How to fundraise and apply for grants

Story by Lyn Marsfield, CGA’s Gold Coast Regional Rep., September 2021.

Fundraising opportunities

1. Planning

When you start fundraising, work out your organisation’s expenses and develop an annual budget.

Items to include as appropriate:

• insurance
• water
• rates
• lease fees
• electricity
• membership income
• equipment required.

2. Events

Develop an annual events calendar that includes fundraising.

Most people think about events but you need to plan and apply for grants as they might take 6 six months or more to receive, if successful.

There are so many sites to find grants, you just need time and the wording (or as I call them ‘magic words’) to help obtain funding. 

Most of the answers to the grant questions are in the guidelines. So, when applying, read the guidelines. I can’t stress this enough.

3. Current funding opportunities

********Identify funding opportunities and list here).

4. Useful information about fundraising

********Identify information sources and list here).

5. Adapting your rules of association to apply for philanthropic foundations

Here is an example from Queensland Model Rules — clause 50 for Deductible Gift Recipient, so you can apply for philanthropic foundations.

50 Deductible Gift Recipient

1. If the organisation is wound up or its endorsement as a deductible gift recipient is revoked (whichever occurs first), any surplus of the following assets shall be transferred to another organisation with similar objects, which is charitable at law, to which income tax deductible gifts can be made:

• gifts of money or property for the principal purpose of the organisation
• contributions made in relation to an eligible fundraising event held for the principal purpose of the organisation
• money received by the organisation because of such gifts and contributions.

Objective suggestions so you can apply for more grants.

3 Objects

The objects of the association are—

1. To provide education and employment for the disadvantaged in our community while promoting an understanding of personal and social issues associated with intellectual impairment, disabilities and disadvantaged in our community who are grappling with various life experiences.  
2. By providing a safe and caring environment through education we are able to demonstrate the value of gardening enriching their curriculum. 
3. Teaching life skills and contributing towards their mental and physical health.
4. Empowering persons to believe in their abilities, giving them self-worth and self-esteem in doing this we develop active and productive citizens and carers of the environment.

Proposed Community Gardens objects 

1. To provide organically grown vegetables and flowers for the members and the disadvantaged in our community while promoting an understanding of personal and social issues associated with the disadvantaged in our community.  
2. By providing a safe and caring environment through education we can demonstrate the value of gardening enriching their curriculum. 
3. Teaching life skills and contributing towards their mental and physical health.
4. Empowering persons to believe in their abilities, giving them self-worth and self-esteem in doing this we develop active and productive citizens and carers of the environment.

Grant opportunities

ACT – AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

ACT community garden grants — current funding round closed: https://www.environment.act.gov.au/cc/be-part-of-the-solution/Community-Gardens-Grants

NEW SOUTH WALES

• NSW Environment, Energy and Science grants — https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-support/nsw-environmental-trust/grants-available

QUEENSLAND

• QLD Government https://www.qld.gov.au/community/community-organisations-volunteering/funding-grants/other-grants
• QLD Govt Grants Finder https://www.grants.services.qld.gov.au/#/
• QLD State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning https://qdosd.squiz.cloud/dsdti/local-government/grants
• Queensland Government Gambling Community Benefit https://www.gamblingcommunityfund.qld.gov.au/#/welcome
• QCOSS Grants https://www.qcoss.org.au/grants/

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

• SA community garden grants — https://www.opengardensa.org.au/news/147-season-overview-2020-21

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

• WA community garden grants — https://dlgc.communities.wa.gov.au

GRANT INFORMATION

• Grant Connect https://www.grants.gov.au/
• Our Community https://www.ourcommunity.com.au/
• Philanthropy Australia https://www.philanthropy.org.au/
• Strategic Grants https://www.strategicgrants.com.au/au/
• The Grants Hub https://www.thegrantshub.com.au/

Look for other grant opportunities through:

• your local government (Council)
• the federal government
• your state government
• commercial community organisations i.e. bowls clubs, community sport clubs, RSL clubs etc.

Do you need help with your grant?

If you would like to know more about grants and how to obtain them using ‘magic words’, send me an email or give me a call. I don’t write grants for groups but I do help with matching the criteria so you have a better chance.

Contact CGA’s Regional Representative for Queensland’s Gold Coast — Lyn Marsfield.

Do you need other CGA’s help?

Get assistance with applying for funding such as:

• assessing the appropriateness of particular grants
• assistance with writing grants
• reviewing applications.