outline the role of the Tasmanian Community Fund (TCF) Board; and
• provide information to assist organisations in preparing applications to the Board for funding.
  

The guidelines contain the following sections:
Overview of the TCF
Are you eligible to apply
How to apply
Assessment of applications
Administrative arrangements for successful applicants
Attachment A- Sponsoring body - proforma letter

Application Form & Guidelines - Grant Round No.10 (available in PDF and Word formats for viewing offline and printing)

Establishment of the TCF

The TCF was established in 1999 as part of the sale of the Trust Bank to make grants for worthwhile community purposes.

Annual appropriation

The TCF receives an annual appropriation from the State Budget equal to one half of the interest savings that flow from debt retired following the sale of the Trust Bank. This amount is appropriated to the Fund in perpetuity and is not subject to annual budget deliberation.

TCF Board

The TCF is managed by an independent Board of six members who, collectively, have sole and absolute discretion to make grants for community purposes. To ensure that the Board's activities are conducted to the highest standards, Board members adhere to a strict Code of Conduct.

Our Vision

Working with Tasmanians to make a difference.

Our Mission

We are committed to making grants to community organisations that make a difference by enhancing well-being and improving social, environmental and economic outcomes for the Tasmanian community.

Our Guiding Principles

The guiding principles that underlie our grant making policies are:

• building cohesive and stronger communities;
• encouraging innovative solutions and new approaches to issues;
• maximising the value of our grants and avoiding duplication;
• meeting a demonstrable need;
• promoting sustainable and long term outcomes;
• promoting community involvement and commitment; and
• encouraging community organisations to work together and form partnerships in the delivery of services.

Project areas supported

The Tasmanian Community Fund is committed to supporting worthwhile projects that will provide lasting benefits to the Tasmanian community across the following areas:

community welfare; youth issues; health; education; environment;

sporting or recreational activities; cultural and arts purposes; religious purposes; regional development; and economic development and employment.

The Board will endeavour to distribute funding across all project areas and all areas of the State. However, priority will be given to certain projects that the Board considers meet the criteria to the highest degree.

Grant Rounds

The Board will conduct two grant rounds annually. Each round will be advertised in The Mercury, The Examiner and The Advocate.

Incorporated organisations

The Board will consider an application for funding from an incorporated not-for-profit organisation:

• that is based in Tasmania; or is
• proposing to undertake a project in Tasmania.

Unincorporated not-for-profit organisations may also apply for a grant if an incorporated organisation is prepared to auspice the project. A letter from the sponsoring organisation indicating acceptance of the legal and financial responsibility for the acquittal of the grant must be included with the application. A pro-forma letter that can be used by the sponsoring organisation is attached to this document. (Attachment A)

Individuals are not eligible to apply for a grant.

Preference in funding - Organisations

Preference in funding may be directed to organisations that:

• pursue or undertake community projects or activities;
• broaden Tasmanian community access to, and involvement in the project areas that the Board supports;
• demonstrate sound financial management practices and are not solely reliant on the grant for ongoing funding (to some degree are, or will be, self sufficient);
• have sound management techniques and organisational structures and a proven track record of achievement and satisfactory project management, or are able to demonstrate their capacity to realise the aims and objectives of the project; and
• are proactive in their approach to issues, being committed to solving and preventing problems rather than merely providing short-term relief.

Preference in funding - Projects

Preference in funding may be directed to projects that:

• have a significant and demonstrable benefit to the Tasmanian community or a significant section of the Tasmanian community;
• have a lasting positive impact on the Tasmanian community;
• are innovative and proactive in their approach and delivery;
• demonstrate an integrated and collaborative approach to service provision;
• represent value for money;
• build and strengthen a particular community's capacity;
• have good prospects for successful implementation;
• encourage substantial volunteer and community involvement with the project; and
• are self-sufficient at the end of the funding period.

Meeting the criteria

It is expected that the TCF Board will always receive more applications for worthy projects than it has funds to grant. Satisfying the above criteria, while a prerequisite, does not mean that funding for a project will be approved.

Applications are assessed on their merits and against the other competing priorities before the Board at the time. The TCF Board does not take into consideration the types of programs that have been supported in previous grant rounds when determining grants in future rounds.

Non preference for funding

The TCF will not generally provide funding:

• to sporting clubs for the upgrade or maintenance of facilities or equipment;
• for the ongoing funding of project officers or support staff;
• to enable a study or inquiry to be undertaken unless funding has already been secured to implement any outcomes arising from the study or inquiry;
• for ongoing administrative costs;
• for replicating a project that is already being delivered in the community;
• to pay off debt.

