Age friendly grants

The age friendly grant provides support for local not-for-profit groups that provide programs, activities and services for older adults in our community.

Up to $1,500 may be applied for from our annual pool of $15,000.

There are 3 categories for the 2023–24 funding round:

  • new and emerging seniors clubs and groups
  • Seniors Festival events
  • community connection projects.

You must read the full guidelines(PDF, 343KB) and speak with a Council officer before submitting your application.

Key dates

  • 20 March 2024: grant round opens
  • 8 May 2024: grant round closes
  • by 24 April 2024 contact grant officer
  • Week of 10 June 2024: applicants advised of outcome
  • Within 12 months of notification of outcome: acquittal due

Eligibility

To be eligible for a grant, an applicant must be:

  • an incorporated association
  • an auspiced not-for-profit community group
  • a public company limited by guarantee (not-for-profit)
  • a charity or benevolent trust.

Applicants must also:

  • have a formal structure including office bearers and a bank account
  • provide support, programs or services to local residents. (Where the applicant is located outside of Banyule, our local residents must be the major beneficiaries of programs and services.)
  • have been established and operational for a minimum of 12 months (except for new and emerging seniors clubs or groups)
  • provide an ABN or an auspice ABN or be willing to complete a statement by supplier
  • hold public liability insurance up to $20,000,000 at the start and throughout the project (except for new and emerging seniors clubs or groups).
  • supply a financial statement for the group.

Who is not eligible to apply

  • Individuals.
  • Educational and religious organisational unless the project responds to an identified community need and provides wider community benefit. Projects cannot be curriculum based or totally student/congregation focused.
  • Groups that undertake or promote gambling.
  • Political organisations.
  • Groups seeking support or assistance from councillors in their application.
  • Groups with outstanding grant acquittals. (All previous grants from Council, where acquittal is due prior to the closing of the grant round you are applying for, must be acquitted to a satisfactory standard. Un-acquitted or insufficiently/unsatisfactorily acquitted grants will deem the application ineligible.)
  • Groups with outstanding debt to Council.
  • Groups operating with a deficit.

Application

Applications are closed

To apply:

  • read the guidelines and apply only if eligible
  • complete an application form online and attach all required supporting documentation (see eligibility).

Quotes

The number of quotes required may vary between categories. All quotes must be:

  • written, scanned images from catalogues or online stores, or a screenshot from a website
  • itemised and clearly show detail and cost of each item
  • current (not more than 6 months old)
  • consistent with the requested amount in your budget.

Auspicing

Non-incorporated groups will require the support of an incorporated association to auspice their grant. If your application is going to be auspiced by another organisation, you must provide all insurance, incorporation and ABN information of the auspicing group as well as a letter from the auspice organisation on letterhead stating their support.

Assessment

Council has a Conflict of Interest declaration which all parties involved in the assessment process must complete to ensure any interests are declared prior to the assessment of grants commencing.

There are 4 stages in the assessment process:

  1. Eligibility check by our Community Connections Officer
  2. Officer review and comments by specialist Council officers with knowledge of the sector or population group
  3. Grants panel review by senior Council officers
  4. Panel recommendations approved under the delegation of Director Community Wellbeing.

Applications are scored against:

  • likelihood of success
  • benefits to our local community
  • value for money.

Each grant review panel member will independently assess applications and score according to the key criteria and provide a score out of 100.

Not all applications will necessarily be funded even if they are eligible.

In some cases, applicants may also be offered partial funding to run a reduced or modified project.

Acquittal

Acquittals must be submitted online and must detail how the grant funds were spent.

You must submit receipts or an invoice showing a zero balance. Receipts must list items purchased, detailing the cost per item, and the total cost. All receipts should reflect the expenses approved and align with the grant budget or letter of offer.

Unpaid invoices, copies of online orders and bank transfer statements cannot be accepted as proof of purchase.

Failure to acquit the grant satisfactorily will be considered a breach. A breach may result in requests for grant funding to be returned to us and exclude the group from future grant rounds.

Accessibility

The grants process is open and accessible to everyone, including if:

  • you need a printed copy of the guidelines or a printed copy in large print;
  • you need to discuss these guidelines by phone;
  • you need the guidelines in a captioned video format;
  • you need to discuss the guidelines with us using the services of an Auslan interpreter;
  • your hearing or speech is impaired, you can call us through the National Relay Service on 133 677 (TTY) or 1300 555 727 on an ordinary handset and ask for 9490 4222;
  • you need a language interpreter please contact TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be connected to us on 9490 4222; or
  • you need a printed form and support to enter information into SmartyGrants please contact us for assistance.

If you face any barriers to applying and would like to discuss these or any other ways we can help you, please contact us.

Contact

With any questions, get in touch with the Age Friendly Team on 9049 3388.