Draft Community Grants Policy

What does the Community Grants Policy do?

This policy explains how Tweed Shire Council runs its Community Grants Program. The program provides funding to not-for-profit organisations in a fair and transparent way, in line with the Community Strategic Plan.

The policy is used by:

• not-for-profit groups applying for funding

• Council staff who manage the program

• Councillors who assess and decide on applications

Recommended changes to the policy

We are proposing to:

• change the program name from ‘Community Sponsorship Program’ to ‘Community Grants Program’. This better reflects how the program works and aligns with the definition of a grant.

• move the detailed information out of the policy and into the program guidelines. The policy will only keep the high-level directions, while the guidelines will provide practical information for applicants.

Why are these changes recommended?

The changes are recommended to make the policy easier to use and to follow best practice. They also bring the policy in line with Council’s current formats, sector standards and regulations.

What does this mean for the community?

The way the program works will not change. Community members will still apply for and receive funding in the same way. The updates are about making the policy clearer, easier to manage and consistent with best practice.