Bulgana Green Power Hub Community Fund

All grant applications must be completed on the BGPH Community Fund online application form.

On the application form you will be asked to:

1. Check you are eligible 

2. Provide organisational and applicant details

3. Provide a project summary 

•  Project title, start date, address and funding being requested 

4. Outline your project idea:      

• Provide a simple overview of your project in two to three sentences

• Explain which of the Bulgana Green Power Hub growth focus areas your project aligns with 
• Demonstrate how your project aligns with the selected focus area(s) 
• Explain who and how they will benefit from your project
• Outline what you will you do with the funding. This is an overview of what you plan to do with the funding. Your response to this question should be a high-level summary only  

5. Provide a detailed project plan: 

• Provide a work plan with major activities and a timeline
• Explain the change you expect to see from your project and how you will measure this change

6. Demonstrate organisation/group ability to deliver the project: 

• Explain why you are best placed to deliver this project 

7. Provide detailed financial details:

• Provide a budget. Evidence of matching dollar for dollar contribution is required for grants over $5000
• Provide quotes
• Provide an active Australian Business Number (ABN) or an Incorporated Association Number. 
• Provide evidence that the group/organisation holds all the necessary insurances, including public liability insurance for 20 million dollars for the proposed idea/ project. If insurance is not currently held the group/organisation must commit to purchasing all necessary insurances before commencing the project 

Projects must align with at least one of Neoen's Community Growth Focus Areas:   

Environmental sustainability  inspiring participation, development and uptake of new technologies and ideas

Health and Wellbeing contributing to improved health and wellbeing outcomes in regional communities.

Strong and connected communities  encouraging community participation, involvement and connection.      

Sport and recreation increasing participation in sport and recreational activities.

Arts and culture  fostering creativity and connection in the community through art and culture.

 

To be eligible to apply you must demonstrate that the group/organisation:

• is based within the Northern Grampians Shire municipality or surrounding the Bulgana Green Power Hub
• is a not-for-profit entity or an incorporated local community group
• has the permission of the whole of the committee or organisation it is representing
• is financially viable and competent 
• can provide matching dollar-for-dollar funding contribution if applying for a grant over $5000
• is not a delegated committee of council. 

BGPH Community Fund does not fund:

• events or activities deemed to be detrimental to the environment 
• individuals
• political or military organisations or activities 
• program and projects outside of the community including international goodwill agencies 
• religious or sectarian organisations involved in purely religious/sectarian activities
• projects which have already started 
• projects which could be funded through other available funding sources. 

Examples of applications considered ineligible for funding include:

• recurrent operating costs 
• salary subsides 
• routine/cyclical maintenance funding
• requests to purchase food or alcohol for catering and events 
• groups/organisations outside of the Northern Grampians Shire
• applications received after the closing date. 

Assessment timeline

Assessments will take place during the week of 14 August.  Applicants will be notified during the week starting 28 August. 

Assessment panel

The BGPH Community Benefit Fund is overseen by a Community Advisory Panel made up of:   

•  three community members from the Northern Grampians Shire 
•  one local government representative         
•  one BGPH representative

Assessment 

In the application you will be asked to complete the following:

The percentage shown is how much that component will contribute to the overall score of your application when being assessed out of 100.

Project Idea - 30%   

• Provide a simple overview of your project in two to three sentences 

• Explain which of the Bulgana Green Power Hub growth focus areas your project aligns with  
• Demonstrate how your project aligns with the selected focus area(s) 
• Explain who and how they will benefit from your project 
• Outline what you will you do with the funding. This is an overview of what you plan to do with the funding. Your response to this question should be a high-level summary only.  

Detailed Project Plan - 30%

• Demonstrate there is a need for your project
• Provide a work plan with major activities and a timeline
• Explain the change you expect to see from your project and how you will measure this change

Organisation / group management ability - 10%

• Explain why you are best placed to deliver this project  

Financial details - 30%

• Provide a budget. Evidence of matching dollar for dollar contribution is required for grants over $5000
• Provide quotes for all items being funded

1. If any changes to the project, or if the project is not to proceed, the applicant needs to advise NGSC immediately in order for funds to be returned
2. Proof of full expenses (not just the grant amount) of the project must be provided in the form of receipts
3. Offer of a grant by the Bulgana Green Power Hub Community Fund in no way implies any ongoing funding commitment or obligation by the Bulgana Green Power Hub Community Fund
4. Any variations to the original submission/project must be in writing to Bulgana Green Power Hub Community Fund Co-ordinator, and then approved in writing by the funding body
5. The activity must incur the full expenditure as outlined in the application budget 
6. While Delegated Gift Recipient status is not mandatory, applicants who advise of DGR status are requested to provide documentary evidence
7.  Bulgana Green Power Hub must be acknowledged in any promotional material using the following wording; This project is supported by the Bulgana Green Power Hub Community Fund Grants Program 2023. 
8.  Groups/organisations are required to partake in media and communication opportunities that promote the BGPH Community Fund as requested
9. At the completion of the project you are required to complete a budget acquittal and report

Acquittal 

The appropriate acquittal form will be available in your Smarty Grants account once you have received your funds. The form is due one month after the specified completion date detailed in your application form.