Eligibility
  • Last updated:
  • 10 Jan 2019

Guidelines

Applicants are strongly encouraged to read the Community Grants Program Guidelines [555KB]in full before applying for funding:

Who can apply

Not-for-profit community organisations that:

  • Operate within the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area or are able to demonstrate that the project or program will benefit residents of the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area
  • Have appropriate insurance and adhere to sound Workplace Health and Safety practices
  • Are able to demonstrate viability
  • Have no debt to council, or have entered into scheduled payment arrangements with council which are being met
  • Have met acquittal conditions for previous council grants.

If a community organisation is not a legal entity or recognised by the Australian Taxation Office as a not-for-profit type, then the application must be auspiced and administered by such a group.

Legal not-for-profit entities  ATO not-for-profit types 
Incorporated Association Health Promotion Charity
Australian Public Company, Limited by Guarantee Charitable Institution
Co-operative Charitable Fund
Trust Public Benevolent Institution
  Income Tax Exempt Fund

Applicants may submit only one Major or one Minor grant application per round.

Who cannot apply

  • Government agencies or departments of local, state or federal government
  • Educational, religious or medical organisations, where the application is for the organisation’s core business
  • Businesses.

Projects eligible for funding

To be eligible to apply for funding, applications must:

  • demonstrate a purpose that is in the public interest, with significant community need and benefit
  • demonstrate strong alignment with council's priorities as described in current council strategies, plans or policy positions
  • adhere to the specific terms and conditions of this funding program.

Projects not eligible for funding

  • Ongoing operational or recurrent costs including salaries, rent, fuel
  • Activities that have already begun prior to submitting a grant
  • The core business of educational, religious or medical organisations
  • Prize money, prizes or trophies
  • Development of  privately-owned facilities
  • Payment of debt
  • Projects run solely for commercial profit
  • Political activities
  • Items included in another council grant application
  • Projects run solely for fundraising purposes, without broader community benefit.

Higher priority

Higher priority is given to projects that:

  • increase the self-sufficiency of community organisations
  • reduce environmental impact and/or provide energy, water and waste efficiences. 

Low priority

Low priority is given to:

  • applicants that have been funded within the previous 12 months
  • projects or events that have previously received council funding.