Draft Community Funding Policy

The Draft Community Funding Policy outlines how the City of Burnside administers community funding in the form of grants, to community groups and eligible individuals in the City of Burnside.

Community funding grants aim to encourage a strong, resourceful and cohesive community. These grants underpin opportunities to empower the community to self-organise, reach out and connect with each other, to identify community needs and opportunities.

The existing governance arrangements for community funding and related projects, the adopted Community Grants Policy, has several gaps and challenges. The current adopted Policy does not provide a broad range of community funding opportunities and is not efficient for Council to administer. Overlaps between the awarding of a community grant, sponsorship and fee based subsidies can also be confusing and the current Policy does not lead to the creation of ideal community development outcomes and benefits.

Therefore a thorough review of the adopted Community Grants Policy has been undertaken. More community grant funding categories; including funding for multi-year projects has been added. New categories for community grants has been added and a quick grant application process is also included in the proposed Draft Community Funding Policy.

Council invites you to comment on this Draft Policy.

The Policy

This Draft Community Funding Policy, works in association with existing Council policies, such as the Draft Sponsorship and Donation Policy and the Fees and Charges (Non Rates) – Waivers, Discounts and Subsidies Policy and will influence awarding of community grant funding outcomes by the City of Burnside.

The Draft Community Funding Policy outlines how Council provides funding to individuals and community organisations whose work in the community enriches the municipality and aligns with the strategic plan desired outcomes of the City of Burnside “Be the Future of Burnside” Our Community Plan 2016-2026.

This Draft Policy provides:

• information on the four key programs governed by the Policy;
• a description of the community outcomes sought to be achieved through the mechanism of community funding;
• guidelines for eligibility for the different programs;
• a description of each program;
• an assessment processes and decision making matrix; and
• general terms and conditions for successful applicants.

There will be four categories of Community Funding governed by this Draft Policy. There is an annual budget for Community Grants and Community Quick Response Grants already, but Council will need to provide funding for Major Grants and Strategic Partnership grants on through a case by case allocation or through the allocation of a budget during the Annual Business Plan and Budget review process.

New proposed Community Funding categories include:

• Major Community Grants (Multiyear projects considered, negotiated value);
• Strategic Community Partnerships (Major over $10,000 per annum, multiyear projects considered);
• Strategic Community Partnerships (Minor under $10,000 per annum, multiyear projects considered);
• Community Grants with the categories of: Environment, Arts and Culture, Community Development, Young Achievers, Youth Support, Positive Ageing, Health and Wellbeing and Event Support (Up to $2,000 per annum, single year projects); and
• Community Quick Response Grants, with the categories of: Environment, Arts and Culture, Community Development, Young Achievers, Youth Support, Positive Ageing, Health and Wellbeing and Event Support (Up to $500 per annum, single year projects, approval within a month from application).

The Draft Policy aims to guide decision making in relation to providing community funding activities, and will provide a clear process of what our community can expect from these important community building transactions.

A Community Development Strategy is being written by Council and in conjunction with this Draft Community Funding Policy, it is anticipated that Council will achieve greater outcomes for the support of community development and wellbeing in the City of Burnside in collaboration and with the support of residents, businesses and local communities. Focus Groups will occur in the next few months for the Draft Community Development Strategy and it will itself be available for your viewing and comment mid-year.

Community Engagement

Council is seeking feedback on the Draft Community Funding Policy before it is adopted.

You are invited to provide us comment on the Draft Policy to indicate that it fulfils your expectations and desires for the provision of community funding from the City of Burnside to its community, or to suggest ideas or provide comments for consideration.

How do I have my say?

Have your say by emailing us your comments and ideas using the Email Us tab below by 5 pm Friday 3 March 2017.

Next Steps

Your responses will be reviewed and collated. Amendments will be made accordingly, to add value to the Draft Policy. This amended Draft Policy will then be presented to Council in a report that highlights changes which have been made to the Draft Policy. Council will then consider the amended Draft Policy for adoption. The adopted Policy will be able to be located on the Council Website.

It is anticipated that the report for the adoption of the amended Draft Policy will be presented to Council at its meeting of 28 March 2017.

More information

You can view the Draft Policy in the Document Library above right.

If you would like further information, please contact Leonie Scriven, Group Manager Community Connections on lscriven@burnside.sa.gov.au or by using the Email Us tab below.