What is Messenger Community Grants?

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What is Messenger Community Grants?
Messenger Community Grants is a new initiative by Messenger Community Newspapers.
$1,000 micro grants are being provided to help support ideas that will improve your local community.
If you have an idea that will cost a maximum of $5,000 to fund, you can apply for a $1,000 grant. Once your idea has
been checked it will be uploaded to the Messenger Community Grants website for the duration of the application
period where it can be viewed and commented on. Up to ten (10) ideas for each Messenger masthead will then be
shortlisted for voting – your friends and neighbours can support your idea by voting for it during the voting period. The
idea with the most votes in each Messenger paper area will receive the funding.
How many Messenger Community Grants are being awarded?
In each grant cycle, up to $12,000 worth of grants can be awarded. This is broken down into 12 grants of up to $1,000
(one for each of Messenger’s 12 newspapers).
Who can apply for a Messenger Community Grant?
Messenger Community Grants is open to residents of South Australia who are over 18 years of age and eligible
community groups in the Messenger distribution area of Adelaide. For more information, read our Terms and
Conditions.
Can I make an application or vote for an idea if a family member
works for Messenger?
Yes. As long as your idea complies with our Terms and Conditions, employees of Messenger and their family members
may participate.
If I submit my idea or my idea gets funding, does Messenger own
my idea?
No, any idea you submit is yours, though you will need to agree to certain Terms and Conditions when applying
for funding and implementing your idea.
When can I send in my idea?
You can start sending in your ideas when the grant application cycle opens. Have a look at our
Terms and Conditions or the dates below for the application and voting timeline.
APPLICATIONS OPEN – 4TH MAY 2015 - 31 MAY 2015
Voting Open –
8TH JUNE 2015 - 21 JUNE 2015
How do I send in my idea?
Ideas can only be submitted by making an application through our website. You will need to register to create an
account and then use this account to send in ideas and vote.
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What kinds of ideas are we looking for?
Anything that you think will make your local community a better place to live.
We are looking for ideas that:
Examples of great
ideas include:
• Will be beneficial to your LOCAL community
• Are achievable
• Are constructive
• A vegie garden for your street
• Are ready to go
• YOGA CLASSES FOR THE COMMUNITY
• Musical instruments for a local youth group
• A rainwater tank for a local community centre
All applications must comply with our Terms and Conditions.
• Cooking equipment for a homeless shelter
How detailed should my budget be?
• materials for a men’s shed
ideas are
only restricted by
your imagination!
We only need to know about the budget relating to your specific
project idea. We need to know how you would spend the $1,000 grant.
If your idea costs more than $1,000 we also need to know how you will
raise those funds. We do not need to know the whole budget for your
community group.
Can I start an application and finish it later?
You can save your application as a draft, but make sure that when you are
finished you remember to submit your application by the due date, otherwise you will miss out!
When putting together your application, make sure you include a budget (a breakdown of what each of the parts
of your idea will cost) and show how you will get your idea completed in time.
When I register to apply or to vote, will my details be shared?
Any details you share with us will be used in accordance with our Terms and Conditions and our Privacy Policy.
Where can I get more help with my application?
Potential applicants should have a look at How it Works and download our Information Booklet.
Don’t forget to read our Terms and Conditions for rules and regulations.
Which Messenger newspaper should I submit my project for?
Your project should be submitted for the local newspaper where you (or the community group if relevant) are based.
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How will I know if you’ve received my application?
We will send you a confirmation email to the email address provided.
When will my application be posted online?
Once your application has been assessed to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, it will be uploaded
to the website for the application period where it can be viewed and commented on. A maximum of ten (10) finalists for each
local paper in each grant cycle will be short-listed and will remain on the site for voting.
Check our Terms and Conditions for more information.
We will notify you by email if your idea is short-listed for voting.
When will the winning ideas be announced?
Once the voting period is complete, votes will be tallied and the eligible grant recipients will be notified by email. The winning
ideas will be posted on the Messenger Community Grants website on 1st July 2015. If you are successful you may need to
provide additional information to make sure your idea can be carried out. You will also need to sign a grant agreement within a
specific timeframe. Further details are available in our Terms and Conditions.
Will the grant for my idea be tax free?
All grants are inclusive of GST. You will need to seek advice about any potential tax implications.
How will I receive my grant?
Grants will be sent out via Electronic Funds Transfer into your nominated bank account (or the bank account of your
community organisation).
What is the timeline for implementing my idea and using the grant?
You will have nine (9) months from receipt of your grant to complete and implement your idea. In your application you will need
to demonstrate how you will finish your idea in this time frame.
If my application isn’t successful, can I resubmit it in a future
grant cycle?
Yes you can. As the application questions can differ slightly between the cycles, you will need to re-submit your
project again.
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Can I re-submit my winning idea to receive
addtional funding in future cycles?
No.
Who can vote?
Voting is open to all who register to vote on the website, who are 18 years or older and live in South Australia.
Check our Terms and Conditions for when voting is open.
How many votes do I get?
Each person who registers is allocated ten (10) votes per grant cycle to vote on any idea or ideas they support.
You must vote through our website.
Any votes left over at the end of each cycle will not be rolled over to the next.
Can I vote for my own idea?
Absolutely! You can encourage your friends, family and neighbours to vote for it as well.
Is proxy voting allowed?
No. This is covered in our Terms and Conditions. Any breach of this may end up with your application being disqualified.
If I find a conflict between information in the FAQs and the
Terms and Conditions, which one is relevant?
If you happen to find a conflict, please refer to our Terms and Conditions.
Which web browser is best to use?
We have developed this site to work in as many environments as
possible with current and recent browsers and in a responsive fashion
so as to be as compatible with as many devices as possible.
Our intention is to make this site as usable as possible.
Unfortunately you are currently unable to submit an application
while using the site on an iOS device.
Who can I contact for more information?
Go to our Contact Us page.
Have any further questions
or didn’t
find your answer?
try ‘how it works’, see
‘Terms and Conditions’
or contact us.
website communitygrants.net.au
email phil.horwood@news.com.au
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