Grants and Funding

Grants to Community Organisations

Southern Downs Regional Council has a number of grants available under its Grants to Community Organisations policy including General Grants, Annual Grants and Provision of Plant and Equipment Hire (in-kind). Applications from community organisations for grants and donations or sponsorship from Council must now fall within one of these three grant categories.

Community organisations may be eligible for more than one grant type however the combined grant amount must not exceed $2000.00 in a financial year, except where an Annual Grant is approved.

 No PL-CM017 - Grants to Community Organisations Policy

Eligibility Criteria

Community organisations must satisfy the following eligibility criteria in order to apply for any community grants from Council specified under the Grants to Community Organisations policy:

  1. Organisations must be based in the Southern Downs and provide services and activities to benefit residents of the region. 
  2. The objective of the organisation must be solely non-profit making. 
  3. Organisations that operate a commercial licensed premises and/or gaming machines will not be eligible for assistance. 
  4. State and Commonwealth agencies will not be eligible for assistance. This includes both public and private schools (including P&C Associations and Parent Groups) and Rural Fire Services Groups. 
  5. Organisations must be incorporated or sponsored by an incorporated body.

Council does not guarantee that funds will be available for the approval and payment of all grant applications, and approval of such grants will be dependent upon availability of funds in the general budget.

1. GENERAL GRANTS

 

  Maximum Limits
Monetary Donation - Sponsorship up to $150.00
Monetary Donation - Capital Projects up to $500.00
Fee Relief - Certain Statutory Council Fees (non-recurrent) up to $1000.00
Fee Relief - Council disposal fees for garbage produced at an event conducted by a community group up to $500.00


Applications will only be accepted when a General Grant round is open. Applications received outside of the two financial year rounds will not be accepted.

Applications for a general grant are to be made on the relevant application form.

Applications must be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer and can be submitted to Council by post or in person at the Council offices located in Stanthorpe or Warwick. Faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted.

Conditions may apply to any approved general grant.

General Grants Program - Information Sheet & Check List

For further information, contact Council’s Community Development Section on 4681 5500.

2. ANNUAL GRANTS

Under the Annual Grants program, Council may consider providing grants to certain eligible community organisations to assist in achieving their strategic goals.

To apply for an Annual Grant, complete the relevant application form and submit to Council by no later than 31 March each year for consideration in the budget process for the following financial year.

Community organisations wishing to receive an annual grant will need to re-apply on the relevant application form for each financial year that the organisation would like a grant.

Conditions may apply to any approved annual grant.

 Annual Grants Application Form (MS Word Version)
 Annual Grants Application Form (Adobe PDF Version)

For further information, contact Council’s Community Development Section on 4681 5500.

3. PROVISION OF PLANT AND EQUIPMENT HIRE (IN-KIND)

Eligible community organisations may apply to Council for a grant for provision of plant and equipment hire (in-kind).


All applications for a grant of Council plant and equipment hire must be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer and received by Council no later than 30 April each year for payment in the following financial year. An application form is available for completion by organisations wishing to apply to Council for a plant and equipment hire grant.

 

However, as a community organisation may at times decide to host an event, which was not planned prior to the 30 April cut-off, Council will accept applications for the provision of plant and equipment hire for these events throughout the year and will determine them on a case by case basis. Applications need to be submitted to Council a minimum of 3 weeks prior to the event to enable the request to be considered and if approved, the work programmed into Council's work schedule.

 Application Form - Plant and Equipment Hire

For further information, contact Council’s Engineering Services on 4661 0300.

4. MAYORAL DONATION FUND

A Mayoral Donation Fund of $1500.00 per annum is available for grant assistance at the Mayor’s discretion. Assistance under this fund is normally provided to groups or individuals not eligible for other grants under the Grants to Community Organisations policy. Applications for assistance under the Mayoral Donation Fund should be made in writing to:

The Mayor
Southern Downs Regional Council
PO Box 26
WARWICK QLD 4370

For further information, contact Council’s Executive Services on 4661 0300.

Additional information is also available about each of the grants in the Grants to Community Organisations policy.

 

Community Event Grants

The Community Event Grants program is designed to provide financial and/or in-kind assistance for non-commercial community events that will be held in the Southern Downs. If your community organisation is looking for financial assistance for an event that may be outside the scope of Council’s General Grants program, you may consider applying for an Event Grant.
It should be noted that even if your community organisation has traditionally received assistance each year from Council for your event, your organisation will need to apply in writing to Council each year by the deadline to ensure consideration in the budget for the following financial year.
Applicants will be notified in the new financial year as to whether their request has been approved, including any limitations or conditions that may apply to such approvals.
Conditions may apply to any approved event grant and an acquittal will be required after the event.
For further information, contact Council’s Community Services Department on 4681 5500 or 4661 0300.

 

Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF)

The Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) provides regional Queenslanders with funding for one-off, short-term projects that offer professional arts, cultural and heritage development opportunities. RADF is a partnership between the Queensland Government, through Arts Queensland, and local government.
Funding rounds are called twice in each financial year (usually around September and March). These will be advertised in local papers within the Shire.

Application forms are available from Council Offices, Art Galleries and Libraries.

Click Here for:


Queensland Gov Arts website, Enter Here


Warwick Regional Sport and Recreation Association

 

There are two rounds per year, called in January/February and September/October.  Advertisements are placed in the local newspapers and forms are available either through the Southern Downs Regional Council website or at the Warwick and Stanthorpe Council offices.

 
Council is a member of the Warwick Regional Sport and Recreation Association. Through this involvement, funding is available for incorporated community groups and organisations to apply for grants. The maximum grant available is generally up to $850 for Warwick based groups and up to $750 for Stanthorpe based groups (unless otherwise specially advertised).  Grants must be used to promote sport and recreation with the view to increasing knowledge and/or increasing membership to the applicant organisations. This is normally achieved through workshops, tutorials, clinics or come 'n' try events.


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