News Corp Bushfire Fund Grants

Through the provision of grants, the aim of this program is to address a range of needs, including but not limited to:

• Community infrastructure and equipment that strengthens volunteer community groups and their activities;
• Emergency equipment and facilities (excludes individual aid);
• Mental health and wellbeing; and
• Rebuilding communities – from infrastructure repairs or upgrades, to governance, capacity building or operational support.

Applications can be made by not-for-profit community-based organisations operating in rural communities in an LGA with a bushfire disaster declaration, from September 2019 to April 2020.

Over $380,000 in funds is available in this grant round. Grants of up to $25,000 will be made to projects that are aligned with the program objectives, which include but are not limited to, supporting infrastructure, community resilience and community mental health and wellbeing.

Projects must be located in an LGA with a bushfire disaster declaration from September 2019 to April 2020. All eligible applications are considered on their merit. Applications are assessed based on the documentation received at the time of application.

It is anticipated that this will be the final funding round for this program.

Applications that are clearly focused on supporting the recovery from the 2019/2020 bushfires will be considered. As a general guide, projects should deliver wide community benefit and can contribute to activities including:

1. Building Community Resilience
2. Developing Organisational Resilience and Capacity
3. Enhancing Environmental Sustainability
4. Fostering Cultural Vibrancy
5. Lifelong Education and Training
6. Economic Strength
7. Improving Community Health and Social Wellbeing

Applicants are encouraged to ensure project applications suit their local community’s needs, priorities and interests, and are welcome to discuss their application with FRRR staff on the contact details above.

There are several areas that we can’t fund through this program. If in doubt, please contact us.

• Projects that support core business and areas of responsibility of Federal, State or Local Governments;
• Ongoing core organisational operational costs (e.g. rent, utilities, regular wages, loan repayments);
• The encouragement or advancement of sport, recreation and social activities are not considered charitable activities under Australian law. Applications from sporting organisations need to clearly demonstrate charitable outcomes and benefit to the wider community that are above and beyond the sporting activities of the club;
• Overseas travel and overseas projects;
• Prizes, gifts, trophies or awards;
• Activities that have already occurred or will occur before the grant is confirmed;
• Political lobbying;
• Religious or faith-based activities;
• Activities that are for private benefit or which are the core responsibility of Government;
• Animal welfare;
• Rescue services;
• Medical research;
• Sponsorship or fundraising activities;
• Contributions towards capital projects, major equipment and refurbishments that are reliant on other funding and approvals yet to be obtained in order to be completed.

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a not-for-profit community-based organisation in Australia that was impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires;
• Be a not-for-profit, community-based organisation with an ABN or Incorporation Certificate;
• Project must offer clear public benefit (i.e. has a charitable purpose);
• Organisations with or without DGR endorsement are eligible to apply;
• An organisation is eligible to submit one application per grant round;
• Projects must be in a remote, rural or regional area.

Please note, you will be considered ineligible if the:

• An application has already been submitted for the current grant round;
• Application is submitted by individuals, sole traders, private or commercial businesses (as per the submitted ABN);
• Application is submitted by an organisation that is not a legal entity, without the written consent of the governing / partnering body who holds the ABN / Incorporation number;
• Application is submitted without required financial documentation (see additional information on the second tab);
• Final report/s from any FRRR grants awarded in the previous seven years have not been acquitted (delivery organisations should check with legal organisation to see if there are any outstanding final reports);
• Application is for a project or activity that has already occurred / is occurring prior to the announcement of funding;
• Application is incomplete. NOTE: Due to the volume of applications received, applications are assessed based on the documentation received at the time of application. FRRR is unlikely to follow up missing documentation after applications have been submitted.

A clear description of exactly what the grant funds will be used for, when and where the project will happen, who will benefit and who will be involved in delivering the project, why the project and grant funds are needed, how funds will be spent and how the activities and success of the project will be recorded, evaluated and shared.

Where possible, also indicate that your community is ready to deliver the project and if required, can support the initiative ongoing – i.e. awareness of need is widespread, appropriate leadership, resources, skills and knowledge exist in the community.

Helpful resources:

Tips for great applications

Applications received without the requested financial information are ineligible. Providing incorrect information on financials is currently the most frequent reason why applications are not considered.

• For organisations that have audited financials: Attach the most recent annual audited statements;
• For organisations that do not have audited financials: Attach the most recent 12 months Income and Expenditure Statement. If you have a Balance Sheet, please also submit;
• For organisations less than one year old: Provide Bank Statements for the period you have been operating.

Please note:

• If financial documents are more than 18 months old, please provide an explanation as to why the organisation does not have more recent documents;
• Bank Statements are only acceptable as financial documentation if your organisation has been operating for less than one year;
• Explain any deficits and steps to sustain the organisation financially;
• Provide a brief explanation of any large financial surplus or current assets and reasons why FRRR funds are still required;
• Income and Expenditure statements must cover a full 12-month period.
• Please contact us if you cannot provide required financials or you are unsure about what to provide.
• Why is this important?
• FRRR uses this information to understand your organisation’s ability to manage the grant funds and its financial viability.

You must include a project budget that clearly shows the items that FRRR grant funds will be used for and shows all income and expenses related to your project.

Budgets should be realistic and must add up – i.e. total expenditure must match total income.

Applicant contributions in cash or in-kind are highly regarded. Quotes or detailed rationale for items over $1,000 are
required, where possible. Note: FRRR suggests costing unskilled volunteer labour at $41.00 per hour.

Helpful resources:

How do I cost labour in my project?

Preparing your budget

Every application needs to include an organisation that holds either an ABN or Incorporation Certificate. If your organisation doesn’t have that, FRRR could still fund the project (with your organisation as the delivery organisation) but you need another organisation’s support, which we refer to as the ‘legal organisation’.

Even though your organisation may complete the application (and will be doing the work), it’s the overarching organisation’s legal and financial information that needs to be provided. They also need to provide a letter of support, confirming they are willing to play this role.

This situation often occurs often when the organisation delivering the activity or project is a branch of an overarching organisation – such as a local CWA or YMCA branch.

FRRR strongly recommends that you provide supporting materials such as letters of support, community plans, survey results, photographs, media clips and research reports that can show the wider community support and partnerships involved in the project.

Large documents should be referenced and explained in the application.

Helpful resources:

Tips on taking great photos

Why is this important?

FRRR makes grants to communities, but we also need to be able to demonstrate to our funding partners where communities need support. To help us do this, we have grouped the kinds of projects communities commonly us us to help fund into seven areas, which we call the Activity Tree:
1. Building community resilience
2. Developing organisational resilience and capacity
3. Enhancing environmental sustainability
4. Fostering cultural vibrancy
5. Lifelong learning and education
6. Economic strength
7. Improving community health and social wellbeing

We ask you to nominate one of those seven areas when you apply. So, before you lodge your application, download the Activity Tree and watch this introductory clip about the Activity Tree.