Purpose
Place-based Community Grants support place-based community development within communities and suburbs in the city that enhance the well-being of residents and businesses.
Specific Eligibility Criteria
- Grants are only open to place-based groups taking a whole of community approach to improve the social, economic, cultural, and environmental well-being of residents and businesses within a defined geographical area (a “community”). A “community” can be a suburb, group of suburbs or rural area,
- Place-based groups can be formally structured, legal entities and act as an umbrella organisation for smaller initiatives within its community, OR operate under the umbrella of an established formal entity,
- Groups must be based in the geographical community serviced,
- Projects / programmes eligible for funding must align with the DCC’s Strategic Framework outcomes and meet community needs identified through engagement with local residents and businesses. Where projects / programmes have not started, communities must be engaged in their development,
- The DCC is a complementary funder only, therefore applicants must provide at least 30% of the funding / resources for the project or programme. Resource can include equipment, materials, and voluntary labour (labour should be costed at Living Wage),
- Applicants must provide all the required information requested by the DCC. A valid bank account that matches the name on the application is required,
- Applicants must have clear governance, management and financial policies and processes,
- Applicants must follow all NZ legislation, regulations and DCC by-laws in delivering services / support.
Priorities for grant making
- Community-led initiatives within identified geographical areas (a community) that support the social, economic, cultural, and environmental well-being of all residents,
- Communities where social and economic inequity are identified as higher than the average within Dunedin,
- Community-led initiatives that show strong support from the local community serviced,
- Community-led initiatives that consider waste minimisation and environmental sustainability within programmes / projects.
Expected outcomes from grant making
- People are included, and feel included in their local neighbourhoods and communities,
- Well connected, vibrant neighbourhoods and communities are developed and supported,
- Dunedin residents can celebrate their identity and cultural diversity,
- Dunedin residents have good access to information, resources, and life-long learning that improve their well-being,
- There are high levels of participation in recreation and leisure activities,
- People feel safe in their homes, neighbourhoods and public places,
- Dunedin residents have a reasonable standard of living,
- Dunedin residents contribute to waste reduction.
Examples of activities supported
- Capability and capacity building of place-based community groups supporting improved social, economic, cultural, and environmental well-being of an identified areas and its residents,
- Planning with residents and local business that leads to improved social, economic, cultural, and environmental well-being for the area and its people,
- Programmes that connect community members,
- Development of projects such as community gardens, festivals and events, beautification projects.
What the DCC doesn’t fund
- Applications from formal organisations not part of the community serviced,
- Applications from interest groups supporting sectors or groups i.e., age-related, ethnicity-based etc,
- Individuals seeking funding for themselves or whānau,
- Activities that have taken place before funding decisions and payments are made,
- Activities that are the responsibility of central government i.e., core health and education services,
- Applications to distribute funds to other groups / individuals,
- Previous grant recipients that have not reported on funds received,
- Alcohol and alcohol-related activity,
- Fundraisers,
- Costumes,
- Food,
- Religious or political activities,
- Applications from a group that has already applied for a Community Grant for the same project / programme within a 12-month period.
Application and approval process
- New applicants must engage with a Community Advisor before applying for the first time to ensure applications meet the criteria. Advisors can be contacted by email at community@dcc.govt.nz or Ph 477 4000 weekdays
- Applications for Place-based Community Grants open on the first Monday of August and close on the last Friday of August at 5pm. No late applications are made.
- Applications must be made online at Community funding and grants - Place-based community grants application.
- There is no maximum grant available, and multi-year funding can be requested, but applicants are asked to consider the funding pool available when applying,
- DCC staff will assess how the application meets the criteria and a group’s ability to deliver on the expected outcomes,
- The DCC Grants Subcommittee makes all funding decisions,
- Applicants will be advised in writing (email or letter) of their application outcome.
- Payment of an approved grant will be made to the supplier/s named in the application.
Delivery and reporting
Groups granted funds must –
- Deliver the project / programme within 12 months of the grant being approved, and as described in the application,
- Acknowledge the grant as outlined by Council in its Grants Management Policy,
- Complete the required DCC reporting online within 12 months of the activity taking place Grants Report back form
DCC staff will make contact if there are questions about a report. The DCC reserves the right to decline future funding where a report is not satisfactory,
If reporting isn’t provided as required, the DCC has the right to decline future funding requests.
General Criteria (for all DCC grants)