Multicultural grants

Introduction

This section has information about multicultural grants for individuals and community organisations, including:

  • harmony grants
  • multicultural community facilities grants
  • multicultural grants program.

Multicultural grants and GST

GST is not included in multicultural grant payments, even if an organisation has an ABN and is registered for GST. 

If you are awarded a grant, GST is not included. This must be reflected in the invoice.


Harmony Grants program

If you're a Northern Territory (NT) organisation, you can apply for up to $1,000 for projects, events and activities that promote cultural diversity or harmony.

This includes funding to take part in:

  • Darwin Waterfront Harmony Soiree
  • Big Day Out in Harmony at Alice Springs.

Applications open on 1 October and close 31 October each year.

Find out more about multicultural events in the NT.

You can apply if you're:

  • an incorporated multicultural community group
  • a school
  • a private not-for-profit group
  • a local government council.

If you're not incorporated, you can apply if you provide:

  • an agreement with an incorporated organisation to administer the harmony grant
  • a letter from that organisation agreeing to administer the funds
  • a copy of the organisation's certificate of incorporation.

You can't apply if you're:

  • an individual
  • a private for-profit group
  • an organisation based outside of the NT.

Organisations that have not met previous acquittal requirements under the Harmony Grants program can't apply for funding.

You can apply for funding for projects, events and activities that promote cultural diversity or harmony such as:

  • school projects that celebrate student diversity
  • food and cultural events
  • traditional dancing performances
  • open days at community centres
  • multicultural storytelling and displays.

You can't apply for funding for:

  • prizes
  • goods already purchased
  • commercial or business ventures
  • overseas travel
  • most equipment for example, computers.

To apply for a grant, follow these steps:

Step 1. Read the Harmony Grants guidelines.

Harmony Grants guidelines PDF (279.5 KB)
Harmony Grants guidelines DOCX (644.0 KB)

Step 2. Apply online through GrantsNT.

Late applications will not be accepted.

When your application has been received, you will get an email.

Your application will be assessed on how well your project shares and celebrates the NT's cultural diversity.

It will also be assessed:

  • on the benefits to the community
  • against other suitable applications.

Your application will be evaluated by an assessment panel. The panel will make recommendations to the minister for consideration and a decision.

You will receive a letter to tell you if your application has been successful.

All decisions are final. There is no appeal process.

If your application is successful, you must sign a funding agreement that outlines the purpose of the grant and the conditions you must follow.

Your funding agreement will be sent to you.

Funds will not be provided until after the Office of Multicultural Affairs has received:

  • your signed funding agreement
  • a tax invoice.

Any outstanding acquittals must be submitted before the grant can be paid.

Public information about the grant

The government will release the details of the project and funding to the public.

Read the privacy statement.

Promoting the NT Government during your event

You must prominently promote that the NT Government has funded your event. This includes all media releases or promotional material.

You must contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs to receive a 'proudly sponsored by' logo to use in your promotional material.

The logo may only be reproduced in the format provided and must be presented on all materials associated with the funded activity in equal size and prominence to your organisation's logo.

Managing your funds and budget

The Office of Multicultural Affairs will not be held responsible if you underestimate the cost of activities related to the project and you lose money.

You can only spend your funds based on the requirements in the funding agreement.

If a grant has not been used for the approved purpose, or the conditions of funding have not been met, your organisation must repay the funds.

If you want to change the purpose of your grant

If you want to change what you are spending the grant on, you must write to the Office of Multicultural Affairs to ask for permission.

Your letter must provide reasons for the change and a budget for the amended purpose.

Funds can only be used for a new purpose after the Office of Multicultural Affairs has sent you written approval for your request.

Duty of care and insurance

You may need to have public liability insurance with a recognised insurance provider that covers the activity of the grant.

You must send a copy of your public liability insurance policy within 14 days if the government asks you to do so.

When your event has finished

When your event has finished, you must fill in an acquittal of grant funds form.

Acquittal of grant funds DOCX (168.4 KB)
Acquittal of grant funds PDF (78.4 KB)

You must submit it to the Office of Multicultural Affairs within 8 weeks of your event or project finishing. All previous grants must be acquitted before new grants can be paid.

Your acquittal must include:

  • an income and expenditure statement for the project
  • a written report detailing the results of the project or activity, including:
    • the extent to which the project's objectives were achieved
    • any issues that affected the project.
Unspent funds

If you have funds left over after your event, you must do one of the following:

  • return leftover funds to the Office of Multicultural Affairs
  • apply to change the purpose of your grant so you can spend it on something else
  • apply to change the funding period of your grant so you can spend it on the same project at a later date.

Contact

For more information or help, contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs by emailing tfhc.multiculturaaffairs@nt.gov.au.


Multicultural Community Facilities Grant Program

Migrant and multicultural community organisations can apply for funding to help renovate or upgrade their facilities.

This funding aims to promote multicultural diversity in the Northern Territory (NT).

Applications open 1 April and close 30 April each year.

