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Frequently Asked Questions

The Frequently Asked Questions clarify matters that have been raised by organisations intending to make a grant funding submission. It will continue to be updated in response to inquiries. All potential applicants are encouraged to regularly review the Frequently Asked Questions on this website to ensure that their application addresses the relevant requirements.

  1. What is the purpose of the Sport and Recreation grants program?
  2. Who can apply?
  3. Who cannot apply?
  4. Will all applications receive funding?
  5. Is there a limit on the level of funding for an application?
  6. Can not-for-profit groups make a joint application?
  7. Will my application be ineligible if I do not have an ABN?
  8. Where can application forms be accessed?
  9. How does my organisation lodge the application?
  10. I want to register an organisation. What information will I need?
  11. I want to register a project. What information will I need?
  12. Can more than one proposal be submitted?
  13. Can activities be over more than one site?
  14. What criteria apply for project funding?
  15. Does my organisation need to identify in which electoral district the project is based?
  16. How much of the project cost can be requested as a grant?
  17. How long do we have to start and complete the project?
  18. Can funding be sought for a project that has already commenced?
  19. What other information should be included in my application?
  20. What happens after I have submitted my application?
  21. What if my application is unsuccessful?
  22. Can applications be made for projects to fund an organisations operational costs (such as staffing positions, consultants, advertising or training)?
  23. Will late applications be accepted?
  24. Can we get sports equipment funded under these programs?
  25. What is the average size of the grants?
  26. My child is involved in school sport, can we apply for funding?
  27. My child needs to travel interstate to the national championships, can I apply for funding?
  28. Our organisation is not incorporated, is there any way we can apply for funding?
  29. Can we apply for funding for an event?
  30. Do we include GST in the budget?
  31. What assistance can Sport and Recreation staff provide?
  32. What programs have been affected by the new arrangements?
  33. Why have these programs been affected?

1. What is the purpose of the Sport and Recreation grants program?

  • The overall aim of the grants is to increase participation in sport, recreation and structured physical activity. Each grant program has a specific set of objectives and these can be found in section 4 of the relevant Grant Program Guidelines.

2. Who can apply?

  • Generally applicants must be an incorporated, not for profit organisation or a local government authority. For each program there is a list of organisation types that are eligible to apply and this can be found in section 6 of the relevant Grant Program Guidelines.
  • Applicants must have Public Liability Insurance cover of at least $5m.

3. Who cannot apply?

  • Individuals
  • For profit, commercial organisations
  • State and Federal Government agencies
  • A list of who cannot apply can be found in section 7 of the relevant Grant Program Guidelines.

4. Will all applications receive funding?

  • No. The application process is competitive. It is anticipated that there will be multiple applications competing for the funding available.
  • Successful applications will be those which best meet the objectives of the program, can demonstrate a need for the project, provide a cost effective budget and can demonstrate that the organisation applying has the capacity to deliver the project.

5. Is there a limit on the level of funding for an application?

  • Yes. This is program specific and the relevant information can be found in section 5 of the relevant Grant Program Guidelines.

6. Can not-for-profit groups make a joint application?

  • An application needs to be made by a single organisation which will accept responsibility should the application be successful. However, the involvement of other supporting organisations in the project may enhance the opportunity for success. For example, the application may identify partners that will add to the applicant organisation’s capacity to deliver the project
  • It is not a requirement that other organisations are a party to the application.

7. Will my application be ineligible if I do not have an ABN?

  • No. However, in order to receive grant payments successful applicants will require an ABN or provide a Statement of Supplier form.
  • To apply for an ABN contact the Australian Taxation Office on 132866 or visit www.business.gov.au.
  • Statement of supplier forms and eligibility for their use is available online from the Australian Taxation Office at www.ato.gov.au

8. Where can application forms be accessed?

  • Application forms are available at website www.dsr.nsw.gov.au and organisations are encouraged to download these to assist gather the information that they will need to complete the online application process.
  • If you have difficulties with the internet, your local library or TAFE college may be able to assist you access the internet.

9. How does my organisation lodge the application?

  • Applications should be submitted online using the online application process - https://grants.communities.nsw.gov.au/
  • If you are having difficulties submitting your application please contact Sport and Recreation on 13 13 02.

10. I want to register an organisation. What information will I need?

Each organisation wishing to apply for a grant needs to be registered. Organisations only need to register once.   If you are unsure whether your organisation has previously registered or not, you can search for your organisation.

To register an organisation you will need to provide the following:

  • Name and address of the organisation
  • Name and contact details for a contact person for the organisation (including an email address)
  • The type of Incorporated body (this identifies the legal status of the organisation, ie., Incorporation, Company Limited by Guarantee, Local Government Authority etc)
  • The organisation's Incorporation number, CBN and/or ABN number
  • Whether your organisation is registered for GST
  • The type of organisation (ie, Community Sport, Community Health, Local Council etc)
  • The names of at least two other Contact Officers for the Organisation (preferably one will be the Public Officer for the organisation)
  • The organisation's email address if one is available
  • Insurance coverage details (ie. which policies the organisation has in place including Public Liability Insurance cover of at least $5m)
  • Information on the aims and activities which the organisation undertakes.

Ideally the CEO, General Manager, Chairperson or Public Contact Officer for the organisation should register the organisation. If this is not the case, you should inform the appropriate officer/s that you have registered the organisation.  

11. I want to register a project. What information will I need?

A project must be registered on behalf of a registered organisation.

You will need to provide the following information in order to register a project:

  • A title that briefly describes the project
  • A contact person's first and surname
  • A valid email address for the contact person
  • A password for the project

Once you have registered the project, you need to complete the online application.

12. Can more than one proposal be submitted?

  • Yes. Applicants may submit more than one application. However, there is a limit to the amount of funding that will be awarded to one particular applicant. Information on this limit can be found in the relevant Grant Program Guidelines under section 5.

