North Sydney Council’s Small Grants Program (Australia)

Dollar allocations are determined according to a project review, the project’s capacity to address areas of high priority social need and the organisation’s financial capabilities.

Objectives

• Provision of projects or services that are principally for the benefit of residents of North Sydney local government area.
• Engage and connect communities and reduce social isolation.
• Celebrate a culturally diverse community by facilitating and supporting local community cultural activities.
• Facilitate and enhance arts and cultural programs and facilities.
• Enhanced community safety and accessibility including support for drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, safety at home.
• Promote health and wellbeing, including recreation and leisure activities for all ages and abilities.
• Facilitating access to affordable housing and low cost accommodation as well as assistance for people at risk of homelessness.
• Encourage lifelong learning and volunteering.
• Provision of community services, facilities and information for children, families, young people, older people and people with disabilities.

Funding Information

• Funding amounts available are generally in the range of $500 to $2,000 with $2,000 being the maximum awarded per project per year.

Ineligible Projects

• Activities that promote or advance a specific religious or political belief system.
• Fundraising appeals or general donations to charities.
• Funding for individuals.
• Funding for private property capital expenses.
• Projects that duplicate existing services.
• Applications for projects that will primarily service non-North Sydney local government area residents.
• Ongoing operational costs. Funds are not available for ongoing service delivery such as staff wages, rent, administration costs. The Small Grants program is for one-off funding.
• State or federal government departments (including schools or tertiary institutions), or projects which fall under the responsibility of another tier of government. Parents and Citizens Associations can only apply for projects that can demonstrate the project is accessible and beneficial to the broader community (ie benefits reach beyond the school community).
• Applications for projects that will primarily benefit ‘for profit’ activities ie business organisations and networks.
• Projects that already receive funding from another type of Council funding (eg Green Schools or Creative Grants programs).

Eligibility Criteria

• Grants will only be awarded to:
  • Incorporated not-for-profit organisations based in and/or servicing the North Sydney local government area; or community groups in the North Sydney local government area auspiced by an incorporated not-for-profit organisation (ie local community centres such as the Kirribilli Centre, North Sydney Community Centre or Crows Nest Centre. In these circumstances the funding is distributed to the auspice and the applicant will need to work with the auspice to deliver the project).
  • The organisation must undertake the project for which the grant has been awarded within the specified time frame ie the financial year in which the grant is awarded. Applications for extensions will only be considered under extenuating circumstances and must be formally requested in writing, addressed to the CEO. If an extension to complete the project is approved, the maximum time limit would be an additional six months.
  • Previous funding gained through this grants program must have been acquitted.

For more information, visit North Sydney Council.