Brighter Futures Grants Guidelines The Suncorp Group Brighter Futures program iss designed to unite and engage our people to make a difference to causes they are passionate about. They can do this through fundraising, payroll giving, applying for grants and volunteering. 1. About Brighter Futures Grants The Suncorp Group Brighter Futures Grants Fund was established in December 2011, awarding grants of up to $10,000 to support health and wellbeing initiatives. The Brighter Futures Grants Fund advertisess its application dates on the Brighter Futures website. The total annual grant pool will be determinedd by the Brighter Futuress Internal Advisory Panel. Grants will be awarded for one year only andd are not intended as a recurring funding source. Grants will be awarded to applications that demonstrate the greatest impact withinn health and wellbeing for our communities as determined by the Brighter Futures Grants Fund Judging Panel. All information must be contained within the online application. Attachments will not be accepted. 2. Funding priorities Good healthh and wellbeing among the wider community is imperative for Australia and New Zealand s prosperity in terms of our social and economic welfare, workforce participation, productivity and overall welfare. Across all states and territories of Australia and New Zealand the health and wellbeing areas thatt the Brighterr Futures Grants Fund can support are: mental health women s, men s and children s health ageing health drug and alcohol abuse prevention and treatment Indigenous and minority groups health Refer to Appendix 1 for detailed descriptions of these categories. The priorities for the Brighter Futures Grants Fund are to support organisations and individuals from minority or disadvantaged groups, where the need or potential outcome has a tangible health and wellbeing benefit to the community or individual. 3. The following are NOT considered funding priorities: Programs or initiatives that do not have a specific link or demonstrate an outcome forr a health and wellbeing issue. 4. Aims of the Suncorp Group Brighter Futures Grants Fund: Support a broad variety of causes within the area of health and wellbeing. Award grants to charity organisations, community groups and individuals nominated by Suncorp Group employees. Make an impact in our community by supporting worthwhile causes or local community participation. 1
Support our people s passion for the causes closest to their hearts. Award grants to recipients nominated by an employee who has shown long term association or commitment to the recipient. Award grants to recipients who have not previously received grant funding. Fund initiatives that will have reasonably long-term impact. 5. Eligibility criteria 5.1. Employees The employee making the grant application: Must be a permanent part-time, permanent full-time, maximum-term, fixed-term or long-term casual employee of the Suncorp Group, (who is also subject to the relevant provisions in the Suncorp Group Enterprise Agreement 2015). Receive authorisation or permission from the nominated recipient to submit a grant application on their behalf. Can submit one application each round, either in the Local Grant or Community Grant category. Applicants cannot submit to both categories in the same round. Suncorp Group employees who have successfully applied for a Grant must wait 12 months before applying for another Grant. 5.2. Recipients The type of recipients eligible to receive grants within the two grant categories are as follows: Community Grants: between $1,000 - $10,000 Registered charities (i.e. charities registered in Australia or New Zealand) Note, applications requesting grants for international aid will only be considered for charity organisations that are registered in Australia or New Zealand. Community groups (i.e. community groups in Australia or New Zealand that do not have an official status such as schools, indigenous communities, support groups) Example 1: An employee nominates a school for children with disabilities who require physiotherapy equipment for their students. Example 2: An employee nominates an official cancer support group relying on philanthropic support to remain operational and provide much needed patient support services. Individuals in Australia or New Zealand (i.e. individual staff, customer and community members who have a legitimate health and wellbeing challenge) Example 1: An employee nominates an individual who might be going through an immediate health challenge and requires assistance in funding medical expenses and/or treatments. Example 2: An employee nominates a customer who requires funding for a health and wellbeing related item such as the purchase of a wheelchair for their child/ family member. Local Grants: up to $1,000 Schools and education providers (i.e. extra-curricular activities and clubs managed by a school, kindergarten or education provider) Example 1: An employee is a member of their local school P&F association. The school requires new gym equipment to meet growing demand from students to participate in gymnastics. Example 2: An employee nominates their son s kindergarten for a selection of new tricycles to replace the current ones that are rusted and no longer safe. 2
Sports teams and clubs (i.e. soccer, football, cricket teams, golf, bowls, swimming clubs, ballet, calisthenics etc.) Example 1: An employee is a coach for their daughter s soccer team and requires new training bibs and cones that will be used by teams for several years to come. Example 2: An employee has played cricket for a local club for the past five years and seeks funding support to purchase a new defibrillator for the club rooms. Community clubs (i.e. senior citizens clubs, RSL clubs, gardening groups etc.) Example 1: An employee volunteers at her mother s senior citizen club that would like support to install a bocce pit for the members to stay physically active. Example 2: An employee was a founding committee member of a community garden. The site needs to have a ramp installed to allow people using mobility aids to access the gardens. Please note: The Suncorp Group recognises that on occasions employees may experience extreme