Premier s Community Initiatives Fund Round 9

Transcription

1 Premier s Community Initiatives Fund Round 9 Application Guidelines & Frequently Asked Questions The Grant Programs Unit Telephone: (08) pcif@dpc.sa.gov.au Website:

2 Preparing your application: Make sure you have read these guidelines carefully to determine whether your organisation and project meet the eligibility criteria. Workshops will be conducted by the Grant Programs Unit staff in both metropolitan and regional locations, subject to demand. These workshops will provide organisations with information on the application process, eligibility criteria and allow an opportunity to raise any questions regarding specific project ideas prior to applying. For details regarding Workshops in your area, or if your are unable to attend an Workshop but would like to discuss your proposed application, contact the Grant Programs Unit or visit our website - contact details are on the front page of this Guide. To avoid an ineligible application or delays in assessment of your application ensure you complete the application form by answering ALL questions and supplying ALL information requested including: A letter from your financial institution indicating that two (2) signatures are required to operate your account; Your organisation s 2009/2010 audited financial statements; A copy of your organisation s constitution stating your aims and objectives; A copy of your organisation s certificate of incorporation (or equivalent);and Copies of quotes for all items over $500 as listed in your itemised budget. DATES TO REMEMBER Applications Open: Saturday 23 October 2010 Applications Close: Strictly 5.00 Friday 3 December 2010 Only applications postmarked Friday 3 December 2010 will be accepted. Page 2 of 15

3 Lodging your application: Post: The Grant Programs Unit Department of the Premier and Cabinet GPO Box 2343 ADELAIDE SA 5001 Hand deliver: The Grant Programs Unit Department of the Premier and Cabinet 200 Victoria Square Adelaide SA 5000 LATE, FAXED OR ED APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED What is the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund? The Premier s Community Initiatives Fund has been established by the Premier of South Australia to provide financial assistance to organisations that offer direct services and support to members of the South Australian community, but do not receive mainstream funding. The Premier s Community Initiatives Fund provides financial assistance for projects that benefit disadvantaged, disabled or socially isolated members of the South Australian community. The objective of the Fund is to make available grants of up to $10,000 to assist organisations to undertake a one-off project that will benefit the South Australian community. Applications are considered on an annual basis. Page 3 of 15

4 Who can apply? Organisations must be a not-for-profit South Australian based community organisation. Be either: Incorporated under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985; or A council subsidiary formed under Section 42 or 43 of the Local Government Act 1999; or An Aboriginal Association incorporated under the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976; or A company limited by guarantee formed under Corporations Law; or Some other comparable legal status, such as incorporation by Act of Parliament For profit business, political parties, organisations that have a charter where the main objective is to raise funds for you or a parent/partner organisation are ineligible to apply. In addition an organisation which is principally established to provide leisure/recreation or sport programs or services according to your constitution is also ineligible to apply for funding. In addition, applicants can not: Be Government or semi Government organisations such as hospitals, libraries and private educational institutions (primary, secondary and independent schools, tertiary institutions) or, Hold or be affiliated with an organisation that holds a gaming machines licence or; Be currently in receipt of recurrent or ongoing funding from other State or Federal Government sources over $50,000pa or; Have unacquitted grants outstanding with the Grant Programs Unit or; Have received a Premier s Community Initiatives Fund grant in the two previous rounds: i.e. Round 7 or Round 8. Page 4 of 15

