Annual Community Development Grants
The South Waikato District Council has recently reviewed the Community Development Fund and made several significant changes to the way groups receive assistance for projects or services.
Groups can apply to this scheme if they are:
- Operating as a non-profit club or organisation.
- Able to contribute a significant portion of the cost of the project.
- Able to account for their funds.
Additional funding criteria have been added to include the Council’s long term community vision. Groups will now need to identify how their project is contributing to the wellbeing of the South Waikato District. Projects or services which fit the arts focused criteria of the Creative Communities Scheme are excluded from the community grants.
The traditional Community Development Grants that have been in place for a number of years are being renamed Annual Community Development Grants and are available as one-off payments. Council has developed a totally new concept of funding by introducing the Multi-Year Community Development Grants. This kind of funding will be made available for events, projects or services that will benefit from the financial security that a longer period of assistance will provide. The funding criteria will be more stringent with greater emphasis on projects or services getting started or to become self-sustaining and those that involve the wider community.”
Separate application forms for the Annual and Multi-Year Community Development Grants are available from the District Council Offices and Libraries in Putaruru and Tokoroa. The deadline for applications is every six months. The dates will be advertised here and in the local press. For assistance or further information, contact the Community Resources Co-ordinator. Click here for contact details.
Community Arts Council Grants under $500
Applications for funding of $500 and under will be referred to the relevant Community Arts Council (Putaruru Community Arts Council or South Waikato Arts Council) for consideration.
Emergency Grants
The Chairperson of the allocating body, the Mayor and one other person appointed by the body are delegated authority to allocate emergency grants.
Leisure, Arts and Cultural Loan Fund
The Leisure, Arts and Cultural Loan Fund is used to fund leisure, arts and culture.
The allocating body (Council) may make loans from the above fund up to a value of $20,000. The loan fund will be subject to the same criteria as the Community Grants Fund. Interest rates for loans from the Leisure, Arts and Cultural Loan Fund will be set by Council on an annual basis commencing on 1 July each year.
Criteria for Loans from the Leisure, Arts and Cultural Loans Fund:
- Loans may require security at the allocating body’s discretion. The allocating body may require the organisation to meet the costs of arranging security.
- The following information may be required in support of any loan application:
- An Income and Expenditure Statement and Statement of Assets and Liabilities for the preceding financial year, and preferably for three preceding years.
- A budgeted Income and Expenditure Forecast for future years showing the full impact of loan payments on the organisation’s finances.
- Such other information as the allocating body deems fit.
Standard conditions of any guarantee are:
- The organisation must provide audited or satisfactory verified financial statements within three months of the end of the organisation’s financial year for the duration of the guarantee.
- The organisation must obtain all necessary regulatory permits or consents before commencing any construction work associated with the guarantee.
- Such other conditions as the allocating body deems fit.
- Any principal and interest accrued from loans to the Leisure, Arts and Cultural Loan Fund shall be paid back into the Fund.
Mayor Grants
A separate account called the “Mayoral Grants Account” was created by retaining 10% of the annual Community Grants budget. This is held for distribution by agreement between the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. In addition, after the Community Grants have been allocated, any unallocated balance will be transferred to the Mayoral Grants Account. Any unexpended balance at the end of the financial year from the Mayoral Grants Account will be available for allocation in the next financial year.
Assistance with Funding Applications
Should you need assistance deciding which funding avenue to take or assistance with completing the form, you can contact us for help.
Download a copy of the "Grants and Funding Guide" here (258Kb PDF).
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