You can apply for funding to upgrade or renovate facilities that:

  • host a range of multicultural events
  • are meeting places that encourage development, expression and promotion of multicultural diversity
  • are available for anyone to use regardless of their cultural and linguistic background.

Your project must:

  • have identifiable outcomes and project objectives
  • be consistent with the grant's aims
  • be part of a comprehensive plan to address your organisation's needs
  • not have commercially-oriented objectives.

There is no limit to how many grants you can apply for in a single round.

If you apply for funding for more than one project at a time, you should prioritise the projects in order of importance.

You need to submit a copy of all of the following documents with your application:

  • certificate of incorporation
  • evidence of not-for-profit or charitable status
  • current audited financial statements
  • plan and preliminary design for the proposed project
  • evidence of public liability and building insurance
  • a minimum of two detailed quotes of proposed project from service providers
  • evidence of acquittal of previous grants from the NT Government
  • detailed costing for the project.

You must also submit the following:

  • evidence that the premises will be used to promote and host multicultural events including the range of activities and the expected level of use
  • evidence of your ability to manage the funds and the project effectively
  • details of how the organisation will contribute to the project through funding and in-kind support
  • location of the land including the block number
  • evidence that you can maintain the improvements in good condition
  • evidence that you can fund ongoing costs.

To apply, follow these steps:

Step 1. Read the guidelines.

Multicultural Community Facilities Grant Program guidelines PDF (263.7 KB)
Multicultural Community Facilities Grant Program guidelines DOCX (659.2 KB)

Step 2. Apply online through GrantsNT by 5pm 30 April.

You must set up a profile before applying.

When your application has been received, you will receive an email.

Your application is assessed on how the project helps your organisation renovate or upgrade a facility.

It will also be assessed on:

  • technical advice given by the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics about design, planning, construction and reasonable costs to maintain and operate the facility
  • your ability to maintain the upgrade
  • community benefits
  • community support
  • past performance of your organisation to meets its aims and objectives.

You will receive a letter telling you if your application has been successful.

All decisions are final. There is no appeal process.

Sign an agreement form

You will have to sign an agreement form which outlines the purpose of the funding and the conditions you have to follow.

This agreement form will be sent to you.

Insurance

You must have and keep in place a public liability and building insurance policy with a recognised insurance provider.

You must also make sure that any contractors engaged to work on the project are appropriately insured.

Promoting the NT Government

You must prominently promote that the NT Government has provided funding for your facility.

This includes all media releases or promotional material, using the phrase 'proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government'.

Managing your funds and budget

The Office of Multicultural Affairs will not be held responsible if you underestimate the cost of the upgrade and you lose money.

You can only spend your funds according to the requirements in the funding agreement.

If the delegated officer decides that a grant has not been used for the approved purpose, or the conditions of funding have not been met, then your organisation must repay the funds to the government.

The government retains the right to vary, cancel or waive any of the conditions and requirements of a grant.

If you want to change the purpose of your grant

If you want to change the purpose of what you are spending the grant on, you must write to the Office of Multicultural Affairs to ask for permission.

Your letter must provide reasons for the change and a budget for the amended purpose.

Funds can only be used for a new purpose after the Office of Multicultural Affairs has sent you written approval for your request.

When your project is finished, you must fill in and submit a financial acquittal form.

Financial acquittal form PDF (589.6 KB)
Financial acquittal form DOCX (60.9 KB)

You need to account for all of the funds provided for the upgrade or renovation and give a written report on the outcome of the project.

You must also provide:

  • an audited financial statement prepared by an independent auditor
  • a copy of the permit to occupy certified by a qualified building certifier - if applicable
  • a detailed income and expenditure statement.

Unspent funds

If you have funds left over after your renovations or upgrade, you must:

  • return these to the Office of Multicultural Affairs or
  • apply to change the purpose of your grant to spend the funds on something else at your facility.

Ongoing interest in the property by the NT Government

Under NT law, the government may have an ongoing interest in the property.

If the grant awarded is more than $25,000, your organisation must acknowledge that the property will be classified as Prescribed Property under the Associations Act 2003.

Contact

For more information or help, contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs by emailing tfhc.multiculturaaffairs@nt.gov.au.


Multicultural grants program

The multicultural grants program provides funding to migrant and multicultural communities in the Northern Territory (NT).

This can be used for events or projects that promote:

  • social inclusion
  • cohesion
  • multicultural diversity
  • linguistic diversity.

Before applying, you should read the updated multicultural grants program guidelines.

Multicultural grants program guidelines PDF (295.1 KB)
Multicultural grants program guidelines DOCX (673.1 KB).

You can apply if you're a non-profit migrant or multicultural community group that is:

  • incorporated
  • not incorporated but has a written agreement to administer the grant with an incorporated organisation.

Government agencies and private for-profit groups can't apply.

You can apply for funding of events or projects that:

  • encourage migrant and multicultural communities to expand their own and the NT’s social and cultural development
  • help the community’s knowledge and appreciation of different cultures
  • provide links throughout the NT population
  • foster opportunities for multicultural communities to maintain, develop and express their cultural and linguistic diversity
  • help the development of community support and building of capacity within multicultural organisations.

