FSC Community Grants

The Community Grants Program aims to:

• Support initiatives that deliver social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits
• Strengthen community organisations and participation
• Encourage local collaboration and partnerships
• Deliver measurable community outcomes, including participation, economic impact and social benefits
• Align funded initiatives with Council’s Corporate Plan and strategic priorities

General Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be located in or demonstrate benefit to the Flinders Shire
• Deliver activities aligned with community purpose
• Submit complete applications by required deadlines
• Organisations that currently receive capital funding from Council or use a Council maintained facility (facility funding only).
• The community group facilities must be on Freehold land, Crown land or land under an acceptable deed, trust or tenure for non-profit incorporated bodies.

Purpose

Support small-scale projects, events and initiatives that enhance community participation and wellbeing.

Applications must demonstrate:

Facility Infrastructure Applications.

• Facilities are on Freehold land, Crown land or land under an acceptable deed, trust or tenure for non-profit incorporated bodies.

Eligible Applicants

• Community organisations (not-for-profit)
• Incorporated associations or equivalent entities
• Schools (Events and Donations Streams only)

 Ineligible Applicants

• Organisations with outstanding acquittals
• Commercial enterprises (unless delivering clear community benefit)

Eligible Activities (What can be funded)

• Community events, workshops and activities
• Minor facility upgrades, maintenance or accessibility improvements
• Purchase of equipment that provides ongoing community benefit
• Program delivery costs (e.g. facilitators, venue hire, materials)
• Marketing and promotion directly related to the funded activity

Ineligible Activities (What will not be funded)

• Ongoing operational costs (e.g. electricity, rates, phone, rent, insurance, salaries/wages for staff and maintenance)
• Retrospective funding (costs already incurred)
• Projects with primarily commercial or private benefit
• Alcohol purchases, prizes or gift cards unrelated to project or event outcomes
• Activities outside the Flinders Shire with no demonstrated local benefit

Funding Details

• Up to $5,000
• No co-contribution required (encouraged but not mandatory)
• Applications must be received a minimum of 8 weeks prior and no later than 6 months before the events.

Budget Requirements

Applicants must include:

• A clear and itemised budget showing all income and expenditure
• Quotes or reasonable estimates for significant expenditure items (where available)
• Identification of GST status (GST inclusive/exclusive)
• Identification of all funding sources (Council, other grants, sponsorship, own funds)
• In-kind contributions clearly listed with an assigned fair market value
• A breakdown showing exactly how Council funds will be spent

Please note: Budgets that are incomplete, unclear or unrealistic may impact the assessment outcome.

Purpose

Support larger projects and events with significant community and/or economic impact.

Applications must demonstrate:

Facility Infrastructure Applications

• Facilities are on Freehold land, Crown land or land under an acceptable deed, trust or tenure for non-profit incorporated bodies.

Eligible Applicants

• Community organisations (not-for-profit)
• Incorporated associations or equivalent entities
• Schools (Events and Donations Streams only)

 Ineligible Applicants

• Organisations with outstanding acquittals
• Commercial enterprises (unless delivering clear community benefit)

Eligible Activities (What can be funded)

• Large-scale community or regional events
• Events attracting visitors or delivering tourism and economic impact
• Major facility upgrades or infrastructure improvements
• Significant equipment purchases providing long-term community benefit
• Project delivery and event costs including contractors, logistics and promotion

Ineligible Activities (What will not be funded)

• Ongoing operational costs not directly tied to the project or event
• Retrospective funding (costs already incurred)
• Projects with primarily private or commercial benefit
• General fundraising activities with no defined project outcomes
• Expenditure not clearly linked to project or event delivery
• Organisations that currently receive capital funding from Council or use a Council maintained facility (facility infrastructure applications only).
• Alcohol purchases, prizes or gift cards unrelated to project or event outcomes

Funding Details

• $5,001 to $20,000
• Minimum 10% co-contribution (cash or in-kind)
• Applications must be received a minimum of 8 weeks prior and no later than 6 months before the event.
• Limited to one successful application per organisation per financial year

Budget Requirements

Applicants must provide:

• A comprehensive and itemised project budget
• Written quotes or detailed cost estimates for major expenditure items
• Full breakdown of all income sources (Council funding, grants, sponsorship, applicant contribution)
• Identification of confirmed and pending funding
• Clear evidence of minimum 10% co-contribution
• GST status clearly identified across all budget items
• In-kind contributions detailed with assigned financial value
• A clear breakdown demonstrating how Council funds will be allocated across the project

Please note: Council may request additional financial information to support assessment where required.

Purpose

Provide timely support for small, urgent or unforeseen community needs.

Eligibility 

• Community organisations (not-for-profit)
• Incorporated associations or equivalent entities
• Schools (Events and Donations Streams only)

Requirements

• Demonstrate immediate community benefit.
• Provide details of the intended use of the requested funds. 
• Applications must be received a minimum of 6 weeks prior to the event.

Purpose

Support local residents representing the region, state or country in sporting competitions.

Eligibility

• Individuals (Sporting Excellence only) - Must be a Flinders Shire resident or a school-aged dependent of a resident.
• The trip must be organised by a regional, state, national or internationally. accredited peak body/organisation;
• The applicant must have been selected through a point systems, placings or selection through a formal sporting body in their chosen sport.
• Applications must be received a minimum of 4 weeks prior to the event. 
• If under any circumstances the competitor does not attend the event, they must return all funds to the Council within two weeks after the completion of the event.

Requirements

Applicants must provide:

• Evidence of selection or qualification
• Event details (location, level, dates)
• Proof of residency.  

Funding Levels

• North Queensland representation (within Queensland): $500
• Queensland representation (within Queensland): $500
• Queensland representation (interstate): $1,000
• Australia representation (within Australia): $1,500
• Australia representation (overseas): $2,000

• All applications are to be submitted via SmartyGrants.
• In determining the level of assistance required, Council shall:
  • Ensure applications are eligible.
  • Assess application against the Selection Criteria (see above).
  • Establish the level of funding available in terms of its’ coming budget requirements.
  • Apportion such funding across each application eligible for funding.
• Applicants will be advised of outcomes after the relevant Council meeting.

Successful applicants:

You will receive a Letter of Offer for the sponsorship amount within 2 weeks of approval. Your Community Organisation will be required to submit an invoice for payment and return your signed Letter of Acceptance (except for recipients of Donations and Sporting Excellence).

If your event is occurring in a new financial year, payment may be requested to be held off until 1 July. Conditions will be outlined in your Letter of Offer.

All funds must be expended, and acquittal reports completed via SmartyGrants as per your Letter of Offer.

Further funding will not be given until acquittal reports are received and approved.

Unsuccessful applicants:

Failure to receive funding is not necessarily due to a poor application but may be the result of the demand for funds. Council reserves the right to offer a smaller amount if total budget is over subscribed.

For feedback on your application, please refer to the contact phone number given in your notification letter. You may wish to consider submitting another application at a later date.

Taree Walsh - Community Development Officer, Health and Wellbeing

Flinders Shire Council

PO Box 274

HUGHENDEN QLD 4821

P: (07) 4741 2900

E: sportandrec@flinders.qld.gov.au