NOT eligible to receive a grant

The TCF Board will NOT provide funding:

• to a Commonwealth or State Government agency or a Commonwealth or State Government Business Enterprise or to a local government to fund its core responsibilities;
• to a political party;
• to an organisation whose primary purpose is the provision of grants of financial assistance;
• to an individual for :
  • academic studies;
  • overseas travel for any purpose; or
  • raising funds on behalf of charitable or like organisations;
• for projects which produce a private benefit to a specific business or person;
• retrospectively;
• to conference organisers or potential attendees at conferences or symposia; or
• in the form of a loan.

Grant Application

All applicants are required to submit:

• a Grant Application Cover Sheet; and
• a typed application (not exceeding four typed pages) which addresses the issues outlined in the Grant Application.

Requests for more than $100 000

A detailed Business Case/Plan should be attached to an application requesting a grant of $100 000 or more. An example of a Business Case/Plan is available on the Department of Economic Development's website: http://www.development.tas.gov.au/publications/businessguides/download6.html

Support Letters

Support letters may be attached to your application but are not a requirement.

Land or Building Projects

If a project involves improvements to land or buildings, details should be provided with regard to the ownership and/or leasehold arrangements of the land/buildings. If applicable, include documents that indicate the owner's support for alterations/improvements to the land/buildings. For example, if new playground equipment is being requested for a park on Council land, include a letter from the Council supporting the proposal.

Closing date for applications

Details of Grant Round No. 9 were advertised on 17 July 2004. Applications closed on 27 August 2004.

Lodgement

Applications should be mailed to:	or delivered to:
Senior Executive Officer Tasmanian Community Fund GPO Box 1350 HOBART TAS 7001	Reception Treasury Buildings 21 Murray Street HOBART Reception closes: 5.30 pm

Enquiries and further information

If you have any enquiries, or would like some assistance with the preparation of your application please contact the TCF Office by:

Phone:	(03) 6233 2800 (during normal business hours)
Email:	admin@tascomfund.org

Alternatively, information including grant application forms can be downloaded by following the links below: 

Grant 9 - Application Cover Sheet	GR9-Cover (Word)	GR9-Cover (PDF)
Grant 9 - Application Form	GR9-Application (Word)	GR9-Application (PDF)
Grant 9 - Guidelines	GR9-Guidelines (Word)	GR9-Guidelines (PDF)

Timetable

This timetable represents an indication of the timeframe involved in the assessment of applications for Grant Round No. 9.

Description	Timeframe
Application acknowledged	within 21 days of receipt
Advice of outcome of application	by late November 2004
Grants disbursed to successful applicants	from late December 2004

It should be noted that this timetable is dependent on the number of applications received.

In some instances, conditions have to be met before a grant will be paid to an organisation. In these circumstances it is unlikely that the grant recipient would receive their grant in December.

Assessment process

All applications will be assessed by the Board in accordance with the principles outlined in this document. The Board may request further information from an applicant. Further, the Board may refer an application to relevant people for specialist advice to appropriately assess an application.

Different types of grants

The TCF Board may determine the following type of grants:

• a total grant requested to complete the project; or
• a partial grant to complete a certain stage of the project. In some cases, a partial grant may be conditional upon the remaining funds being secured to complete the project.

Unsuccessful applications

Where an applicant is unsuccessful, the Board will not advise of the reasons for its decision.

Can I reapply?

An unsuccessful application may be resubmitted in a future grant round. An applicant may request the TCF Office, in writing, to resubmit their previous application. Minor changes to the status of the application may be highlighted in the letter. However, if there are significant changes to the project, the application should be revised and forwarded to the TCF Office.

Grant Deed

Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Grant Deed with the TCF Board, in which the terms and conditions of the grant are specified, including any special conditions.

Payment of grant funds

Once the Deed has been signed and returned to the TCF, the grant will be electronically transferred to the successful applicant's bank account.

The TCF Board will usually provide financial support as a single grant payment. However, funding may be provided over a longer timeframe or in instalments, if an applicant requests or at the Board's discretion.

Reporting requirements

For projects of more than one year duration, an annual progress report against the stated objectives of the project is required.

Upon completion of a project, a final project report must be submitted to the Board together with financial statements. Final project reports will document the outputs and achievements of the project and measure its success in meeting its original objectives.

Recognition of funding source

Successful applicants must recognise the support provided by the TCF in promotional material and publications relating to the project.

Organisations registered for GST

Grants to organisations that are registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) will be grossed up by the extent of any input tax credit which is available to the TCF Board. This will ensure that the net, after tax funding provided will not be reduced as a result of the GST.

Organisations NOT registered for GST

Where a grant is made to an entity that is not registered for the GST, the grantee (the organisation receiving the grant) will not be subject to GST in respect of the grant. As such the level of funding received by the grantee is not reduced as a result of the GST and the grant will not be grossed up. All grantees will be required to provide an Australian Business Number (ABN) or demonstrate that they are exempt from the no ABN withholding rules in the Tax Administration Act 1953.