5 Auspicing If your group is not incorporated or a similar legal entity, you may wish to appoint an incorporated body to auspice (manage) your application on your behalf. The auspice s role (Principal Organisation) includes managing the funds on behalf of the group that is not incorporated (Auspiced Organisation) and is responsible to manage those funds in accordance with the Grant Agreement. A common auspicing arrangement occurs where an organisation has several sub branches, but each sub branch does not have its own incorporation status and therefore cannot apply for funding on its own. An example of this is Scouts Australia. In addition to meeting the basic eligibility criteria e.g. incorporated or similar legal entity, Principal Organisations: May be in receipt of up to a maximum of $250,000 per year in recurrent or annual funding from government organisations; May auspice for more than one sub branch of their organisation per round; Will be required to provide their own details and information in Sections A and B of the Application Form, and apply for funding as the Applicant ; Will be responsible for the grant monies and project if successful. Any grant monies will be provided to the Principal Organisation; Will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement on behalf of the ineligible organisation; Cannot receive funding for the same sub branch in two preceding rounds or in consecutive rounds. Auspice organisations are advised to read these guidelines to ensure that they fully understand their responsibility prior to signing the application form. If you have any queries regarding Auspicing, please contact the Grant Programs Unit for clarification. What can be funded? Some examples of projects from Round 8 that were funded through the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund include: Upgrading building facilities with disability access Establish a sports tournament for migrant youth Page 5 of 15

6 Upgrading playground and crèche facilities Provide first aid training for low income families with children Run a camp on traditional country for young Aboriginal offenders Develop and run a new program on improving self esteem Build an all weather outdoor area to improve client services If you are unsure whether your project or items to purchase are eligible for funding, contact the Grant Programs Unit on (08) or pcif@dpc.sa.gov.au What cannot be funded? The following costs are ineligible and will render the application ineligible: Projects outside South Australia Payment of wages of ongoing staff of the organisation (contact the Grant Programs Unit if you are considering applying for funding for wages); Individuals, including applications made on behalf of individuals Purchase of Airfares Payment of ongoing administrative costs such as repayment payment of ongoing bills, public liability insurance etc of loans, Payments for projects that begin prior to May 2011, or applications for reimbursement of purchases; Annual or ongoing events or programs/activities Sponsorship of fundraising events Religious or political activities Exhibitions Emergency Relief (food vouchers, food, payment of bills, clothing) What happens next? Receipt of your application You will receive a letter of notification to confirm that we have received your application within two weeks of lodgement. Page 6 of 15

7 Additional Information On occasions, before an application can be fully assessed, applicants may be requested to supply additional information in relation to your application. Please ensure this information is provided as soon as possible. How will my application be assessed? Applications will undergo a preliminary assessment by the Grant Programs Unit to assess your application and supporting documentation against the eligibility criteria. Your applica tion will be assessed according to: The level of other funding you receive per annum i.e. total funding you receive from Federal, State or Local Government organisations; The number and type of target groups who will benefit from your project (refer to the Frequently Asked Questions at the end of this Guide for an explanation of target groups); Whether your project outcomes are targeted towards social services/health and wellbeing, or community events/education/tourism, or sport/recreation; The number of people in the South Australian community to benefit from your project; The location of the project. Results from the preliminary assessment will assist in the decision making process of the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund Evaluation Committee. Recommendations from the Evaluation Committee will then be forwarded to the Premier for his final approval. All applications will be assessed on their individual merit and funding is dependant on meeting all criteria and as well as the availability of funds. As it is expected that total funds requested will exceed the funds available, satisfying all the assessment criteria alone does not guarantee you will receive a grant. Please note: you may not receive the full amount requested. The budget for the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund is approximately $250,000 per round. Page 7 of 15

8 Notification of results Successful organisations A Grant Agreement is a legally binding document which requires two authorised members to certify that their organisation will spend any project funds received through the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund in accordance with the terms of the Agreement. Signing the Grant Agreement will mean your organisation agrees to the following requirements: To spend all grant monies on the project, as listed in the Grant Agreement; No portion of the grant monies being spent on items not listed in the Grant Agreement. Your organisation must apply in writing for approval from Grant Programs Unit for any alterations to the approved project; Any unspent grant monies for the project for which the grant was provided being returned to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet; Grant monies being spent within twelve (12) months of execution of the Grant Agreement, unless an extension has been negotiated with the Grant Programs Unit; Receipt of the grant must be publicly acknowledged in any programmes, correspondence or promotion of your organisation and its services to members of the community; The grant being acquitted by completing an Evaluation Report and an Accountability Statement in accordance with the requirements of the Grants Programs Unit and the Grant Agreement. Your organisation must also retain and provide copies of receipts for the full grant amount together with evidence that the organisation publicly acknowledged it received support from the Government of South Australia. An Acquittal Pack explaining the above requirements will be provided to your organisation once your Grant has been approved; Participate in quarterly reviews conducted by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. If you are successful, Grant Programs Unit will contact your organisation approximately every three (3) months to discuss the progress of the project funded. Page 8 of 15

