Livingstone Shire Council Bendigo Community Bank Community Grants Scheme (R2 25/26)

The Livingstone Shire Council and Bendigo Community Bank Community Grants Scheme provides funding to community groups and sporting clubs to deliver innovative projects and programs that respond to local community needs. 

• Applicant organisations primary operation is within Livingstone Shire.
• Applicant organisations primary objectives provide a benefit to communities within Livingstone Shire.
• Applicant organisations sole not-for-profit status is established and maintained.
• Applicant organisations must be properly constituted, incorporated or be sponsored by an incorporated organisation.
• Applicant organisations must hold appropriate public liability cover (minimum $20,000,000 coverage)
• Applicant organisations have no outstanding matters before Livingstone Shire Council.

Applications will be ineligible where / if:

• The applicant organisation does not meet the eligibility criteria.
• The applicant organisation received funding through the Livingstone Community Grants round immediately previous to the current round.
• Application form is not completed in full.
• The applicant group is; a government agency; a for-profit organisation; an individual; a political organisation; or a TAFE, university or college.

Ineligible Initiatives:

• Ongoing or current maintenance, salaries, or standard costs associated with the operation of the organisation. 
• Initiatives that have already commenced or have been completed.
• Initiatives that will be delivered (part or in full) outside Livingstone Shire. 
• Initiatives that support political or discriminatory ideologies or practices.
• Initiatives that contravene laws and regulations set by Government agencies.
• Initiatives that are eligible under the following alternative funding programmes: a) Rates Rebates and Remission Policy; b) Regional Arts Development Fund; c) Event Sponsorship Programme.

Goods and Services Tax and Australian Business Number

Depending on the applicant's status with the Australian Tax Office, funding from the Livingstone Community Grants may attract a goods and services tax. Community organisations submitting an application for funding are therefore required to declare whether or not they are goods and services tax registered and provide and Australian Business Number. 

Eligible applications will be evaluated in accordance with the following criteria:

1. Evidence that confirms the initiative budget, detailing requested funding amount, associated quotations, and (if required) applicant contribution;
2. Evidence that demonstrates the initiative can be delivered within the required timeframe (note initiatives must be completed and acquitted by 31 December 2026).
3. Evidence that identifies the need for the initiative in the community;
4. Evidence that demonstrates the initiative will address identified need;
5. Evidence that clarifies alignment of the initiative to one or more strategies in the Livingstone Community Plan 2030 (available to view here);
6. Evidence that confirms the number of participants/community members who will benefit from the delivery of the initiative;
7. Evidence that details the initiatives potential to attract visitors to, or growth of the Shire; and
8. Evidence that demonstrates the initiative will support and enhance community wellbeing and liveability through building capacity and resilience of the applicant.

Definitions

Initiative - an activity, item/equipment, project or programme.

Incorporated - A community organisation incorporated under the:

• Associations Incorporations Act 1981 (Qld);
• Corporations Act 2001;
• Cooperatives Act 1997 (QLD); or 
• Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006.

Sponsoring Body - An incorporated community organisation that is sponsoring an application, where the applicant is a non-incorporated community organisation.

Government Agency - A local, state or federal government department, agency, or body.  

Capacity Building - An improvement in the organisation's ability to develop and deliver its aims, objectives, and goals.  

Resilience - The organisations preparedness and ability to respond to and manage unplanned/unexpected circumstances.

To maximise your chances of success you should;

• Ensure that you are an eligible applicant.
• Ensure your initiative meets all of the relevant criteria.
• Complete the Online Application Form
  o Provide detailed descriptions where required;
  o Ensure the budget component is completed in full and total income is the same as total expenditure;
  o Include copies of current quotes
  o Include Certificate of Incorporation
  o Include Public Liability Insurance
• Seek assistance with your application by contacting:
  The Community Development and Events Team via LCG@livingstone.qld.gov.au or 1300 790 919