13. Can activities be over more than one site?

  • Yes. Within the application, there is the scope to add multiple project locations.

14. What criteria apply for project funding?

An initial eligibility assessment will be undertaken to determine that:

  • The applicant organisation is eligible to apply and has Public Liability Insurance with a minimum $5m cover.
  • The application is complete, submitted by the closing date and meets program requirements in regards to project dates and amount of funds requested.

An assessment panel with representatives from Sport and Recreation, and independent persons with appropriate knowledge will assess all eligible applications.  Applications will be assessed on merit and scored against the following criteria:

  • The project will effectively deliver one or more of the program’s objectives
  • The project will effectively meet an identified need
  • The applicant organisation has the capacity and experience to deliver the project.
  • The budget is cost effective
  • The project provides benefit to one or more identified disadvantaged group/s (where this is objective of the program).

 

15. Does my organisation need to identify in which electoral district the project is based?

  • If your project will occur at a specific location you should identify the electorate in which it will occur.  If you are unsure which electoral district your project is based, the Electorate Office website www.elections.nsw.gov.au or your local Member of Parliament will be able to assist you.
  • If your project is throughout NSW there is no need to identify an electorate.
  • If your project is in multiple locations, you should identify the electorate for each location.

16. How much of the project cost can be requested as a grant?

  • 100%. Organisational contributions are encouraged but not mandatory for either the Participation Grants Program or the Sport and Athlete Development Program. However, it is expected that applicants will cover any administration costs associated with the project.

Note: No more than 50% of project costs can be attributed to catering, venue hire or equipment.

17. How long do we have to start and complete the project?

  • Projects should commence in 2010. Organisations have 18 months from the date the funding contract for the project is signed to complete the project.

18. Can funding be sought for a project that has already commenced?

  • No. These programs aim to support new and innovative projects and are not for pre-existing or ongoing projects.

19. What other information should be included in my application?

  • All sections of the application should be completed. If you fail to complete a mandatory field, you will be prompted to do so. Incomplete applications cannot be submitted.
  • There is no documentation required to be uploaded to support your application.

Note: You are required to declare that the information provided in the application is true and correct.

20. What happens after I have submitted my application?

  • Firstly, you will receive an email notification that your application has been successfully submitted. This email will also be copied to the registered organisation contact.
  • Organisations registered for grants will be required to confirm the list of projects submitted on behalf of their organisation.
  • Applicant organisations and projects will be checked for eligibility.
  • Projects will be assessed on merit and scored, as per section 10 of the relevant Grant Program Guidance Notes.
  • Announcement of grants awarded will be made in February 2010.

21. What if my application is unsuccessful?

  • There are no appeals for unsuccessful applications under these programs. Projects that are unsuccessful can be resubmitted in a future round of the grants program.

22. Can applications be made for projects to fund an organisations operational costs (such as staffing positions, consultants, advertising or training)?

  • No.  All funding received must be related to direct cost of the project. Administration costs for the projects must be covered by the applicant. A list of what will not be funded can be found at section 9 of the relevant Grant Program Guidelines.

23. Will late applications be accepted?

  • No. The online system will not accept applications submitted after the published closing date and time.
  • If you are having problems submitting your application you should contact 13 13 02 well in advance of the closing date and in time to seek assistance. Note: The 13 13 02 number is an answer service outside regular office hours (9:00am – 5:00pm weekdays).

24. Can we get sports equipment funded under these programs?

  • Yes. Equipment cost can make up to 50% of the project’s budget. However, you will need to demonstrate in the application the equipment is an essential component of the project. For example, if your project was to assist people with a disability join your club, a legitimate expense would be modified equipment.

25. What is the average size of the grants?

  • As these are new programs this information is not available.

26. My child is involved in school sport, can we apply for funding?

  • Funding is not available to individuals and educational institutions cannot apply for funding.

27. My child needs to travel interstate to the national championships, can I apply for funding?

  • Funding is not available to individuals. State sporting organisations can only apply for projects that support athlete travel within NSW. There is no funding available for interstate or international travel.

28. Our organisation is not incorporated, is there any way we can apply for funding?

  • If you have a project that meets the objectives of the program, you could partner with an incorporated not for profit organisation or a Council to seek funding. The funds would be paid to the applicant organisation for the project.

29. Can we apply for funding for an event?

  • One off projects that do not provide evidence of sustainability will not be funded.

30. Do we include GST in the budget?

  • The budget provided should be exclusive of GST.

31. What assistance can Sport and Recreation staff provide?

  • Sport and Recreation staff are available to provide advice to potential applicants on interpreting the Program Guidelines, and to provide advice on the types of activities that are relevant to each of the funding categories.

    However Sport and Recreation staff are not able to talk through the details of an application or to provide advice that may be perceived as providing an unfair advantage to one applicant over another.

32. What programs have been affected by the new arrangements?

  • Country Athletes Scheme
  • Country Coaches and Officials Travel Scheme
  • Far West Travel Scheme
  • Women’s Sport Leaders Scholarship Program
  • Athletes with a Disability pre-elite development
  • Athletes with a Disability – international travel support
  • Far West Travel Scheme

33. Why have these programs been affected?

The grant review recommended the consolidation of programs contributing to sport development and athlete development into a Sport and Athlete Development Program for projects that contribute to industry capacity and development and reduce barriers to participation in sport.

This recommendation meant there would be a move away from directly funding individuals to investing in the industry to provide increased opportunities for athletes, coaches and officials from across NSW and to increase the potential for government funding to be used to leverage funding from other sources.

The new arrangements provide the opportunity for State sporting organisations to determine their priorities and seek funding to address them. This may include direct athlete financial assistance and leadership programs.