financial hardship resulting from a natural catastrophe or other events beyond their control. The Employee Hardship Program (EHP) can provide one off individual grants to employees to help support them through these difficult events. Refer to http://intranet.ourspace.int.corp.sun/people/policy/documents/employee-hardship-programguideline-hr.pdf 5.3. Receipt and use of funds Eligibility requirements for the receipt and use of funds are as follows: The funds will only be deposited into an account held by the nominated charity organisation, community group, service provider, school, education institution, or club. The funds must be used for the purpose described in the application. If successful, applicants must provide evidence of use of funds e.g. receipt or photograph, within six months or an update about progress. Suncorp may determine what level of evidence is required on a case-by-case basis. Applications for individuals will only be considered for services or goods relating to the health and wellbeing of that person. The awarded grant amount will be remitted against the relevant tax invoice for the actual services or goods. If the funds requested are not for the entire amount of the program, initiative or service, the nominee must be able to demonstrate how the recipient will utilise the balance. Shortlisted applications will need to provide invoicing for the service provider during validation. 5.4. Not eligible for funding Applications for the following types of funding will not be considered in respect of Grants: Event sponsorship Catering costs Prizes, sponsorships or award ceremonies Fundraising activities Commercial activities Retrospective funding (i.e. for goods or services already commenced or expenditure previously committed) Cash payments to individuals (this includes depositing into individuals bank accounts) Organisations funding political, religious, military pursuits or animal welfare Grants will only be provided for goods or services relating to the health and wellbeing of an individual where a tax invoice from a supplier or service provider is submitted. 3
Local Grants In respect of Local Grants, all of the restrictions outlined above apply in addition to the following: Applications will not be considered for personal equipment for individuals or uniforms although applications for items such as team bibs or general team training equipment may be considered; and Applications will not be considered to cover operating costs such as staff wages, utility bills, telephone bills, public liability insurance costs, etc. 6. Review and assessment of applications 6.1. Community Grants Applications are assessed for eligibility by a Judging Panel appointed by Suncorp. The Judging Panel will generally consist of individuals from the Brighter Futures team and Charities Aid Foundation who will assess applications against the Fund s criteria. The Judging Panel will review all eligible applications and provide each with a merit ranking that takes into consideration funding priorities, guidelines and goals. Applications are weighted against the following criteria: Criteria Interpretation Weighting To what extent does the Suncorp Group employee have an association with the recipient? To what level does the application demonstrate support for one or more of Suncorp Group s health and wellbeing categories? To what level is there a relevant and compelling need for support of the recipient? To what extent can the grant be attributed to a specific service or good? To what extent could the grant outcome provide positive impact for the individual/community? Length of association with recipient (period of time) and closeness of the association (occasional donor, friend of a friend, dedicated volunteer, close family member). Those with a stronger association score higher. The number/ breadth of categories supported. Scoring is based on the level of support within the category the greater the level the higher the score. Applications which demonstrate a lesser need for support score lower. For example an initiative may demonstrate a positive impact within the community however the need for support for the particular charity may be low due to existing corporate sponsorships. Those applications which very clearly outline what the money would be spent on and if it is for a particular initiative or piece of equipment score higher. Applications which are more general in their request for funds score lower. Those applications which demonstrate a significant positive impact for the individual or community score higher than applications where the funding outcome is not as significant. 30% 10% 30% 10% 20% 6.2. Local Grants Applications are assessed for eligibility by a Judging Panel appointed by Suncorp. The Judging Panel will generally consist of staff from the Brighter Futures team and Charities Aid Foundation who will assess applications against the Fund s criteria. The Judging Panel will review all eligible applications and provide each with a merit ranking that takes into consideration funding priorities, guidelines and goals. Applications are weighted against the following criteria: Criteria Interpretation Weighting To what extent does the Suncorp Group employee have an association with the recipient? Length of association with recipient (period of time) and closeness of the association (friend of a friend, dedicated volunteer, player or parent). Those with a stronger association score higher. 50% 4
