Who can apply for funding?
The operating subsidy program will financially support the operating capacity of eligible parties to deliver meaningful interventions, programs and services to the community , known here on as ‘initiatives’ which support the Town’s Strategic Community Plan vision, mission and values.
Parties eligible for funding include:
- Must be an established and solvent incorporated not-for-profit organisation or social enterprise.
- The mission/purpose of the organisation or social-enterprise must be of a sporting or recreational, cultural or community service focus.
- The mission/purpose will be stated in the organisation's constitution, details of incorporation or similar statement of purpose.
- The applicant must operate within the Town from a rateable premise or primarily deliver services within the Town.
- Operating subsidy request is based upon industry benchmarked standard costs of operation.
- The impact of the operating subsidy upon competition and economic efficiency are minimised as far as practicable and evidenced by the applying party.
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Applicants will be ineligible for an operating subsidy where the:
- Applicant has an existing cash Operating Subsidy with the Town with an end date of June 2025.
- Applicant has an outstanding debt to the Town.
- Applicant has failed to submit a satisfactory acquittal for a previous Town grant.
- Applicant is a Town employee or an Elected Member and their immediate family members.
- In the past 12 months, the applicant has failed to complete a previously approved grant project within the agreed schedule, without prior negotiation.
- The initiative is considered commercial in nature.
- The initiative is based outside of the Town’s boundaries (advertising/marketing based initiatives are exempt from this restriction).
- Eligibility criteria is not met.
- Applicant does not operate within the Town from a rateable premise or primarily deliver services within the Town.
- Applicant has previously breached a requirement of a lease or licence with the Town and failed to rectify the breach to the satisfaction of the Town.
- Applicant is insolvent.
The Town reserves the right to deny any application which conflicts with the Town’s vision, mission or values, or which would bring the Town’s brand or reputation into disrepute, or at its discretion.
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How much can I apply for?
Operating subsidies will be capped at $100,000 (ex GST and Consumer Price Index Perth all groups) cash contribution per organisation per year, and no more than 50% of total operating costs, inclusive of cash, in-kind support relating to subsided rental value of the lease forfeited under a peppercorn lease.
Example: applicant seeks $80,000 cash operating subsidy, while also receiving a $35,000 peppercorn lease benefit. Total expenditure is $160,000.
$160,000 + $35,000 peppercorn = $195,000
$195,000 x 50% of total contribution = $97,500 is maximum allowable cash operating subsidy. Applicant is seeking $80,000 which is beneath both $100,000 and 50% of total contribution cap.
Operating subsidies are funded by 1% of the Town’s rates income, therefore the final amount available will not be determined until the budget has been adopted by Council in June 2024.
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To claim the status of being an incorporated group, the group must either:
- be incorporated under the provisions of the Associations Incorporations Act (2015)
- be a recognized not-for-profit, non-government corporate body either created by government or with an Australian Companies Number (CAN) or have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be a registered as company limited by guarantee
- be a school, or
- be an unincorporated group or individual operating under the auspice of an incorporated organisation.
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In-kind support?
Use of Town assets
If the applicant is leasing or would like to lease a Town asset with a peppercorn lease(Show info), the value of the peppercorn lease must be included in this application. The value of the peppercorn lease can be obtained from the Town’s property team.
Promotions and marketing
The Town’s communication channels are used for Town announcements, news and information, storytelling and experience sharing and can be a powerful tool for promoting events or community activities that are a result of an operating subsidy. The Town can help recipients communicate news and events for things that are:
- free to attend
- based in the Town
- supported or sponsored by the Town
- run by a strategic partner of the Town
- of broad local community interest
- are reflective of our strategic objectives, culture and values.
In addition to the above:
- The Town’s supporting partner logo is available on request. All published material (printed or digital) that includes the Town logo requires approval and must comply with the Town’s brand style guide.
- The Town will not create social media posts or event pages on behalf of the recipient, but is able to share published content and interact with third party posts. If this service is desired the applicant is required to let the Town know when posts are planned, and will need to tag the Town in the post.
- Facebook: the Town can share a Facebook post or event. The post or event listing should be fully populated with dates, images, pricing, and include a source for further information (i.e. website, email).
- Twitter: the Town can retweet and interact with relevant information regarding news and events. Any content the Town interacts with should include a website/link for additional information.
- Instagram: the Town can interact with posts regarding the event or activity, and add stories that tag the Town.
- LinkedIn: if it is deemed appropriate for the platform (i.e. industry relevant, professional networking and advocacy) the Town can share and interact with posts.
