Community Project Grant
Applications open from 1 February 2025
Ashburton District is fortunate to have a range of non-profit groups and organisations that play an important role in improving our resident’s quality of life through the projects and initiatives that they lead. Council recognises the importance of community projects and the responsibility it shares with the community to provide opportunities for community projects to proceed.
Purpose
The purpose of the Community Project Grant is to assist projects that maintain and/or enhance residents’ quality of life in the Ashburton District.
Funding
The maximum individual grant available is $5,000 and can be no more than 50% of the total project cost. The applicant’s share of the project’s cost can be in kind work or materials, or financial. Volunteer time shall be estimated using the minimum wage at the time of the application.
All grants must comply with Council’s Community Grants and Funding Policy.
Grant Eligibility
All community projects must meet the following criteria:
- Be located in the Ashburton District.
- Be available to the wider community.
- Be organised by a non-profit organisation.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants must be:
- From a non-profit organisation / group.
- Based in the Ashburton District.
- Applications from a national organisation must be made from the local branch of that organisation.
- Individuals, schools and service groups (whose primary purpose is to raise funds in the community) are ineligible.
- Applications will only be accepted on the completed Community Project Application form.
- Incomplete applications that do not provide all of the requested information will be excluded from funding assessment.
Ineligible Projects
The following projects are ineligible for Community Project Grant funding:
- Retrospective community projects.
- Salaries or wages.
- Any form of insurance.
- Equipment hire.
- Operating costs (including power, water, phones, ticketing, IT charges).
- The hosting of a regional or national tournament or event.
- Prize money or sponsorship.
- Travel costs.
Assessment Considerations
Council will consider the following:
- The contribution that the project will make to the community.
- The proposed number of people who will benefit from the project.
- Accessibility of the project to the general public.
- The community contribution to the project (including volunteers, in-kind work or materials and financial support).
- Other sources of funding potentially available to the applicant.
- Any previous assistance provided by Council.
Disclaimer
The final funding decisions are made at the discretion of Ashburton District Council. Successful applicants’ project details may be used for publicity purposes.
Funding Agreement
Successful applicants must complete and return an accountability form on the completion of the project, and within the financial year which funds were granted.
Receipts are required for all expenditure.
Organisations that do not return a completed accountability form will not be eligible for future Council grant funding.
