Discretionary Response Fund
Purpose
To assist community groups where the project and funding request falls outside other council funding criteria and/or closing dates. This fund is also for emergency funding for unforeseen situations.
Note: Funding is for the period 1st July in the current year to 30th June the following year.
Eligibility
Applications are invited from eligible not-for-profit groups whose activities provide opportunities in the areas of community, social, recreation, sports, arts, environment or heritage to the wider community or to specifically defined communities of interest.
The following criteria must be met by all applicants:
- A community based not-for-profit community, recreation, sporting, arts, social service, environment or heritage organisation.
- Groups requesting over $2,000 must be a legal entity.
- Groups requesting under $2,000 who are not a legal entity will need to have a bank account in the name of the organisation and may be required to have an umbrella organisation who is a legal entity.
- Be based in the Christchurch City Council area with funded programmes or services being provided primarily for Christchurch City Council residents.
- Must have provided accountability reports for all previous Council funding and have no unresolved or outstanding accountability issues including outstanding debt to Council.
- Must have had the funding application approved at a properly convened committee meeting and in writing.
- Must provide evidence of the need for the project.
- Have appropriate financial management, accounting, monitoring and reporting practices.
- Have sound governance and appropriate operational capability and capacity to deliver to the level as agreed.
- Be able to commit to collaboration and partnering, where appropriate.
- Groups receiving Council funding at a metropolitan level may only apply for local funding if the project is specifically local and no portion of it has been funded at the metropolitan level.
- At the local level Community Boards may decide in conjunction with Council Units to deliver activities to their local communities.
Note: Recreation and Sporting clubs/organisations do not have to be affiliated to a national sporting organisation to be eligible to apply however in alignment with the Physical Recreation and Sport Strategy we would encourage you to affiliate.
What We Fund
- Operational or project costs, incurred in the provision and delivery of the agreed initiative – for the twelve month period starting 1st July and ending no later than 30th June
- At metropolitan level: - Small equipment purchases up to $1,000 per item that will enable your organisation to take advantage of efficiency gains – with an overall maximum total expenditure of $4,000 per annum for small equipment. (NB: All equipment or capital purchases must be noted in a schedule of equipment / capital purchases for accountability purposes)
- At Community Board level: - Capital items which are deemed to be appropriate and which contribute to the Funding Outcomes, Priorities and Board Objectives
- Costs that support the recognition, contribution and retention of volunteers
What We Will Not Fund
- A project that has been declined from other Council annual funding rounds. Unless the reason for decline is solely on the basis that the funds from the other rounds were fully allocated denying the applicant the opportunity for a full and considered assessment.
- Projects that are considered to be the primary responsibility of:
- Central government
- Some other funding body.
- Programmes / services / initiatives that have not been agreed within the scope of the funding agreement.
- Retrospective costs or project or purchase costs incurred or settled before the agreed commencement date of the funding agreement
- Debt servicing or re-financing costs
- Stock or capital market investment
- Capital purchases at metropolitan level (except for small equipment as noted above)
- Gambling or prize money
- Entertainment costs (except for costs directly linked to volunteer recognition)
- Funding of individuals (except for Youth Development Scheme)
- Payment of any legal expenditure (except for issues of precedence previously supported by Community Boards)
- Purchase of land and buildings
- Activities or initiatives where the primary purpose is to promote religious ministry, political objectives, commercial or profit-oriented interests
- Fundraising or general income-growth purposes
- Medical or healthcare costs – including treatment and insurance fees
- Money which will be re-distributed as grant funding, sponsorship, donations, bequests, aid funding or aid to other recipients
- Payment of fines, court costs or mediation costs
- Payment for IRD penalties or retrospective tax payments
- Air travel, accommodation, hotel / motel expenses
How and When To Apply
Applications must be made on the Christchurch City Council’s Community Grants Funding application form which is available from all Service Centres, the Civic Office and Council Libraries and online here:
Community Funding Scheme Application
Applications are open from 1st July each year. Once the annual allocation of funds is exhausted the fund is closed.
Applications could have up to 6 weeks turn around period dependant on the timing of Board and /or Council meetings.
Assessment Process
Applications will be sorted into either metropolitan or local projects.
Metropolitan applications up to $15,000 are delegated to staff metropolitan funding group. Metropolitan applications above $15,000 go to Metropolitan Funding Sub-Committee of Council.
Local applications will be assessed by staff and presented to the relevant Community Board for allocation.
Applications which do not meet the criteria set for the Discretionary Response Fund will be declared ‘ineligible’ and will not have their applications put forward for assessment – however their lack of qualification will be noted in the reporting officers report.
Accountability and Compliance
- Funding received is to be spent by 30th June.
- Any alterations to the use of the funding must be discussed with council staff and agreed to or funding may be required to be returned.
- An accountability form must be completed:
- when funding is spent
- or by 30th June the following year
- or when another funding application is lodged and there are still outstanding funds from previous funding.
- Future funding can be withheld if accountability requirements are not met.
Further Assistance
Application forms and further assistance are available from:
Metropolitan Community Adviser - Funding 03 941-8933
or
your local Community Development Adviser or Community Recreation Adviser (see Ward Areas for Contact Details)
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