Grant Application General Guidelines

  1. “N” District Member Clubs are invited to apply:

    a) to the Foundation for financial assistance to undertake sight, medical and health projects or activities or purchase equipment (each a Project) that falls within the purposes of the Foundation and cannot be funded from other sources. A Project could include the purchase of equipment for medical institutions or medical equipment for the use of a group or individual within the community who are handicapped or disabled; and

    b) on behalf of eligible recipients for receipt of grants for Projects to relieve poverty, distress or disadvantage, including for the purposes specified in the deed establishing the Fund.

  2. Applicants are encouraged to liaise with at least one of the Directors of the Foundation representing their District regarding their Club’s proposed Project and seek their advice and assistance when compiling their grant application submissions.

  3. The purpose and recipient of the grant will determine whether the funds for the grant will be provided by the Foundation or the Fund.

  4. The Fund is a Public Ancillary Fund and may only provide grants in furtherance of its purposes 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). (Refer Fund Grant Guidelines)

  5. The Foundation may provide grants to recipients in furtherance of its purposes including to member Clubs that wish to assist the community or individuals by undertaking a Project, such as the purchase of a wheelchair, equipment for a Special Needs Classroom or a Braille machine for an individual. (Refer Foundation Grant Guidelines).

  6. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of the Foundation or the Fund Advisory Committee, the maximum amount of any single grant for a Project is $15,000.

  7. Applicants for funding from the Foundation are expected to self-fund at least 50 percent of the total GST exclusive cost of the Project for which the grant application is made.

  8. Each grant application will be considered on its merits and will be subject to availability of funds for the Foundation or the Fund (as the case may be).

  9. A grant application may not be made for reimbursement of funds for any Project that has commenced or a Project that has already been funded.

  10. Grants will not be paid until the Foundation or the Fund (as the case may be) has received an itemised Tax Invoice (or certified copies thereof) made out to the Club or grant recipient from the supplier of the goods or services in respect of which the grant has been sought.

  11. No applications to fund building construction will be considered.

  12. Grant applications should be lodged as early as possible prior to the dates referred to in paragraph 13, so that they may be checked by the Board of the Foundation or the Fund Advisory Committee (as the case may be) and any deficiencies in the application and/or supporting documents may be identified and rectified or clarifications provided.

  13. The deadline for the lodgement of grant applications is the 15 th day of the month preceding the next Foundation Board or Fund Advisory Committee meeting, that is 15th day of February, July or October. However, an emergency grant application for any amount or normal grant applications for amounts up to $5,000 (GST exclusive) should be lodged as soon as practicable and may be considered via a specially convened meeting of the Board of the Foundation or the Fund Advisory Committee.

  14. The information in the application should comprise a summary of the detailed supporting documents accompanying the application. This is particularly where the application relies on information of a medical or technical nature which must be verified in writing by a qualified professional.

  15. Submission of a grant application does not guarantee approval of provision of a grant. Applicants will be informed in writing of the outcome of their application as soon as practicable after the Foundation Board or Fund Advisory Committee has made its decision.

  16. Successful applicants will be required to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Foundation or the Fund (as the case may be) which sets out the terms and conditions on which the grant is made.

  17. For ongoing recognition, the Foundation recommends that the applicant Club to arrange and pay for suitable identification (e.g. an engraved plate, where practical) to be fixed prominently to the item(s) naming the applicant Club (if applicable) and the Foundation or Fund (as the case may be) as donor. Where the grant recipient is an institution, the Foundation recommends that a framed certificate for display in their premises and/or an acknowledgement on their Honour Board is requested.

  18. The Club must provide a Final Report to the Foundation or the Fund (as the case may be) with respect to the distribution of the grant, including photos of the presentation of the funds and/or the equipment purchased.

  19. When considering undertaking a Project, member Clubs explore obtaining funding from a variety of additional sources such as other Clubs, ALF, LCIF, local councils, other philanthropic institutions, the recipient (where the recipient is not a Club), members of the community and local businesses. Funds from these sources may reduce the financial burden on the applicant Club.

NOTE:
If an application for funding is approved, insurance for the Project or equipment (if required) and ongoing maintenance of any item that may be purchased with grant monies from the Foundation or Fund (as the case may be) is the responsibility of the recipient. Neither the Foundation nor the Fund will provide further grant monies to remedy any issue with an item purchased with a grant and any such issue should be pursued by the recipient from the supplier.