ANZ Seeds of Renewal
Established in 2003, the ANZ Seeds of Renewal Program demonstrates ANZ’s ongoing commitment to shape a world where people and communities thrive.
The program focuses on helping to build vibrant and sustainable rural communities and ensure the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia.
This program is currently closed.
Proudly supported by
Currently assessing
The 2020 round has been awarded.
Future rounds
To be confirmed.
How to apply
Please read the information on each of the three tabs below to make sure this is the right grant for your project.
If you want to explore other grant options, please go to Find Funding Now.
I have a question, who can I talk to?
Danielle Griffin
info@frrr.org.au
1800 170 020
Confirm you are eligible to apply for this grant
To make sure this is the right grant for your community, please read the grant information below carefully. Click on each headline to reveal the detail.
What are the program objectives?
The program focuses specifically on helping to build vibrant and sustainable rural communities and ensure the ongoing prosperity of regional Australia. It is built on two key tenets:
- Vibrant communities are diverse and inclusive with strong social capital, where everyone can participate and build a better life.
- Sustainable communities innovate, expand and create opportunities that will deliver demonstrable medium to long-term economic benefit to the community, contributing to economic sustainability.
Is this grant available in my area?
Grants are awarded across remote, rural and regional Australia in this competitive program, which typically funds one project per region.
How much funding is available? Are there priority areas?
Through the Seeds of Renewal program, ANZ commits $250,000 which is distributed through grants of up to $15,000 to community organisations for projects that will help their community thrive.
This year Lenovo is again supporting the program, with the donation of 12 ThinkPad L490 laptops valued at over $20,000 to eligible community projects. This means community groups can apply for a funding grant or for IT equipment.
Applications are welcome from any eligible organisation for any eligible purpose; however, the following applications will be prioritised:
- Projects and initiatives in bushfire-affected communities;
- Projects that will deliver demonstrable medium to long-term benefit to a regional Australian community of 15,000 people or fewer;
- Projects that focus on building local capacity and increasing community participation;
- Projects that benefit a large number of people from a diverse range of social groups;
- Projects that encourage inclusion and participation of under-represented or marginalised groups;
- Projects that deliver ongoing and widespread economic benefit to the community and contribute to economic sustainability;
- Applications from Parents & Citizens committees are preferred over applications from schools;
- Applications from local community groups are favoured over applications from Local Government Authorities;
- Projects that demonstrate co-contributions (either in-kind or from other funding sources) and broad community support will be looked upon favourably – it is highly recommended that you include these within your application.
Volunteering opportunities
Opportunities may also be made available for ANZ staff to provide further in-kind support by volunteering their time to assist successful organisations.
The application form will also ask if your organisation is located less than one hour’s drive from the closest ANZ branch and whether it would be interested in hosting ANZ regional staff as volunteers. If you indicate in the affirmative, your organisation’s details will be passed onto the local ANZ Regional Executive. Note that this is not part of the grant process and answering ‘no’ will not negatively influence the assessment of applications.
What can be funded?
This year, the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program is supporting projects that align to one of ANZ’s three focus areas. Click on the headings for more information on each of these focus areas, and for examples of what could be funded:
1. Improving environmental sustainability
Supporting local causes to improve environmental sustainability practices, including initiatives that restore and conserve the natural environment or which contribute to lower carbon emissions, water stewardship and waste minimisation.
Examples may include:
- Educate local communities about the importance of environmental sustainability;
- Improve environmental standards within communities;
- Support or accelerate the adoption of better environmental practices;
- Encourage community participation at events or activities to improve environmental sustainability.
2. Improving financial wellbeing within the community
Supporting local programs and initiatives that improve financial wellbeing, particularly for under-represented and disadvantaged people in our community, including initiatives that improve economic participation, for example through building financial literacy and vocational skills and providing access to meaningful work.
Examples may include programs that:
- Build financial knowledge;
- Support job-readiness;
- Promote better financial behaviours and decision-making;
- Build financial confidence and wellbeing;
- Assist with financial goal-setting;
- Improve money management skills.
