Funding for community organisations to improve their programs and services

First, we check that you meet the eligibility criteria. Then we assess your application against the assessment criteria.

The assessment criteria are a set of rules that describe how we must assess each application.

This is a competitive process, and your application will be assessed against other applications.

In most cases, there is a high demand for the grants, and you may not receive the full amount you applied for.

The following assessment criterion are equally weighted. The guidelines have further detail on the criterion.

• Assessment criterion 1: Improvement – the project will build capacity, enhance viability or improve facilities and resources for your organisation
• Assessment criterion 2: Evidence of need in the community
• Assessment criterion 3: Sustainability – the application explains how the items will be maintained after the purchase
• Assessment criterion 5: Realistic budget and timeframe

The amount of detail and supporting evidence you provide will impact the assessment of your grant. The more detailed and supported your application is, the stronger it will be.

The program delegate makes the final decision.

Sample applications

The best way to understand what information you need to provide is to start an application.

Technical help

SmartyGrants provides an online help guide for applicants. This guide will explain the essential steps you need to take to complete and submit your form.

When your application is received it will be checked against these grant guidelines to ensure eligibility for funding.

Following the pre-eligibility check, a Grant Assessment Team will assess your application. The Grant Assessment Team will include a chairperson and 2 other senior officers within the Community Services Directorate.

Panel members will use the information provided in your application and information from any previous Community Services Directorate grant rounds to assess the applications submitted.

If you have been successful in other recent grant rounds, the panel may take this into consideration during their assessment considering the high number of applications received to ensure fairness across all applicants.

All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications in writing. Successful applicants will be advised in writing by the Minister for Community Services and a Letter of Offer will be sent by the Community Services Directorate.

This process is expected to take a minimum of 12 weeks. You may not hear anything from the Community Services Directorate during this time.

All successful applicants must spend the funds within the timeframes listed in their Letter of Offer.

An acquittal is a signed declaration, submitted at the end of the activity, stating that funding was used for the agreed purpose. This includes providing copies of receipts as proof of expenditure.

Acquittal process

The acquittal of the grant is managed through SmartyGrants.

Instructions will be provided to successful applicants in their Letter of Offer. You will need to login using the same identification details you used to submit the application. Keep this in a safe place.

The funds must be expended in accordance with the activity/project outlined in the grant application and in the Letter of Offer, and all receipts must be retained and submitted with the acquittal.

Your grant is funded based on the details of your application only. If something changes due to unexpected circumstances, you must first get written approval from the Community Services Directorate. Your request to change the project will be reviewed by the Delegate and you will be advised in writing if the request is approved or declined. Failure to seek approval to change the purpose can result in non-conformance and may result in you having to return the full grant amount that was paid by the Community Services Directorate.

Unspent funds

Any unspent funds from your grant must be returned to Community Services Directorate. Email the Community Services Directorate Grants team at CSDgrants@act.gov.au to advise of any unspent funds.