Grant/Funding Information
GRANTS NOW OPEN:
Regional Development Infrastructure Fund (RDIF)
is a $3 million per year fund administered by the Department of Trade and Economic Development. Grants are available for up to 50 per cent of eligible infrastructure costs. For further information and a copy of the RDIF guidelines contact Regional Development Australia Yorke and Mid North at 31 Hallett Street, Kadina or phone 8821 1099.
Active Club Program opens 27 August 2011 and closes on 24 October 2011.
The Active Club Program provides financial assistance to not for profit community-based active recreation and sporting organisations to develop and expand the services they provide. Eligible organisations can apply for funding in one of the following three categories:
1. Programs and Equipment - up to $10,000
2. Facility - up to $20,000
3. Youth at Risk (YAR) - up to $10,000
For information and a copy of the guidelines contact the funding consultant on (08) 7424 7708 or email ORSgrants@sa.gov.au / visit www.recsport.sa.gov.au
Community Recreation and Sport Facilities Program opens 20 August 2011 and closes on 24 October 2011. The CRSFP provides funding for the development of new or existing sport or active recreation facilities.
Active recreation and sport clubs/associations, Local Government Authorities and school councils are eligible to apply for facility projects that meet a demonstrated community need.
Requests for facility funding of between $20,000 and $50,000 will be considered and applicants must be able to verify that they can at least match the level of funding requested (this can include in-kind contributions such as voluntary labour and donated materials).
For a copy of the guidelines and application form go to www.recsport.sa.gov.au or contact my office on 8832 2455.
Statewide Enhancement Program (StEP) opens 15 October 2011 and closes on 12 December 2011. StEP supports a range of funding initiatives including core activities and programs/services that have a regional or statewide impact for the active recreation and sport industry. Funding is offered under two streams; State Organisation Support funding & Sport and Active Recreation Project funding. For details contact my office or go to www.recsport.sa.gov.au
Premier’s Community Initiatives Fund the fund provides financial assistance for projects that benefit disadvantaged, disabled or socially isolated members of the community. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to assist organisations to undertake a one-off project.
Round 10 is scheduled to open soon, to be placed on the mailing list contact the Grants Program Unit on 8226 2815 or email pcif@dpc.sa.gov.au
GRANTS! Now that I have your attention, let’s talk about grants. Much of the contact made with the Goyder electorate office is for assistance with grant funding programs available to community organisations. Many find the task of finding suitable funding initiatives and applying for them a daunting task but I hope that the following information will provide a helping hand and make the task a more pleasant experience.
Letters of Support. Anyone who has completed a grant application knows that providing evidence of community support is generally required. This could be from stakeholders in the project, the local Council or your State and Federal members of Parliament. My office is happy to provide community organisations with letters of support to accompany their applications and provide the following information to assist:
• Get in early! Letters of support are usually highlighted at the end of the application and are only thought of at the end of the process and close to the deadline. When you receive your application package make contact with those you require letters of support from straight away, this saves you having to rush around at the last minute and is appreciated by those being approached to prepare a letter for you.
• Be clear on the project that you are seeking funding on and have all relevant information on hand when requesting your letter of support. Generally you will be asked to provide an overview of your project, how the project is going to benefit the club and/or wider community, general club information and what fundraising efforts have been made to contribute to the cost of the project.
Where do I go to find grants? Finding grants can be like finding a needle in a haystack if you don’t know where to look but there are many ways to search for grants, such as:
• Keep your eye on the newspapers. Details of funding rounds are generally advertised in papers such as The Advertiser, YP Country Times and the Plains Producer.
• The internet holds a wealth of information and there are many websites dedicated to providing details of the hundreds of funding programs available:
• Your local Council. Many Council’s provide funding to community organisations through a funding program or by special application. Contact your local Council for details.
• Your Federal and State Members of Parliament. The offices of your Federal and State members are available to provide information and assistance with grants and are only too happy to help.
o Federal electorate of Grey – Mr Rowan Ramsey MP, ph. 1300 301 742.