Eligibility criteria

3. DCC grants funding general criteria

3.1 Eligibility criteria

The following general eligibility criteria apply to the provision of all DCC contestable grants funding as outlined in this Policy:

1. Grants funding shall support community activities, initiatives and facilities that can demonstrate a positive contribution to the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the local community, and the local natural and built environment.
2. Grants funding shall support those community activities, initiatives and facilities that can demonstrate clear alignment with the Council's Strategic Framework and 10 Year Plan, and the Principles and Objectives outlined in this Policy.
3. As the DCC is a complementary rather than a primary funder, priority may be given to applicants that can demonstrate they are seeking other sources of funding.
4. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that there is both community need and support for the project or activity.
5. Applicants must demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver projects in an efficient manner.
6. Applicants must be able to demonstrate financial sustainability. Priority may be given to those groups or organisations whose current assets minus current liabilities are less than two years' running costs.
7. A proportion of overhead costs (salaries, rent, etc.) relating directly to the project or activity may be included in funding applications.
8. Applications for funding to purchase land or buildings may be considered if they can demonstrate a greater community good, rather than serving the needs of, or benefiting individuals or an organisation. For equipment grants, preference may be given to organisations demonstrating that they share equipment with other community groups.
9. For grants that support the development of community facilities, priority may be given to applicants that are able to demonstrate how funding will meet shortfalls identified in the organisation’s strategic plan, membership trends, management structure and public access/ promotional plans etc.
10. The DCC may take into consideration any current or previous DCC funding the applicant has received when assessing a grant application. All contestable grants, discretionary funding, loans and any other type of funding received from the DCC must be disclosed as part of a grant application.
11. A failure to return grants accountability forms and documentation required for previous DCC funding allocation may result in a denial of new funding applications.
12. The DCC seeks to encourage organisations to work together to achieve common goals. Joint applications will be considered without prejudicing other applications from individuals, groups and organisations.
13. All funded activities are required to comply with current NZ legislation including the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

3.2 Projects which do not qualify for DCC funding

No DCC grants funding shall be awarded for:

1. An activity that may be deemed unethical, infringes the rights of an individual or group, or that is considered detrimental to the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of the community.
2. An activity that poses a conflict of interest for Council, the Grants Subcommittee or any other group or individual that is delegated authority by Council to assess and approve grants funding.
3. An activity that is undertaken by, and for the benefit of a commercial or profit-orientated organisation, unless it can demonstrate a significant contribution to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of the local community, and its natural and built environment – in line with Council Strategic Framework and 10 Year Plan.
4. A project, activity or event that is primarily for a religious, political or fundraising purpose.
5. Uniforms or costumes.
6. Conferences, unless there is a public session(s) which must be advertised.
7. Travel for meetings, events or conference attendance, except where volunteer training is the primary purpose.
8. Projects that have commenced or equipment that has been purchased before the funding decision has been made (unless allowance has been made in the specific grant criteria).
9. Activities of health and education organisations which are predominantly funded by central government, its subsidiaries or agents. However, this does not exclude those organisations or community groups/ partnerships that do receive central government funding (including health and education funding) from applying for a DCC grant for an eligible activity that the government does not specifically fund as part of its contracted activities.

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