Community benefit fund: major community grants

Introduction

This page has information about major community grants in the Northern Territory (NT).

The community benefit fund (CBF) receives funds from a levy on electronic gaming machines in licensed hotels.

Major community grants provides funding to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities to Territorians.

For details of successful grant recipients from the latest round, go to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) website.

You can also check past recipients in the annual reports on the DITT website.


Conditions you need to know

This page provides information about the conditions you need to know to apply for a major community grant.

If you want to apply for a major community grant in the Northern Territory (NT) you must be either:

  • an NT based non-profit community organisation
  • an NT regional council.

You must be incorporated under one of the following:

  • the Associations Act (NT)
  • the Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth)
  • the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Commonwealth)
  • any other Act of Parliament.

Organisations must be not-for-profit and have a physical presence in the NT.

If you are not incorporated and can't arrange a sponsor, you can ask for an exemption when you apply.

You or your sponsor must be compliant with all reporting requirements relevant to the Act under which you are incorporated.

If you are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC), you must be compliant with their reporting requirements.

Who can't apply

You can't apply or be sponsored to apply for a major community grant if you are:

  • an individual
  • an organisation licensed to operate electronic gaming machines
  • a body corporate or similar
  • a government or semi-government organisation like a hospital, library or municipal council - regional councils are eligible to apply
  • a public or private school - including primary, secondary and tertiary institutions
  • a school affiliate or auxiliary body like a school council
  • a research foundation or trust
  • you have an outstanding acquittal from a previous CBF grant
  • you have an active major community grant from the CBF
  • an association that is not compliant with your reporting obligations under the Act under which you are incorporated, or to ACNC if applicable.

All applications that meet the eligibility criteria will be considered.

If your application meets the priorities below, it will be given preference when being considered.

The priorities are:

Priority 1

Applications for infrastructure improvements or asset purchases that can demonstrate an ongoing community benefit beyond the period of funding.

Priority 2

Applications that support the growth of the NT and:

  • provide multi-level stimulus through the outcome of the grant
  • also use local suppliers and contractors in the process of completing the grant.

You can only submit one application per funding round.

You cannot submit a new application if you have an active major community grant from the CBF already.

You can't apply for major community grant funding for any of the following:

  • operational or core business activities
  • commercial ventures, developments or outputs
  • experimental or pilot programs, unless future funding is guaranteed
  • funding to cover debts - this includes reimbursement for completed projects and loan repayments
  • funding for projects that have already commenced or will commence prior to the notification date.

You also cannot apply for recurrent expense funding. This includes regular salaries and wages, administration expenses and short-life equipment.

Salaries for one-off events and projects are permitted for non-core business activities.

The following projects won't be funded:

  • transient or temporary projects that do not contribute to community improvement
  • projects that are not consistent with CBF objectives
  • projects that may be considered inappropriate or offensive
  • fundraising activities
  • political or religious activities
  • projects that may negatively impact business or compete with local commercial activities
  • projects that are the responsibility of another government funding program, unless the other program does not have capacity to provide the funds
  • capital improvements to infrastructure where the infrastructure is owned by the Northern Territory Government.

Projects that start before your grant is approved will not be funded.

Do not purchase goods, services or equipment included in your application until you have received formal funding approval.

If you get duplicate funding from a different funding source, you are required to refund any component of the major community grant funded from elsewhere.

Multiple applications are not permitted for major community grants.

You can only submit one major community grant application per round.

The CBF committee will consider previously awarded grants in its assessment

They will also consider the spread and benefit of the grants throughout the community.

Any organisation with overdue acquittals will not be eligible for further grants until the acquittals are completed.


What you need to know to apply

You can apply for major community grants to fund a project in its entirety or for a portion.

Preference will be given to applications that include co-contributions.

Eligible organisations can apply for amounts between $15,001 and $250,000.

Funding depends on budget availability and the relative merit of applications. There is no guarantee of ongoing funding.

You can apply for funding twice each financial year.

Applications must be lodged between the opening and closing dates of the round.

Round 1

  • 1 July - round opens and you can apply
  • 31 August - round closes
  • 31 October - you will be notified.

Round 2

  • 1 January - round opens and you can apply
  • 28 February - round closes
  • 30 April - you will be notified.

To apply for a major community grant follow these steps.

Step 1. Fill in the major community grant form.

Use the major community grant application if you want $15,001 to $250,000 in funding.

Major community grants application PDF (483.9 KB)
Major community grants application DOCX (78.4 KB)

Step 2. Attach any supporting documents.

Step 3. Submit your application.

You can submit your application by email, mail or in person.

Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Community benefit fund secretariat
Level 3 NAB House
71 Smith Street
Darwin NT 0800

GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801

Freecall: 1300 650 153
Fax: 08 8923 7616
cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au

Late applications will not be accepted.

Your application must be received by the CBF secretariat prior to the cut off time.

The cut off time on the closing day for applications is:

By email

If you send your application by email, the cut off time is midnight.

By mail

If you are sending your application by mail, it must arrive by 4pm.

