Lions NSW-ACT Sight & Health Fund Grants

Applications are directed to the Lions NSW-ACT Sight & Health Foundation (Foundation) as Trustee for the Lions NSW-ACT Sight & Health Fund (Fund).

Fund Grant Guidelines

  1. The Fund may provide grants to eligible recipients in order to relieve poverty, distress or disadvantage, including for the purposes specified in the Fund’s Trust Deed on application by member Clubs on their behalf.

  2. A Grant Application on behalf of an eligible recipient should be formally adopted by the member Club and the form signed by any (2) of the President, Secretary or Project Chair.

  3. All Grant Applications must include:

    • a letter from the member Club to the Fund Advisory Committee providing full details of the proposed project, equipment or activity and explaining why the grant is needed; and

    • a letter from the proposed recipient, addressed to the member Club describing the need and requesting assistance; and

    • copies of supporting documents, including a description of the need for the equipment or the research to be undertaken, which must be verified in writing by an impartial appropriately qualified individual such as a Medical Specialist or Medical Body. Assessments and recommendations from manufacturers or suppliers of equipment are not sufficient evidence of such need; and

    • where it is proposed that the grant be expended on the purchase of equipment, two detailed quotes from separate suppliers for each item of equipment must be supplied. The only exception to this requirement is where an impartial and appropriately qualified medical professional specifies a particular item as being the only equipment that is suitable for the intended purpose or certifies that despite all reasonable efforts, no other suppliers could be found.

  4. The deed establishing the Fund provides that grants may only be made to an “Eligible Entity”, which is defined in the deed establishing the Fund as a fund, authority or institution which is “charitable” within the meaning of the Charities Act 2013 (Cth) and to which gifts which are deductible under item 1 of the table in section 30-15 of Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth). Member Clubs are therefore not eligible to receive grants from the Fund.

  5. To ensure that this requirement is satisfied, the Grant Application must include the written consent of the proposed recipient, confirmation of the recipient’s endorsement as a deductible gift recipient (DGR) and the Australian Business Number of the proposed recipient. The proposed recipient’s DGR endorsement and legal name can be checked on the Australian Business Register: www.abr.business.gov.au.

  6. The quotes/invoices provided in support of the Grant Application must:

    • specify the cost of each item of equipment exclusive of goods and services tax (GST); and

    • be made out in the name of the proposed recipient of the grant; and

    • be fully itemised and clearly specify the GST exclusive cost.

  7. The grant recipient is required to pay any applicable GST in respect of the project or equipment funded, which may then be claimed from the Australian Tax Office.

  8. Fund grants will be for an amount approved by the Fund Advisory Committee and may not be a fixed amount. If the amount(s) shown on the supplier’s Tax Invoice(s) is less than their accepted quotes(s), the grant will not be increased to cover such amount and will need to be paid by the recipient.

  9. Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Foundation in its capacity as trustee of the Fund, which sets out the terms and conditions on which the grant is made.

  10. If the grant recipient does not enter into a Grant Agreement within twelve (12) months from the date of approval by the Fund Advisory Committee, the grant will lapse. The applicant may re-apply or seek an extension of time to enter into the Grant Agreement and/or expend the grant. Any such request must be lodged in writing prior to the approval lapsing and must include a full explanation of the reason(s) for the delay.

  11. Fund Grant applications must be made using this form (link to come).