The Community Funding Request Policy was adopted at the council meeting on Monday, December 11, 2023.

With the policy adopted, the Community Funding Request Program will commence in 2024.

Council officers are working to make further information available here ahead of the application period which will commence Monday, February 5, 2024.

Public exhibition of the policy was conducted from October 18 to November 7, 2023, resulting in the receipt of four responses. The complete community engagement snapshot is available below.

Notable themes that emerged from the feedback.

• Concerns regarding the proposed disbursement of 50% of funds upfront and the remaining 50% upon project completion, as this may lead to financial strain and could potentially exclude some applicants.
• Requiring groups to submit project plans five months before potential inclusion in the draft, with the possibility of subsequent rejection, “undermines the confidence of applicants”.
• Extended timelines from project submission to funding decisions and the early need for cost estimates and quotes present significant challenges, given the fluctuating costs involved.
• A recommendation for the council to contemplate adopting a fixed budget allocation method.
• A perception of scepticism regarding the community's capacity to execute projects as initially planned.
• The policy appearing to place more emphasis on delineating what it will not support rather than elucidating what it will support. • Concerns raised about the adequacy of the small grant amount.
• Multi-year funding being an efficient way to achieve mutually agreed upon goals and reduce administrative load for applications and acquittals.
• Ineligibility to use the funds for operational costs, for example wages and salaries, utilities, rent and insurance. As our main function is to develop, support, educate, advocate, advise and promote individual creatives, arts, cultural and First Nations creative development in Wodonga and surrounds.

In response to the feedback received, no changes have been made to the policy, but the following changes have been incorporated into the draft guidelines.

• The guidelines have been updated to include a project contingency of 5% in the overall budget to help accommodate any potential variances that may arise during the 16–32-week period from project submission to commencement.
• The requirement for a project plan has been adjusted based on the level of funding sought. It remains a necessity for large-scale grants, is 'encouraged' for mediumscale grants, and is not mandatory for small-scale grants. This approach ensures that planning requirements align with the scale of the funding being sought.
• Examples of eligible projects within each funding category have been provided to place greater emphasis on what the funding will support.
• Regarding the ineligibility of operational costs, the wording has been revised to specify that funding will not cover expenses like salaries, utilities, rent, and insurance unless a strategic partnership has been established, directly benefiting the community and aligning with the council's priorities. In such cases, clearly defined key performance indicators are utilised to assess the effectiveness and impact of the strategic partnership.
• The timeline is set to align with the budget development and adoption process, with project commencement expected to begin within 12 weeks from the budget adoption date, not the submission date.
• Furthermore, there are three distinct funding categories: the small-scale category is designed for grassroots projects with minimal funding requirements, while the larger scale category has no capped funding limit.
• Additionally, as per the draft guidelines, multiyear funding is permissible when the strategic benefit can be substantiated.