In person

If you are delivering your application in person, you must deliver before 4pm

If the closing date falls on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline to submit will be extended to 10am the following business day.

A letter will be sent to your nominated email confirming your application has been received. Depending on the volume of applications received, this can take several days.

If you haven't received a letter after one week, contact the community benefit fund secretariat by calling 1300 650 153 or email cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au.


How your application is assessed

This page provides information on how your application for a major community grant is assessed.

Your application will be assessed by the community benefit fund (CBF) committee.

The committee is made up of representatives appointed by the responsible Minister. It consists mainly of non-government community representatives from across the Northern Territory.

The committee considers all funding applications and makes recommendations to the Minister who will ultimately determine if a grant will or will not be funded.

Step 1. Check

The CBF secretariat will check the following:

  • you are an eligible organisation
  • your organisation is meeting its reporting obligations under the Act under which it is incorporated or with Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission if applicable
  • your organisation does not have any outstanding acquittals with the CBF.

The secretariat will attach a funding history for your organisation to your application.

Step 2. Assessment

Your application will then be assessed by the CBF committee to ensure it:

  • meets the eligibility requirements
  • seeks funding for a permitted activity, purpose or project
  • aligns with the priorities
  • contains quotes - preference given to quotes from the Northern Territory
  • has a co-contribution towards the cost of the project - including in-kind
  • represents value for money
  • has a wide reaching positive impact in the community
  • demonstrates the ability to self-fund if the project is ongoing
  • includes an accurately costed and viable budget
  • demonstrates planning, including identifying outcomes
  • has evidence of community support or involvement
  • has a strong community development focus.

Other factors that will be taken into consideration include:

  • how much funding your organisation has already received from the CBF
  • what other applications have been submitted in that round
  • whether your organisation has the capacity to deliver the project
  • evidence of sound financial management
  • how much funding your organisation already receives from other sources
  • how much funding is available in the round.

Step 3. A decision is made

Once an outcome has been determined for your application, the CBF secretariat will write to you to advise you of the outcome of your application.

Read the funding rounds to find out when you will be notified.


If your application is successful

You will be notified on the result of your application. Read about funding rounds on what you need to know to apply.

Successful applications

If you are successful, you have 12 months from the date of your successful letter to claim your funding and sign the agreement.

If you don't claim within 12 months, your funding will be forfeited and you will have to re-apply.

Unsuccessful applications

If your application is unsuccessful you will receive an email.

You can re-apply in the next funding round. Your application must have:

  • met the assessment criteria
  • and was unsuccessful because of a lack of priority or funding capacity for that round.

Re-applying does not improve your prospects. Each application is considered on merit and is assessed against the other applications for the round.

Receiving the funds

Grants are paid in advance and in full to the organisation that is legally and financially responsible for the project.

If your organisation is incorporated or exempt, you will receive funds directly. If you have a sponsor, funds will be paid to them.


How to manage your grant

This page contains information on how to manage your major community grant.

You must submit request for variations to funding agreements in writing to the community benefit fund (CBF) secretariat.

You have the right to any intellectual property developed as a result of your project.

The Northern Territory (NT) Government has the right to use the intellectual property without cost in furthering its objectives and purposes.

Details of successful and unsuccessful grant applications may be published or used by the NT Government in any form and at any time.

These details may include:

  • name of applicant organisation
  • amount of funding
  • project details
  • any special approval conditions
  • reasons for approval or non-approval
  • photos.

You may be contacted for feedback on your application experience.

Your participation is voluntary and does not affect how applications are assessed or monitored.

Funding approval may be withdrawn at any time.

This may happen if there is a change in circumstances or your organisation or project is not financially viable.

You must acquit your major community grant in the time frame detailed in your funding agreement.

You can acquit the grant earlier if the project has been completed or it will not proceed.

If you do not acquit your grant, you will not be able to apply for other community benefit grants.

You are not required to return any unspent funds less than $100.

If you have more than $100 of unspent funds left, you must refund the CBF.

You can refund the money by either:

  • cheque payable to the Receiver of Territory Monies
  • or contact the CBF secretariat and request an invoice to be created that will allow for electronic payment.

Grant acquittals are incomplete until all money subject to the refund policy is received.


How to dispose of assets

If you used grant funding to buy all or part of an asset worth more than $10,000 when you bought it, you must get permission from the Northern Territory Government to dispose of it.

This only applies to assets purchased within five years from date of purchase, unless you have stated in your application how it is to be disposed of.

To get permission to dispose of an asset you need to send a request to community benefit fund (CBF) secretariat.

You should include in your request:

  • why you need to dispose of it
  • explain the benefit to your organisation and the community to dispose of this asset.

For further information call 1300 650 153.

You can email your request to dispose of assets to cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au.


Contact

This page provides information on contact details for submitting community benefit fund grants.

Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Community benefit fund secretariat
Level 3 NAB House
71 Smith Street 
Darwin NT 0800

GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801

Freecall: 1300 650 153
cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au