- E-newsletters: the corporate e-newsletters follows a monthly publishing schedule. Content can be submitted to the Town’s communications team and must include images (high quality, landscape), a website or email to link to more information and a short paragraph of copy. The Town will determine if it is possible to publish the content based on timing, relevance, and availability of space.
- Website: the Town can share information about events or activities but must be provided with all content, information, and a website or email to link to further information. The Town may also be able to include relevant events on the Town’s events calendar.
The recipient is responsible for generating any promotion or marketing for events or activities they may be hosting.
Staff time and resources
The Town employs people with a range of expertise who may be able to support you in the delivery of your initiative. A requirement of the application will include a meeting with relevant Town staff to discuss the planning and delivery of your initiative.
Events
The Community Development events team may be able to offer the following support in the planning and development of an event:
- The events team can guide and assist the applicant to learn the elements of planning and delivering an event.
- Guidance on budgeting for logistical elements of your event e.g. road closures, hire of equipment.
- Provision of templates including:
- event planning checklist
- event manual
- risk assessment
- accessibility checklist
- run sheet.
The events team require a minimum of three months’ lead time before the event to properly assist you. Applicants must commit to meeting timelines and milestones for event planning.
Australian Business Numbers (ABN) and taxation requirements
An ABN refers to an Australian Business Number issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). If your organisation has an ABN it must be recorded within your application. All applications will require an ABN to be provided.
The holder of the ABN is either:
- registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
- not registered for the GST.
- If your organisation is successful and registered for GST, you are required to provide the Town with a tax invoice with your signed agreement before payment will be made. The tax invoice must show the full amount of funds allocated plus an additional 10% for GST.
If your organisation is successful and not registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST), you are required to provide Council with your signed agreement only. Council will pay the grant amount allocated. For example, $2,000 (no GST).
What to do if you don’t have an ABN:
If your organisation does not have an ABN you are requested to complete a Statement by a supplier form and lodge it together with your application. You can obtain a copy from the ATO website.
Please note if you do not have an ABN and do not supply this form Council is required to take 46.5 per cent of the grant allocated and send this to the ATO.
Completing an application
For the Town to properly consider all applications a range of information is required from the applicant. The following lists the information required.
1. General budget information
A budget template is provided in the application form. Applicants may use their own existing budget template, but ensure that the requested information is included.
When preparing the budget breakdown, applicants must list all expenditure items exclusive of GST. Where applicable, identify which items of expenditure will be funded by which funding sources. The items you identify in the section must be listed in order of priority.
2. Salaries and administration budget information
Budgets for salaries and administration items must be on current costs (excluding GST), and in accordance with relevant industrial awards or agreements, where they exist. Budgets for salaries and administrative expenditure should be itemised.
3. Quotes
The Town aims to maximise participation of local businesses in the supply of goods, services and works that are procured with ratepayers’ funds. Procurement from local businesses must be balanced against value for money outcomes, and where all other factors are considered equal, preference will be provided to businesses that have a measurable presence within the Town.
4. Revenue
All income arising from the conduct of the initiative must be identified and applied, unless otherwise agreed to by the Town.
5. Assets
Funding will not generally be provided to purchase capital works or assets, however the purchase of equipment relevant for use in the initiative may be allowed. Any proposal to purchase equipment must be stated in the application and will be subject to Town approval.
6. Outcome measurement
As part of the application process you will need to provide an overview of the anticipated outputs and outcomes you are hoping to achieve.
Outputs – relate to the ‘number’ of things. For example the number of people who attend or participated in an initiative; or the number of workshops you hosted, number of events you delivered, materials printed, and marketing reach.
Outcomes – relate to the short, medium or long term outcomes of the program or initiative. For example a short term outcome may be that people felt socially included and connected to their local community by attending an event, or that participants gain knowledge and skills on a specific topic that resulted in behaviour change.
It is important to link the anticipated outcomes back to the Town’s Strategic Community Plan outcome areas to demonstrate how your initiative aligns to this.
If you are successful in obtaining an operating subsidy you will be required to demonstrate the actual outputs and outcomes delivered. Six-monthly and annual reporting will be required and will be detailed in the agreement.
It is important to think about how you will keep track of the outputs and measure the outcomes of your initiative. For outcome measurements you may want to use surveys and include questions that align to the Town’s Strategic Community Plan outcome areas. The Town can support you to identify indicators, targets and measurement methods.
7. Other approvals
If you are delivering an event or initiative in the public realm, you may require various Town approvals such as an event approval from the Town’s Environmental Health team. The approval of an operating subsidy does not negate the need to seek other approvals.