3. Improving access to housing
Initiatives and programs that support those experiencing or at risk of homelessness (including at-risk youth, older people or those escaping domestic violence) or programs that provide housing support and services for people living with disability.
Examples may include:
- Improving disability access to community facilities;
- Programs and initiatives for those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness;
- Improving accommodation facilities for people living with disability;
- Encouraging community participation in initiatives to support those experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
Organisations may apply for either a cash grant OR for Lenovo devices. On the application form, please choose whether the application is for a grant or devices. If a cash grant is chosen, specify the amount requested (up to $15,000). If IT equipment is chosen, specify how many devices are requested (up to 3 items in total). Each device will come with a Windows operating system and 3 years Parts & Labour Onsite “Premier” Warranty Support, although there is no other software (e.g. Microsoft Word).
What can’t be funded?
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;
- Political lobbying;
- Projects that primarily benefit private business or private interests;
- Projects solely focused on animal welfare.
Is my organisation eligible?
To apply, you must meet the following criteria:
- 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;
- Organisations can submit one application per grant round; and
- Projects must be in a remote, rural or regional area.
Please note, you will be considered ineligible if the:
- 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.
If you need to share this information with others, you can download the guidelines above.
Gather information to support your grant application
Please read the information below to plan and prepare your project. The information below sets out what you MUST include for your project to be considered. There are plenty of helpful resources to support you along the way.
Please contact FRRR if you have any questions about the following information.
Your grant application MUST include:
Clear project information
Why is this important?
FRRR needs to clearly understand your project to assess its merits. Applicants should focus on addressing the what, when, where, who, why and how of the project, as this is the best formula to clearly communicate the details of the project.
A ready community is best placed to achieve the aims of your project, so during assessment, our staff look for
information that tells us that good leadership, skills and awareness exist in your community to support the project now and in the future.
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:
Financial information
Why is this important?
FRRR uses this information to understand your organisation’s ability to manage the grant funds and its financial viability.
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.
Project budget
Why is this important?
A clear budget helps FRRR to understand the size of your project, exactly how FRRR funds will be spent and helps demonstrate community support for your project through in-kind contributions either from your organisation or partners / community members.
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:
Eligible legal entities
Why is this important?
This program is only able to distribute funds to not-for-profit organisations with an ABN or Incorporation number, and FRRR needs to know that the organisation with that ABN / Incorporation number understands and agrees to carry out their responsibilities in relation to your project, if successful.
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.
Supporting materials
Why is this important?
FRRR seeks to fund projects that are well-supported by the broader local community, are locally led and delivered, show good partnerships and benefit multiple parts of the community. As FRRR is not always familiar with your community, our staff consider support material as evidence toward understanding level of community need, benefit and support.
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:
Focus area
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.
Need some more help?
We have a large selection of resources on our Grant Seeker Resources Page to help you along the way.
Submit your grant application via the Grants Gateway
Please contact FRRR if you have questions about any aspect of the Grants Gateway online application form.
Before you submit your application via the online Grants Gateway, please ensure you have:
Helpful resources:
It is time to submit your application. If it is helpful, you can download a copy of the application form.
Please read the instructions on how to use the Grants Gateway: Grants Gateway How-to Guide
Grants Gateway FAQs
Start a new application here.
All applications must be submitted through the online Grants Gateway.
Return to an existing application here.
Inspiration
Read more about the impact that these grants have had.
A new historic cellar for Beltana
Beltana is a small, state heritage listed town with a population of 35 people located 540 km north of Adelaide in South Australia. A $15,000 grant funded by ANZ and administered by FRRR meant that the town could uncover and restore a 70-year-old cellar under the local Assembly Hall.
Country Music Club no place for vintage computers
The Country Music Club of Boyup Brook in WA received a 2019 ANZ Seeds of Renewal grant in the form of three Lenovo Thinkpads to plan and implement its annual arts activities.
Seed funding makes a difference years later
FRRR spoke to PCYC Bowen branch manager Sergeant O’Regan about the impact of an $8,000 ANZ Seeds of Renewal grant, and to understand more about how Cyclone Debbie affected the PCYC, and her community.
