Community benefit fund: minor community grants

Introduction

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

The Community Benefit Fund (CBF) receives funds from a levy on electronic gaming machines in licensed hotels.

Minor community grants aims to improve the capacity of not-for-profit organisations to provide services, leisure activities and opportunities to Territorians.

You can find details of previous successful grant recipients in the annual reports on the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (DITT) website.


Conditions you need to know

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

Who can apply

If you want to apply for a minor community grant in the Northern Territory (NT), you must be one of the following:

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

You must be incorporated under one of the following:

  • Associations Act 2003
  • Corporations Act 2001 (Commonwealth)
  • 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.

You 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) or Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), you must be compliant with their reporting requirements.

Who can't apply

You can't apply or be sponsored to apply for a minor 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 or where the entity exists under a school ABN
  • a research foundation or trust.

You also can't apply if you:

  • have an outstanding acquittal from:
    • a previous Community Benefit Fund grant
    • another NT Government Agency
  • have 2 active minor grant applications/grants
  • are an association that is not compliant with your reporting obligations under the Act in which you are incorporated or to ACNC or ORIC 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 applications:

  1. from organisations with no paid positions (volunteer based)
  2. that will provide a tangible ongoing community benefit beyond the period of the grant funding
  3. that will provide a particular benefit to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Territorians
  4. that will enhance the preservation of culture and heritage in the Territory.

You can have up to 2 active applications at any time.

This includes applications that are:

  • waiting a decision
  • active, but not acquitted.

You can't apply for minor community grants 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/events that have already received a grant from another CBF category
  • funding for projects/events that have already commenced or will commence prior to the notification date
  • recurrent expense funding
    • this includes regular salaries and wages, administration expenses and short-life equipment
  • trophies or prize money.

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 don't contribute to community improvement
  • projects that are not consistent with fund 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 NT Government
  • projects or events that start prior to the notification date.

Don't purchase goods, services or equipment that you are requesting funding for until you have received formal funding approval.

These items can't be included as part of your acquittal if purchased prior to notification.

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


What you need to know to apply

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

Applications may also be made for multiple purposes. Preference will be given to applications that include co-contributions.

How much you can apply for

Eligible organisations can apply for amounts up to $15,000.

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

Minor community grants don't contain GST.

Funding rounds

Applications for funding can be lodged all year-round. There are 12 rounds per year.

Rounds close on the last day of the month. Notifications of outcomes are scheduled for the 21st of the following month.

Read below for the timing.

RoundOpeningClosingNotification
11 July31 July21 August
21 August31 August21 September
31 September30 September21 October
41 October31 October21 November
51 November30 November21 December
61 December31 December21 January
71 January31 January21 February
81 February28 February21 March
91 March31 March21 April
101 April30 April21 May
111 May31 May21 June
121 June30 June21 July

How to apply

To apply for minor community grants, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in the minor community grants form.

Minor community grants form PDF (485.6 KB)
Minor community grants form DOCX (73.7 KB)

Step 2. Attach any supporting documents. Read how your application is assessed.

Step 3. Submit your application by mail, email or in person.

Community Benefit Fund secretariat
Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
Level 3 NAB House
71 Smith Street
Darwin NT 0800
cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au

GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801

Freecall: 1300 650 153

Cut off times

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

Read below to find out the cut off times.

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.

After you apply

Once your application has been processed, an email from the CBF Secretariat will be sent to your nominated email confirming your application has been received and accepted.

Depending on the volume of applications received, this can take several days.

If you haven't received an email after one week, contact the CBF secretariat by calling 1300 650 153 or emailing cbf.ntg@nt.gov.au.


How your application is assessed

This page provides information on how your application for minor community grants is assessed.

Step 1. Check

The Community Benefit Fund (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 or ORIC if applicable
  • your organisation does not have any outstanding acquittals with the CBF
  • your organisation does not have any outstanding acquittals with other NT Government agencies.

If there are any issues relating to your eligibility, the secretariat will contact you.

The CBF will attach a funding history for your organisation to your application to assist with assessment.

Step 2. Assessment

The Director of Gaming Control may seek input from other NT Government agencies.

The Director of Gaming Control considers all funding applications and makes recommendations to the minister who will ultimately determine if an application will or will not be funded.

Your application will be assessed against the guidelines to ensure it:

  • meets the eligibility requirements
  • seeks funding for a permitted activity, purpose or project permitted
  • aligns with the priorities
  • contains quotes - preference given to quotes from the NT
  • represents value for money
  • has a wide reaching 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 allowance of sufficient time to conduct events and/or meet identified outcomes
  • has evidence of community support or involvement
  • has a strong community focus.

Other factors that will be taken into consideration include:

  • has a co-contribution towards the cost of the project - including in-kind
  • 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/event
  • 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 email you.

You should receive notification of an outcome 21 days after the round has closed.


If your application is successful

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

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

Receiving the funds

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


How to manage your grant

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

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.

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 minor community grant within 12 months from the date you received payment.

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

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

You must spend your grant for the purpose stated in your application.

If for some reason this is not possible, you may submit a request for a variation to your funding agreement in writing to the Community Benefit Fund (CBF) secretariat.

Variations are not guaranteed and may not be applied for retrospectively.

If funds have been spent for a purpose other than stated in your application or prior to an approved variation it can't form part of your acquittal.

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 the entire unspent balance.

You can refund the money using one of the below:

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

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 being disposed of within 5 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.

Unsuccessful applications

If your application is unsuccessful you will receive an email.


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