9 Unsuccessful Organisations If your application is unsuccessful your organisation will be advised of the reason in writ ing. You are also encouraged to contact the Grant Programs Unit for feedback on your application. Common reasons for unsuccessful applications are: Other projects may have a higher priority (requests for grants far outweigh the funding available); The Application form may be incomplete or the essential documentation is not attached; Your organisation or project may not be eligible; Details of the project and its benefits to disadvantaged target groups in South Australia are insufficient or unclear. F or more information Everything you need to know to ensure a successful application is contained in this pack. For information about eligibility or to discuss your project please contact the Grant Programs Unit on: Phone: or pcif@dpc.sa.gov.au Page 9 of 15

10 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What if my organisation is not incorporated? You are not eligible to apply for funding from the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund. If you meet all the other eligibility criteria, you may like to consider being auspiced by another eligible organisation in order to apply for funding. See Page 5 for further information on auspicing. Can I have an extension to submit my application? NO only applications post marked before or on the closing date will be accepted. How much money can my organisation apply for? Organisations can apply for a maximum of $10,000 in funding. What is meant by disadvantaged, disabled or socially isolated members of the South Australian community? There is a complex mix of causes and symptoms that can lead to individuals, families, groups and localities being socially disadvantaged and having difficulties participating fully in the life of our State. Members of the community with a combination of often interrelated problems such as unemployment, low income, substance abuse, mental health, disabled, inadequate housing, and culturally and linguistically diverse populations, which all can contribute to becoming socially disadvantaged and having feelings of isolation from the community. What are target groups? Target groups are members of our society which the South Australian Government has determined to be priority groups in its commitment to making the State the best it can b e, as outlined in South Australia s Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan is a list of goals that have been established to encourage every member of our community to achieve the best we can. By establishing projects to assist target groups in our socie ty, we can work together to provide opportunities for every South Australian to live their best life and succeed in the future. For more information regarding targets in South Australia s Strategic Plan, v isit the website Page 10 of 15

11 The target groups for Round 9 of the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund are: People with disabilities Homeless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Young Offenders Unemployed Substance Abuse Social Justice Regional Populations New and Emerging populations (eg culturally and linguistically diverse) Ageing populations Populations suffering significant economic or social disadvantage What is a Gaming Machines Licence? A Gaming Machines Licence (or poker machine licence) is a licence issued by the Office of Liquor and Gambling which states how many Gaming Machines your organisation is legally approved to operate. Due to the significant amount of revenue that is profited from Gaming Machines, it has been determined that organisations who do not profit from this revenue are in greater need of funding from the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund than those who do. If your organisation has a Gaming Machines Licence or is affiliated with an organisation that holds one you are ineligible to apply for funding from the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund. What is in-kind support? These are items or services your organisation receives in place of financial payments or donations. In-kind support could be in the form of volunteer services, venues provided at no charge, or non-cash items which have been donated. What is GST exclusive? GST exclusive is the total cost of each item, without the GST charges included. For example, question 5 of the Application Form asks for an itemised budget exclusive of GST. When completing your budget list, only provide the dollar amount for each item before GST has been added. Page 11 of 15

12 What is Auspicing? Auspicing is where an unincorporated organisation who is ineligible to apply for funding forms a partnership with another eligible organisation. The eligible organisation becomes the auspice, and agrees to apply for funding on behalf of the ineligible organisation. The auspice organisation is considered to be the applicant and if successful, will be responsible for any funding received. See Page 5 for further information on Auspicing. What is a Grant Agreement? A Grant Agreement is a legally binding document that all successful applicant organisations will have to sign before they receive any grant monies. The Agreement outlines the legal requirements involved in spending your grant monies, such as, details of the project, what can be purchased with the money and what you are required to do to successfully acquit your grant. By signing the Agreement, your organisation is declaring that it will follow all the conditions outlined the in Agreement. What does Acquittal mean? Acquittal means providing the Department of the Premier and Cabinet with all the necessary documents to demonstrate that your organisation has spent your grant monies as specified in the original Grant Agreement. When you receive your Grant, you will also receive an Acquittal Pack, which outlines all the documents that need to be completed by your organisation to successfully acquit your Grant. You will be required to complete and supply the following information: Accountability Statement Project Evaluation Report Copies of all official receipts/tax invoices for all funding provided to you Proof that your Grant has been publicly acknowledged as specified in your Grant Agreement An example of these forms can be found on our website Page 12 of 15