To what level does the application demonstrate support for one or more of Suncorp Group s health and wellbeing categories? To what extent can the grant be attributed to a specific service or good? To what extent could the grant outcome provide positive impact for the individual/community? The number/ breadth of categories supported. Scoring is based on the level of support within the category the greater the level the higher the score. Those applications which very clearly outline what the money would be spent on and if it is for a particular initiative or piece of equipment that will be an asset of the club or community group score higher. Applications which are more general in their request for funds score lower. Those applications which demonstrate a significant positive impact for the individual or community score higher than applications where the funding outcome is not as significant. 10% 20% 20% 6.3. The Panel will favour applications across both categories which demonstrate the following: A long term commitment or association with the recipient. A compelling need for support of the nominated recipient. Clear explanation of the potential positive impact the grant will have for the individual. Support for one or more of Suncorp Group s health and wellbeing categories as outlined in the funding priorities. The application can be attributed to a specific service, program, initiative, equipment or goods. The application meets the Brighter Futures Grants Fund goals outlined in this guideline. Please note: Once the Panel has met to review applications, their decision is final and no other discussion will be entered into. 7. How do I apply for a Brighter Futures Grant? You can apply for a Brighter Futures Grant by submitting an online application form at http://www.suncorpgroupbrighterfutures.com.au/grant_applications. Brighter Futures Grant applications are generally called for during specific grant rounds. The opening dates for grant rounds are listed on the Brighter Futures grants page and applications are open for one month. Successful applicants will be notified and announced internally two months after applications close. Funds will be distributed after this time. See section 8 for details around In-demand Community Grants that fall outside the usual grant timeframes. 8. In-demand Community Grants Although Suncorp will generally call for applications during grant rounds, In-demand Community Grants of up to $10,000 may be made available in special circumstances for an individual, charity or organisations outside of designated grant rounds. This will be at the sole discretion of Suncorp and applications must adhere to all other program criteria and requirements. If you have any further enquiries please contact the Brighter Futures team by calling 07 3135 4012 or emailing brighterfuturescommunity@suncorp.com.au 5
APPENDIX 1 Health Category Descriptions Mental health The mental health category may include the treatment and care for people with mental illness that promotes better mental health outcomes for individuals. This category also includes programs offered by community organisations or charities that provide mental health awareness, promotion, treatments, support, prevention and early intervention. Categories that may fit within mental health are: Mental and behavioural disorders Anxiety and depression Schizophrenia, schizotypal and delusional disorders Mood disorders Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors Disorders of personality and behaviour in adult persons Mental retardation Disorders of psychological development Behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence Two examples of a grant application within the mental health category might be: Jo Bloggs from Suncorp Group nominates the charity organisation, CanTeen which supports young people living with cancer. The grant will be used to fund a program which specifically supports people experiencing grief as a result of their cancer experience. Jo Bloggs nominates the charity organisation, Kids Helpline which provide free online and telephone counselling services for young people Women s, men s and children s health This broad category may include the provision of services by community organisations or charities for the treatment of major health burdens affecting our community (this may also include equipment and other services). This category also incorporates, but is not limited to; medical treatments, mobility devices or other health related equipment and services for individuals. Two examples of a grant application within the women s, men s and children s health category might be: Jo Bloggs from Suncorp Group nominates a long-term family friend who requires medical treatment/ equipment for a significant health challenge. Jo Bloggs from Suncorp Group nominates a sporting club that has demonstrated a specific need to receive a grant for equipment to assist with a health and wellbeing program designed to engage the local community in sport and recreational activities. 6
Ageing health Community organisations that offer programs, services or equipment that contribute to the level of care provided in aged-care facilities or in the home. This category also includes the treatment or services for individuals. Two examples of a grant application within the ageing health category might be: Jo Bloggs from Suncorp Group nominates an elderly member of their family who requires a special piece of equipment to assist their mobility or accessibility to their home. Jo Bloggs from Suncorp Group nominates an aged-care facility to receive funding for medical equipment which will provide a higher level or more specialised care for residents. Drug and alcohol abuse Recognised community organisations and/ or charity groups that provide prevention, early intervention or treatment for drug and/ or alcohol abuse problems and associated support/rehabilitation programs. An example of a grant application within the drug and alcohol abuse health category might be: Jo Bloggs nominates the Australian Drug Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that works with communities to reduce drug and alcohol harm through various community programs, information and advocacy. Indigenous and minority groups health Community organisations that provide mentoring programs addressing the challenges faced by Indigenous and minority groups, specific to health and wellbeing programs. This may include access to appropriate primary health care services and improvement of health outcomes through promotion, planning, and implementation of community health services. An example of a grant application within the Indigenous and minority groups health category might be: Jo Bloggs from Suncorp Group nominates The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the peak national body representing Aboriginal community controlled health services on matters relating to Aboriginal health and wellbeing. 7