The event or project must be completed within 12 months of receiving the grant.

Funds for wages or salaries will only be provided where significant community benefit can be demonstrated.

What you can't apply for

You can't apply for funding for:

  • any activity:
    • of a political party nature
    • of a commercial or business nature
    • of government agencies
    • specific to fundraising
    • based outside of the NT
    • already started or completed
    • by organisations established for profit or financial gain to members
    • that duplicates existing services available to the community
  • set-up or running costs of a business
  • buying capital equipment including hardware or software
  • items that have already been provided or previously purchased
  • prizes or gifts
  • deficit budgets
  • real estate purchases
  • overseas trips
  • other items the panel assess as not meeting the aims and objectives of the grants.

Two rounds of grants are available each year.

First round applications open in March for activities starting from July.

Second round applications open in September for activities starting from January next year.

Quick response and harmony grants

For unplanned events or changing circumstances, Quick Response Grant applications will be accepted for projects up to $2,000 until funding runs out.

Funding of up to $1,000 may also be available for harmony events under a Quick Response Grant until funding runs out.

Applications must be submitted 4 to 6 weeks before the start date of your event.

You can apply for the grant on the GrantsNT website.

If you haven't created a profile, you must set one up before applying.

Your application must be submitted by 5pm on the closing date.

You will receive an email when your application has been received.

You application will be assessed by a panel of government representatives.

The panel will provide recommendations to the minister for consideration and decision.

The application will be assessed on the eligibility requirements listed above, as well as:

  • project innovation
  • identifiable community benefits
  • level of earned income and the level of support from other sources
  • its priority rating compared with other suitable applications
  • budget viability and financial management
  • past performance of the organisation in relation to meeting its aims and objectives.

You will be sent a letter outlining whether your application has been successful.

All decisions are final and there is no appeal process.

A funding agreement will be sent to you outlining the purpose and conditions of the grant you must follow.

You must sign this and send it back to the Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Funds will not be provided until your signed funding agreement and tax invoice has been received.

Any outstanding acquittals must be submitted before the grant can be paid.

The proposed project must be completed within 12 months of receiving the grant.

Managing your funds and budget

You must:

  • ensure your budget covers the cost of your project
  • only spend your funds according to the requirements in the funding agreement.

If you underestimate the cost or lose money through expenses, the Office of Multicultural Affairs will not be held responsible.

Your organisation must repay the funds if the:

  • grant has not been used for the approved purpose
  • conditions of funding have not been met.

The delegated officer retains the right to vary, cancel or waive any of the conditions and requirements of a grant.

If you want to change the purpose of your grant

To change what you're spending the grant on, you must write to the Office of Multicultural Affairs for permission.

Your letter must provide reasons for the change and a budget for the amended purpose.

Funds can only be used for a new purpose after the Office of Multicultural Affairs has sent you written approval.

Promoting the NT Government during your event

You must promote that the NT Government (NTG) has provided funding for your event.

This includes all media releases or promotional material.

You should use the NTG logo with the words 'Proudly sponsored by the Northern Territory Government'.

Duty of care and insurance

You must have public liability insurance with a recognised insurance provider that covers the activity of the grant.

If asked to do so, you must send a copy of your public liability insurance policy within 14 days.

Event organisers have a legal and moral obligation to take reasonable steps to avoid risks of injury to people attending the event.

If they don’t take reasonable precautions, they may be liable to pay compensation to a person who is injured while attending.

Examples of the type of care that you must take include:

  • providing a safe environment for children at family-based activities
  • ensuring power cords are taped down so no-one can trip over them
  • protecting electrical equipment from wet weather.

If your event or project hasn't been completed within 12 months

If there are circumstances preventing you from completing your event within 12 months, you can apply for an extension.

You must submit your extension request at least 3 months before the end of the 12-month period.

Public information about the grant

The NTG will release the details of the project and funding to the public. Read the privacy statement.

When your event has finished, you must fill in an Office of Multicultural Affairs acquittal form.

Office of Multicultural Affairs acquittal form PDF (590.7 KB)
Office of Multicultural Affairs acquittal form DOCX (62.7 KB).

You must submit this form to the Office of Multicultural Affairs within 8 weeks of your event or project finishing.

Before new grants can be paid, previous grants must be acquitted.

Unspent funds

If you have funds left over after your event, you must do one of the following:

  • return these to the Office of Multicultural Affairs
  • apply to change the purpose of your grant so you can spend it on something else
  • apply to change the funding period of your grant so you can spend it on the same project at a later date.

Contact

For help or to discuss a late application, contact the Office of Multicultural Affairs by calling 08 8999 3894 or emailing tfhc.multiculturalaffairs@nt.gov.au.


Multicultural grants and your privacy

If your application for a multicultural grant is successful, the Office of Multicultural Affairs will make details of the project public.

Your personal information may be provided to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, the Department of the Chief Minister and other agencies to promote and report funding outcomes. Your personal information will not be made public.