13 What is an Accountability Statement? The Accountability Statement is required to be completed by your organisation as part of the acquittal process. It requires two authorised members of your organisation to certify that the grant monies were spent on items for the project as outlined in your Grant Agreement. The Statement lists all of the items purchased with your grant monies, as well as the cost (excluding GST) for each item. Official receipts and tax invoices will need to be attached to the Accountability Statement for all items purchased. What is a Project Evaluation Report? This report will need to be completed as part of the acquittal process. Your organisation will be required to provide specific written information detailing the outcomes of the project funded, such as how many people were assisted by the project, if your original intentions for the project were achieved, and the success of the project. What is Public Acknowledgment? Public Acknowledgment is part of the acquittal process where the successful organisation provides proof that it has publicly acknowledged the funding received from the Government of South Australia to complete the approved project. The specific terms of any public acknowledgement required will be outlined in your Grant Agreement. Examples of public acknowledgement could be photos of a plaque erected at your organisation that acknowledges the Government of South Australia, or a copy of your organisation s newsletter article acknowledging the Government of South Australia. The correct terminology to use is This Project is supported by a grant from the Government of South Australia. If you wish to use the Government Logo please contact Grant Programs Unit first. How long after the successful? closing date will I find out if my application has been It is anticipated that organisations will be advised of the outcome of their application in approximately March Page 13 of 15

14 What records is our organisation required to keep if we are successful in receiving a grant? A copy of your completed Application Form for future reference The Acquittal Folder that will be posted to you after you have received your grant monies A copy of the completed Grant Agreement (an original will be forwarded to you with your grant monies) All official receipts and tax invoices for all items purchased with the grant monies (as per your Grant Agreement) A copy of the proof that your organisation publicly acknowledged receiving a grant. If I am successful, how long will I have to wait to receive the money? There are various factors which can influence this. Your organisation will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Premier of South Australia prior to receiving any grant monies. The time it takes for your Grant Agreement to be signed correctly and returned to the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for execution may effect the time it takes for us to commence the payment process. Once the signed Grant Agreement has been returned, the Department will endeavour to forward the grant monies to successful organisations during May Keep this in mind when completing the Application Form, in particular, when providing the start and end dates for your project. The grant monies cannot be spent on a project that has already commenced or is due to commence prior to the signing of the Grant Agreement. What support does the Grant Programs Unit provide my organisation? You can contacts the Grant Programs Unit at any time (during business hours) to discuss your project. The Grant Programs Unit will contact you quarterly to see how the project is going and in most cases will come on a site visit once your project is completed. Page 14 of 15

15 I have received a grant from the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund in the past, when am I next eligible to apply? Organisations are eligible to receive funding two years AFTER the date they signed their last Grant Agreement from the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund, ie. if you receive a grant, you must skip two Rounds before you can re-apply. T he table below shows the eligibility to apply dates for the last three rounds. If your last successful grant application was in Round 5 or earlier, and you have satisfactorily acquitted that grant, you should be eligible to apply in this round, subject to meeting all other eligibility requirements. Contact Grant Programs Unit if you require further clarification. Timing of previous rounds of the Premier s Community Initiatives Fund Last Round Successful in Opening/Closing Dates Date of Grant Agreement Next Round Eligible to Apply Round 8 August/September 2009 March 2009 Round 11 Round 7 August/September 2008 January 2009 Round 10 Round 6 August/October 2007 February 2008 Round 9 Page 15 of 15